Guinea worm | |
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Photomicrograph of larvae | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Nematoda |
Class: | Secernentea |
Order: | Camallanida |
Family: | Dracunculidae |
Genus: | Dracunculus |
Species: | D. medinensis
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Binomial name | |
Dracunculus medinensis | |
Synonyms | |
Dracunculus medinensis (Guinea worm, dragon worm, fiery serpent[1]) is a nematode that causes dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease.[2] The disease is caused by the female[3] which, at around 80 centimetres (31 inches) in length,[4] is among the longest nematodes infecting humans.[5] The length of specimens exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism, as the longest recorded male Guinea worm is only 4 cm (1+1⁄2 in).[4]
Guinea worm is on target to be the second infectious disease of humans to be eradicated, after smallpox. It was formerly endemic to a wide swath of Africa and Eurasia; as of 2023, it remains endemic in five countries: Chad, Mali, South Sudan, Angola and Ethiopia,[6] with most cases in Chad. Guinea worm spread to Angola c. 2018, and it is now considered endemic there. Infection of domestic dogs is a serious complication in Chad.
The common name "guinea worm" is derived from the Guinea region of Western Africa.