Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease)

Charissa KamBiol 402

A Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD)

But it’s completelypreventable!

Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) is an ancient disease.

Possibly the fiery serpent referenced in the Old Testament

“Affliction of little dragons”

GWD is caused by Dracunculus medinensis—a nematode

http://www.gefor.4t.com/concurso/parasitologia/dracunculus.gif CDC

GWD is mainly found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

WHO

Dracunculus medinensis has only 1 intermediate host, the

copepod Cyclops.

CDC

GWD is asymptomatic a year after infection.

The emergence of the worm is excruciating.

Blister and/or ulcer Pain and Swelling Burning Sensations Emergence of Worm

http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/SWILLIAM/fgn/pnb/dracmed.html

http://www.pasozyty.com.pl/Nitkowiec-podskorny-Filaria-medinensis.html

Only treatment is wrapping the worm around a stick.

http://www.snl.no/dracunculiasis

http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862009000900005&lng=pt&nrm=iso

Prevention is the key!

How?- Drink Clean Water- Don’t Contaminate Water- Filters- Education- Insecticides (ex: Abate®)

Carter CenterCarter Center

GWD hampers the development of communities.

GWD accounts for 60% of school absences

“Disease of the Empty Granary”

"Hopefully Guinea worm will be the first parasitic disease ever eradicated. If and

when that happens, we will have done it without a drug and without a vaccine to

treat or prevent the disease. If we can do that, it will be one of the greatest achievements in public health."

—Dr. Ernesto Ruiz-Tiben, director, Guinea Worm Eradication Program

Eradication efforts have been quite successful!

WHOWHOWHO

Since 1986, the number of cases has dropped by 99%

Hopefully this disease will be the 2nd disease to be completely eradicated

References

The World Health Organization http://www.who.int/dracunculiasis/en/http://www.who.int/topics/dracunculiasis/en/http://www.who.int/dracunculiasis/background/en/index.htmlhttp://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2008/WHO_HTM_NTD_PCT_2008.1_eng.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhttp://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/dracunculiasis/factsht_dracunculiasis.htmhttp://globalhealthedu.org/modules/Documents/109/player.html

Carter Centerhttp://www.cartercenter.org/health/guinea_worm/index.html

“The Imaging of Tropical Diseases. ”http://www.isradiology.org/tropical_deseases/tmcr/chapter27/epidemiology.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/04/06/guinea.worm.eradication/index.html?hpt=Sbin

American Society for Microbiologyhttp://cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/15/2/223#Treatment