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Guinea worm (Dracunculiasis)

Guinea worm (Dracunculiasis)

Parasitology

Ectoparasites

Pediculus humanus and Phthirus pubis (Lice)
Sarcoptes scabiei (Scabies)

Protozoa

Acanthamoeba
Naegleria fowleri (Primary amebic meningoencephalitis)
Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasmosis)
Cryptosporidium
Entamoeba histolytica (Amebiasis)
Giardia lamblia
Babesia
Plasmodium species (Malaria)
Leishmania
Trichomonas vaginalis
Trypanosoma brucei
Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease)

Worms

Diphyllobothrium latum
Echinococcus granulosus (Hydatid disease)
Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus
Angiostrongylus (Eosinophilic meningitis)
Anisakis
Ascaris lumbricoides
Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm)
Guinea worm (Dracunculiasis)
Loa loa (Eye worm)
Onchocerca volvulus (River blindness)
Strongyloides stercoralis
Toxocara canis (Visceral larva migrans)
Trichinella spiralis
Trichuris trichiura (Whipworm)
Wuchereria bancrofti (Lymphatic filariasis)
Clonorchis sinensis
Paragonimus westermani
Schistosomes

Key Takeaways

Guinea worm infection or Dracunculiasis is a parasitic infection that is spread through drinking water contaminated with the larvae of the guinea worm. Symptoms may appear after several months after the infection, presenting with a burning, painful skin blister, usually on the lower limbs, which eventually ruptures and releases the worm.

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