Dracunculus medinensis

This article is about the human parasite D. medinensis. For the disease, see Dracunculiasis.

"Guinea worm" redirects here. For more parasites also called Guinea worms, see Dracunculus (nematode).

Guinea worm
Photomicrograph of larvae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Secernentea
Order: Camallanida
Family: Dracunculidae
Genus: Dracunculus
Species:
D. medinensis
Binomial name
Dracunculus medinensis
Synonyms

Gordius medinensis Linnaeus, 1758

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.

  1. ^ Chaudhury, Abhijit (2022). "Dracunculiasis". Textbook of Parasitic Zoonoses. Microbial Zoonoses. pp. 427–436. doi:10.1007/978-981-16-7204-0_41. ISBN 978-981-16-7203-3.
  2. ^ Knopp, Stefanie; Amegbo, Ignace K.; Hamm, David M.; Schulz-Key, Hartwig; Banla, Meba; Soboslay, Peter T. (March 2008). "Antibody and cytokine responses in Dracunculus medinensis patients at distinct states of infection". Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 102 (3): 277–283. doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2007.12.003. PMID 18258273.
  3. ^ Bimi, Langbong (2007). "Potential vector species of Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) in northern Ghana". Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 7 (3): 324–329. doi:10.1089/vbz.2006.0622. PMID 17767406.
  4. ^ a b Schmidt, Gerald D.; Roberts, Larry S. (2009). Roberts, Larry S.; Janovy, John Jr. (eds.). Foundations of Parasitology (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill. pp. 480–484. ISBN 978-0-07-128458-5.
  5. ^ bin Saleem, Talha; Ahmed, Irfan (2006). ""Serpent" in the breast" (PDF). Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad. 18 (4): 67–68. PMID 17591014.
  6. ^ Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases team (2023). World Health Organization (ed.). Criteria for the certification of dracunculiasis eradication 2023 update. World Health Organization. pp. 9, 26. ISBN 978-92-4-007333-3.