Infectious Disease Compendium

Dracunculus medinesis

Microbiology

A helminth. AKA Guinea worm.

Epidemiologic Risks

Drinking water in tropical Africa, the worm eventually migrates to the skin and forms an ulcer with the worm wiggling at the base. It is found in African frogs. If so, it will soon cease as a human pathogen as frogs go the way of the passenger pigeon (PubMed).

Sudan, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Mali are the only countries with the disease.

Dogs and cats can be a source and may make elimination difficult.

Syndromes

Skin ulcer.

Treatment

Thiabendazole 25 mg/kg bid x 2 days, or metronidazole 5 mg/kg bid for 1 week decreases inflammation to allow easy removal of the worm over a week or so by progressively rolling out the worm onto a stick. Then sold at the Minnesota State Fair.

Tearing it out in pieces can lead to anaphylaxis.

Notes

They can be a yard long.

D. insignis in dogs and carnivores and there are other animals with their own parasites

Worm on a stick; isn't that at the food court?

It is thought to be the “fiery serpent” of Exodus, sent by Yahweh to shut up the complaining Israelites. Nice guy that Yahweh.

Last update: 09/23/19