Dracunculiasis in oral and maxillofacial surgery

Dracunculiasis, otherwise known as guinea worm disease (GWD), is caused by infection with the nematode Dracunculus medinensis. This nematode is transmitted to humans exclusively via contaminated drinking water. The transmitting vectors are Cyclops copepods (water fleas), which are tiny free-swimming crustaceans usually found abundantly in freshwater ponds. Humans can acquire GWD by drinking water that contains vectors infected with guinea worm larvae. This disease is prevalent in some of the most deprived areas of the world, and no vaccine or medicine is currently available. International efforts to eradicate dracunculiasis began in the early 1980s. Most dentists and maxillofacial surgeons have neglected this kind of parasite infection. However, when performing charitable work in developing countries near the tropic lines or other regions where GWD is endemic, it is important to consider GWD in cases of swelling or tumors of unknown origin. This paper reviews the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical criteria, diagnostic criteria, treatment, and prevention of dracunculiasis. It also summarizes important factors for maxillofacial surgeons to consider.

Estudio del efecto de Trichinella spiralis sobre la desialización aplicando el Método de Polibrene / Study of Trichinella spiralis effect on desialylation by Polybrene Method / Estudo do efeito de Trichinella spiralis em desialylation aplicando o Método de Polibreno

Experiencias previas comunicaron que los eritrocitos (GR) incubados con larvas recién nacidas (LRN) y larvas musculares (LM) de T. spiralis presentan menor contenido de ácido siálico que los correspondientes GR Controles. El objetivo del trabajo fue estudiar el efecto de LRN y LM sobre la desialización aplicando el Método de Polibrene. Se trabajó con concentrados de LRN y LM incubados en partes iguales con GR Grupo O, en medio salino y enzimático, durante 120 min a intervalos de 30 min. Los Controles fueron incubados con igual volumen de solución salina. Se aplicó el Método de Polibrene y se calculó el valor del coeficiente CexpCASP. Para analizar el efecto del parásito, medio de incubación y tiempo de tratamiento en los valores de CexpCASP, se utilizó un ANOVA multifactorial. Los resultados mostraron que el medio enzimático y el aumento del tiempo de incubación producen la mayor disminución de carga globular, reflejada en menores valores de CexpCASP, sin diferencias significativas con el estadio larval utilizado. La experiencia sugeriría que durante su migración por el torrente circulatorio las LRN podrían captar ácido siálico eritrocitario y alterar el comportamiento hemorreológico, así como también permitiría especular que ambos estadios larvales podrían secuestrarlo de células del hospedador para interferir y/o evadir su respuesta inmune...

Dracunculiasis eradication--finishing the job before surprises arise

Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) is a preventable waterborne parasitic disease that affects the poorest people living in remote rural areas in sub-Saharan African countries, who do not have access to safe drinking water. The Guinea Worm Eradication Program, a 25-year old campaign to rid the world of Guinea Worm disease has now reached its final stage accelerating to zero cases in all endemic countries. During the 19th and 20th centuries, dracunculiasis was common in much of Southern Asia and the African continent. The overall number of cases has been reduced tremendously by ≥99%, from the 3.32 million cases estimated to have occurred in 1986 in Africa to only 1,797 cases reported in 2010 reported in only five countries (Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia, Chad and Ghana) and Asia free of the disease. This achievement is unique in its kind--the only previously eradicated disease is smallpox, a viral infection for which vaccination was possible--and it has been achieved through primary community-based prevention and health education programs. Most efforts need to be taken in two countries, South Sudan (comprising 94% or 1,698 out of 1,797 of the cases reported world-wide in 2010) and Mali because of frequent movements of nomads in a vast area inside and outside Mali's borders. All factors favourable to dracunculiasis eradication are available including adequate financial resources, community and political support and high levels of advocacy. Thus there is no reason that this disabling parasitic disease cannot be eradicated soon before surprises arise such as new civil conflicts in currently endemic countries.

Reporte de un caso de dracunculosis en un canino en la provincia de Formosa - Argentina / Dracunculiasis in a dog in Formosa - Argentina : case report

Se comunica el hallazgo de Dracunculus sp. en un canino proveniente de la localidade de Fontana, Departamento Patino, provincia de Formosa, Argentina. El hallazgo constituye el cuarto caso de Dracunculosis registrado en animales en una misma area geografica de Formosa.

Africa en Colombia: una historia paralela de cuatro parasitismos / Africa in Colombia: a paralel history of four parasitisms

Se presenta una comparación histórica médica de los parasitismos por Dracunculus medinensis, la Wuchereria bancrofti, la Onchocerca volvulus y el Plasmodium falciparum, en Colombia, haciendo énfasis en la época inicial de la llegada de los negros, la minería a lo largo de los siglos XVI, XVII, y XVIII y la ubicación geográfica que tienen los negros en el país. De los cuatro parásitos llegados del Africa en los tiempos del tráfico de esclavos, sólo la malaria por falciparum sigue siendo un problema de salud pública en Colombia. De los otros tres sólo queda la memoria histórica de la dracontiasis, unos poquísimos casos restringidos a las costas de W. bancrotfi y un foco reducido a una localidad negra del rio Micay en lasta pacífica de O. volvulus.

Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm) and public health situation in Nigeria / Dracunculíasis (lombriz de Guinea) y la situación de la salud pública en Guinea

Dracunculiasis is a waterborne disease endemic to many parts of Nigeria, especially in rural areas. Dracunculus medinensis (guinea worm) is a long slender round worm that parasitizes man and other mammals. It lives in body cavities beneath the skin (often arm or leg). When mature the female (nearly 120 cm long) migrates to subcutaneous tissues and produces millions of active larvae. A blister appears on the skin of the host, and when the opening comes in contact with water the larvae are sweptaway and are eaten by tiny crustacean (cyclops) from where their development continues. Man and other mammals are infested when they ingest the crustacean by drinking untreated water. Epidemiological and clinical features are described. The effects of the disease in the population are given with especial emphasis on the social and economic aspects. Eradication measures are indicated

Dracunculiasis.Reporte de un caso con localizacion unica. / Dracunculiasis.A case report with unique location

En nuestro objetivo, presentar el informe de un paciente proveniente de Africa afectado por un gusano gigante de Guinea (Dracunculus medinensis) con localizacion unica, que constituye el primer paciente diagnosticado en Cuba en lo que va de siglo, en el Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kouri"