DRACUNCULUS MEDINENSISWilson Cahill

Dracunculus medinensis Classification

• Phylum Nematoda• Class Secernentea

• Order Camallanida•Family Dracunculidae• Genus Dracunculus• Species medinensis

Dracunculus medinensis

Distribution

• Found in only 5 African Countries due to eradication efforts.

• Chad, South Sudan, Mali, Ghana, and Ethiopia.

• South Sudan has the biggest problem while Ghana has practically eradicated the parasite by 2011

Disease

• Causes Guinea Worm Disease

• Symptoms:• Fever• Nausea• Vomiting• Intense pain along the path taken by the worm (Which led to its

nickname, the fiery serpent.)

Hosts

• Vector: Copapods

• Definitive Host: Humans

Life Cycle• Life Cycle

Life cycle• Life Cycle

Diagnosis

• There is no formal diagnosis, due to the limited range of the worm and the unique blisters that the worm forms.

Treatment

• Treating the parasite requires the careful removal of the worm, which is either done surgically, or by winding the live worm around a stick.

• You MUST NOT break the worm, otherwise it will either putrefy or petrify inside to body.

• Antibiotics can be administered to ward off from infections from the open wound.

Prevention

• Only drink purified water

• Keeping infected individuals out of drinking water.