Dracunculiasis, also known as Guinea worm disease (GWD), is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by a parasite (Dracunculus medinensis). The name of the disease comes from its prevalence in the Gulf of Guinea. In the past, dracunculiasis was known as “the disease of the empty granary” because of the difficulties patients faced in going to work in fields or to school when affected by this disease ^[1][2][1,2]. Dracunculus medinensis (DM) is a nematode and belongs to the order of Spirurida, tissue parasites that produce eggs containing larvae and spread free larvae in the water. The life cycle of this parasite requires arthropods as intermediate hosts. GWD is listed among the common filariases, and it has been widespread in economically disadvantaged communities in tropical regions, including Africa and South Asia, where it has been associated with reduced economic status and low levels of education [3]. Dracunculiasis was targeted for eradication several decades ago, because of its limited geographical distribution, predictable seasonality, and straightforward diagnosis [4]. In the past, it was thought that humans were the unique host, but recent studies have shown that larvae can also infect dogs, which complicates the success of eradication within the time frame foreseen by the Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP) [5].

2. Epidemiology

The disease is typical of rural communities in low-income countries, whose survival depends on the presence of open surface water. For this reason, disease prevalence highly depends on rain patterns and climate. In arid areas, transmission occurs mainly in the rainy season, when surface water is more easily available [6]. In wet areas, on the other hand, the disease strikes more intensely in the dry season, when drinking water sources are few, as stagnant water collection points, such as wells and cisterns, are well-known parasite reservoirs [7]. GWD can affect people of all ages but is more common in young adults aged 15 to 45, with no difference in prevalence between males and females. In the 1940s, an estimated 48 million people were affected by GWD in Africa, the Middle East, and India, while in the 1980s, only 3.5 million cases per year were reported in 20 countries worldwide, including 17 in Africa. In the same period, the GWEP was initiated, and this led to a sharp reduction in cases in the following years. The number of reported cases dropped below 10,000 for the first time in 2007, falling further to 542 cases in 2012, 54 cases in 2019, and 27 cases in 2020 (of these cases, 1 in Angola, 12 in Chad, 11 in Ethiopia, 1 in Mali, 1 in South Sudan, and 1 in Cameroon) [8]. As of 30 October, according to the WHO, 198 countries, territories and areas have been certified free from dracunculiasis transmission. Seven countries remain to be certified, of which one (the Democratic Republic of the Congo) has no recent history of dracunculiasis [9]. The six other countries are either endemic (Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Mali) or are in the pre-certification phase (Sudan). According to WHO and CDC data, 15 Guinea worm cases were reported in 2021 ^[8][9][8,9].

3. Clinical Manifestations

Usually, patients remain asymptomatic for about a year after infection or may experience aspecific symptoms, such as lymphadenitis or hepatomegaly, due to the growth of non-specific granulomas in the liver and lymph nodes resulting from hypersensitivity or foreign-body reactions to dead male worms ^[10][11][12][14,15,16]. Concurrently, mature female worms reach the skin, causing a painful papule in the dermis due to the host reaction. Blisters are accompanied by redness and induration and may be preceded by systemic symptoms such as fever, urticarial rash, intense itching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness ^[11][15]. More than 90% of worms emerge below the knees, but they can emerge from anywhere in the body. Other common areas of worm surfacing are the head, arms, breasts, back, and scrotum. Usually, infected patients experience one worm emergence per year, but up to 20 (or more) worms may appear at the same time in one individual, and this painful process might last for more than 8 weeks ^[12][16]. Generally, patients obtain symptom relief by soaking the affected limb in water or by pouring water over the lesion, which accelerates the sloughing-off of the skin over the blisters ^[13][17]. After vesicle rupture, pain and systemic symptoms reduce. Female worms protrude their anterior end from the ulcer and discharge first-stage larvae (640 × 23 µm) into the water. It remains protruding for the following 2–6 weeks, releasing larvae each time the infected body part is immersed in water. After this period, the worm dies ^[9][14][15][9,10,11]. Worm protrusion is often exacerbated by secondary bacterial infections. In fact, the lack of adequate medical care usually results in superinfections—with an incidence rate that often exceeds 50% of lesions—leading to different complications: local cellulitis, abscesses, tetanus, septic arthritis or sepsis ^[16][18]. Tetanus is a serious complication of GWD. Articular manifestations include acute monoarthritis (due to direct invasion of the worm) or arthralgic syndrome secondary to deposition of calcifications in the joints ^[17][19]. Joint infection may lead to deformities or contractures, particularly in the knees, where it can evolve into a destructive arthropathy ^[18][20]. During manual extraction (see below), rupture of the Guinea worm can occur, leading to an intense inflammatory reaction, as the remaining part of the dead worm starts to degrade inside the body. This causes more pain, swelling and cellulitis along the worm tract ^[11][15]. During their migration, Guinea worms occasionally end up in ectopic sites such as the pancreas, lungs, periorbital tissue, testicles, pericardium and spinal cord, causing dreadful complications such as pleurisy, pancreatitis, compression of the spinal cord, inguinal adenopathy, compression and abscess formation. In pregnant women, larvae migration may also be responsible for placental bleeding and abortion ^[19][21].

4. Diagnosis

Diagnosis of GWD is mainly clinical and it consists of observation of the worm emerging from the blister ^[11][15]. Epidemiological considerations have an important role, considering the fact that the blisters cannot be distinguished from other common skin lesions, such as bacterial infections or diabetic foot-related conditions ^[10][14]. The diagnosis can be formulated only when the female worm emerges, typically wrapping around a stick. During worm spillage, the diameter of the nematode should be assessed, since bodies that are smaller than 2 mm represent a risk factor for worm body rupture ^[17][19]. Active larvae can be obtained by immersing the protruding adult female in a small tube or container with water. First-stage larvae, with their characteristic pointed tails, can then be observed under a microscope. Despite the simplicity of diagnosis, GWD can be misdiagnosed due to the initial symptoms’ non-specificity ^[10][14]. In addition, in countries where the two parasites are co-endemic, differential diagnosis with Onchocerca spp is needed, because of their similar clinical presentation and to inform public health officals in charge of both Guinea worm and onchocerciasis control campaigns. In addition, clinicians should not miss the opportunity to provide correct treatment for Onchocerca infections ^[20][21][22][22,23,24]. Furthermore, when available, species identification allows for better surveillance. Thanks to genomic analysis, the common origin of animal and human infections has been proven ^[23][24][25,26] and new Dracunculiasis species are now under study in Vietnam (WHO-defined GWD-free country) ^[25][26][27,28]. Radiological diagnosis is also possible, even if it generally represents an occasional finding. Case reports of breast location are described during mammogram screening ^[27][28][29][29,30,31]. A typical radiological finding of GWD is the calcification sign. Calcification occurs once the gravid female dies inside the soft tissue. Thus, even when the imaging procedure is performed for pain complaints and not for screening, GWD radiological findings indicate only previous contact with parasites, and no active infection ^[30][32]. However, radiography can suggest a relation between systemic symptoms and previous Guinea worm infection. In a case report from Chad, X-ray observation of typical calcifications made clinicians aware of a rare form of past GWD infection related to new onset asthma ^[31][33]. In addition, a prospective study correlated localized myalgia (55%), chronic monoarthralgia (35%) and chronic knee synovitis with previous dracunculiasis in view of radiological findings (in two cases, eosinophilia was also present in the synovial fluid) ^[32][34]. It is still important to consider that GWD is not the only helminthiasis showing radiological signs. Usually, radiography shows a characteristic long, string-like, serpiginous calcified lesion within the soft tissues. Still, morphological differential diagnosis should rule out other parasite infections: much smaller calcifications located into the hands suggest Loa loa and Onchocerca volvulus; while multiple “rice grain” calcifications along muscle fibers are indicative of cysticercosis. Generally, these radiological features orientate to an etiological diagnosis. Diagnostic problems can occur when the worm has partially disintegrated, and calcifications are amorphous ^[30][31][32][32,33,34]. Concerning laboratory values, eosinophil count is often increased ^[33][35]. Serological tests can be considered to prove contact with D. medinensis. In consideration of possible cross-reactions with other nematodes, ELISA and western blot detection of IgG4 has been observed to obtain the best sensitivity and specificity ^[33][35]. A possible confirmation of these findings can be assumed by recent studies by Priest et al. for the realization of multiplex bead assay for seroprevalence assessment among dog populations in endemic areas ^[34][35][36,37]. Nevertheless, serological tests are not included among tools for either seroprevalence assessment or as confirmation tests ^[36][38].

5. Treatment and Management

First-line treatment of Guinea worm active infection consists of removing the female worm when it comes out of the skin and pulling it out gently to avoid rupture or returning it inside the wound. Worms must be alive during extraction. Usually, a gauze or a small stick is used to allow the worm to roll around it, continuing to exert some traction to bring it out. This is a long process that can take hours or days, because the worm can be longer than a meter. Two actions facilitate the exit of the worm: dipping the affected body part in a bucket with water (to avoid contaminating drinking water) and squeezing the bump to empty the adult worm from the larvae, so that it is thinner and can exit from the wound more easily ^[37][38][39,40]. There is no oral anthelmintic medication available for dracunculiasis. Support therapies such as anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers can be used to reduce edema and pain. Along with frequent dressings with antiseptic solutions, antibiotic ointments may be applied to blisters to avoid wound superinfections. Until the whole worm body has been pulled out, the wound must be covered with medicated gauze and, until successful eradication, an infected person is not allowed to enter drinking water sources ^[38][40]. Tetanus vaccination is recommended. GWD-specific vaccines are not available ^[39][41].