Parasitology tissue Nematoda rounded worm in the word this important in diagnosis and treatment for Dracunculus medinensis disease is cause by the female the majority of human infection occurred in parts of west africa and india the disease remains endemic in 13 africans counters

1. Dracunculus medinensis
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Nematoda
• Class: Secernentea
• Order: Camallanida
• Superfamily: Dracunculoidea
• Family: Dracunculidae
• Genus: Dracunculus
• Species: Drachunculuc medinensis

2. Dracunculus medinensis
The guinea worm, serpent worm,
dragon worm, medina worm
• Dracunculiasis or guinea worm
disease is caused by the female
which, at up to 800 mm (31) in
length.
• The majority of human infections occur in parts
of West Africa, East Africa and India.
• The disease remains endemic in 13 Africans
countries.
• Sudan accounts for 75% of all global cases.

3. Morphology
• The adult worm is slender, long worm, smooth
and milk-white in colour with rounded anterior
end.
• The female worm is viviparous.
• The male is very small and measure 40 mm in
length with coiled posterior end.
• The female is very large and measure 60-120
mm long.

4. • The larvae are long, slender, coiled body with
rounded head, measure 500-750 µm in length.

5. Life cycle
• Intermediate host: Cyclops
• Definitive host: Man
• The disease caused by drinking of contaminated
water by water fleas (Cyclops).

6. • In the Man, when ingested Cyclops, the free
larvae penetrate the gut lining and migrate to
subcutaneous tissues. As adults, the nematodes
mate and the small male dies.
• When the embryos in the uterus reach maturity,
the female nematode migrates to areas of the
body in contact with water (90% move to the feet
and legs).
• Once in these areas the worm penetrates the
skin, extrudes its uterus through its mouth and
discharges larvae into the water and dies.

7. • The larvae are ingested by Cyclops and Man
infected by drinking contaminated water with
Cyclops. Once ingested, the Cyclops is digested
and larvae migrate through intestinal wall to tissue
where they mature and can then reinfect humans.
• After mating inside the definitive (human) host, the
female burrows through the skin, creating an
ulcerated area.
• When the ulcerated area is exposed to water (as in
a river or lake), the female's uterus ruptures,
releasing many juveniles into the water. Incubation
period is 1 year.

8. Life cycle

9. Pathogenesis and clinical signs
• Skin lesion: blister, reddish papule, vesicular,
ulcers and finally abscess.

10. Diagnosis
• Detection of adult worm when the
gravid female worms appears at the
surface of skin.
• Detection of embryos when cold water is placed
on the ulcer.
• Intradermal test by injection of Dracunculus
antigen intradermally causes a wheal in 24 hours.
• Immunological tests: ELISA,
fluorescent antibody. Calcified
adult worm, Radiograph abdomen.

11. Treatment
• The end of female worm is tied with a fine silk to
match stick, it is wound out daily with gentle
traction until the whole parasite is extracted.
• Thiabendazole, metronidazole may speeds the
expulsion of the worms.

12. Prevention
• Education of people in affected areas.
• Widespread distribution of net filters and pipe
filters for drinking water and education about the
importance of using them.
• Provision of safe drinking water.
• Vector control using a chemical
larvicide.
• Using pipe filters to prevent ingestion of
copepods hosting Dracunculus medinensis.