Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease GWD) Research This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Progress Toward Global Eradication of Dracunculiasis, January 2019-June 2020.
This report, based on updated health ministry data (4), describes progress made during January 2019-June 2020 and updates previous reports (2,4,5). With only 54 human cases reported in 2019, 19 human cases reported during January 2019-June 2020, and only six countries currently affected by dracunculiasis (Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, South Sudan, and importations into Cameroon), the achievement of eradication is within reach, but it is challenged by civil unrest, insecurity, and lingering epidemiologic and zoologic concerns, including 2,000 reported animal cases in 2019 and 1,063 animal cases in 2020, mostly in dogs. All ...
Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... - October 30, 2020 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Hopkins DR, Weiss AJ, Roy SL, Yerian S, Sapp SGH Tags: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Source Type: research

Development of a Multiplex Bead Assay for the Detection of Canine IgG4 Antibody Responses to Guinea Worm.
Abstract Increased levels of guinea worm (GW) disease transmission among dogs in villages along the Chari River in Chad threaten the gains made by the GW Eradication Program. Infected dogs with preemergent worm blisters are difficult to proactively identify. If these dogs are not contained, blisters can burst upon submersion in water, leading to the contamination of the water supply with L1 larvae. Guinea worm antigens previously identified using sera from human dracunculiasis patients were coupled to polystyrene beads for multiplex bead assay analysis of 41 non-endemic (presumed negative) dog sera and 39 ...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - October 26, 2020 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Priest JW, Ngandolo BNR, Lechenne M, Cleveland CA, Yabsley MJ, Weiss AJ, Roy SL, Cama V Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research

Identifying correlates of Guinea worm ( Dracunculus medinensis ) infection in domestic dog populations
This study provides new insight into the landscape-scale epidemiology of a debilitating parasite and can be used to more effectively target ongoing research and possibly eradication and control efforts. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - September 13, 2020 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Robert L. Richards Source Type: research

Agent-Based Simulation for Seasonal Guinea Worm Disease in Chad Dogs.
We present an agent-based simulation that models transmission of GW between a shared water source and a large population of dogs. The simulation incorporates various potential factors driving the infections including external factors and two currently used interventions, namely, tethering and larvicide water treatments. By defining and estimating infectivity parameters and seasonality factors, we test the simulation model on scenarios where seasonal patterns of dog infections could be driven by the parasite's life cycle alone or with environmental factors (e.g., temperature and rainfall) that could also affect human or dog...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - September 7, 2020 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Perini T, Keskinocak P, Li Z, Ruiz-Tiben E, Swann J, Weiss A Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research

Development of a Multiplex Bead Assay for the Detection of IgG Antibody Responses to Guinea Worm.
Abstract The success of the Guinea Worm (GW) Eradication Program over the past three decades has been tempered by the persistence of GW disease in a few African nations and the potential for a future resurgence in cases. Domestic dogs are now a major concern as a disease reservoir as large numbers of cases of canine GW disease are now reported each year, mainly along the Chari River in Chad. As a first step toward the development of a serologic assay for dogs, archived human plasma samples from dracunculiasis-positive donors from Togo were used to select adult female GW antigens for peptide sequencing and ...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - September 7, 2020 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Priest JW, Stuchlik O, Reed M, Soboslay P, Cama V, Roy SL Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research

Guinea worm in domestic dogs in Chad: A description and analysis of surveillance data
This report describes in detail the CGWEP surveillance system and explores epidemiological trends in canine Guinea worm cas es during 2015–2018. Our results showed an increased in the number of canine cases detected by the system during the period of interest. The proportion of worms that were contained (i.e., water contamination was prevented) improved significantly over time, from 72.8% in 2015 to 85.7% in 2018 (Mant el-Haenszel chi-square = 253.3, P (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - May 27, 2020 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Sarah Anne J. Guagliardo Source Type: research

Ecology of domestic dogs Canis familiaris as an emerging reservoir of Guinea worm Dracunculus medinensis infection
by Robbie A. McDonald, Jared K. Wilson-Aggarwal, George J. F. Swan, Cecily E. D. Goodwin, Tchonfienet Moundai, Dieudonn é Sankara, Gautam Biswas, James A. Zingeser Global eradication of human Guinea worm disease (dracunculiasis) has been set back by the emergence of infections in animals, particularly domestic dogsCanis familiaris. The ecology and epidemiology of this reservoir is unknown. We tracked dogs using GPS, inferred diets using stable isotope analysis and analysed correlates of infection in Chad, where numbers of Guinea worm infections are greatest. Dogs had small ranges that varied markedly among villages. Diet...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - April 19, 2020 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Robbie A. McDonald Source Type: research

Erratum: Vol. 68, No. 43.
Authors: Abstract In the report "Progress Toward Global Eradication of Dracunculiasis - January 2018-June 2019," on page 979, a sentence was omitted from the first paragraph. The paragraph should have read as follows. PMID: 31774742 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)
Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... - November 28, 2019 Category: Epidemiology Tags: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Source Type: research

Progress Toward Global Eradication of Dracunculiasis - January 2018-June 2019.
This report, based on updated health ministry data, describes progress to eradicate dracunculiasis during January 2018-June 2019 and updates previous reports (2,4,5). With only five countries currently affected by dracunculiasis (Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan), achievement of eradication is within reach, but it is challenged by civil unrest, insecurity, and lingering epidemiologic and zoologic questions. PMID: 31671082 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)
Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... - October 31, 2019 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Hopkins DR, Weiss AJ, Roy SL, Zingeser J, Guagliardo SAJ Tags: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Source Type: research

Guinea worm disease eradication: a moving target
Publication date: 30 March–5 April 2019Source: The Lancet, Volume 393, Issue 10178Author(s): The Lancet (Source: The Lancet)
Source: The Lancet - March 31, 2019 Category: General Medicine Source Type: research

Achieving the endgame: Integrated NTD case searches
We present here that house to house case searches offering services at POC are feasible and a potential tool for elimination and eradication programs nearing their end. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - December 20, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Lucas Buyon Source Type: research

Progress Toward Global Eradication of Dracunculiasis - January 2017-June 2018.
This report, based on updated health ministry data (3), describes progress during January 2017-June 2018 and updates previous reports (1,4). In 2017, 30 cases were reported from Chad and Ethiopia, and 855 infected animals (mostly dogs) were reported from Chad, Ethiopia, and Mali, compared with 25 cases and 1,049 animal infections reported in 2016. During January-June 2018, the number of cases declined to three cases each in Chad and South Sudan and one in Angola, with 709 infected animals reported, compared with eight cases and 547 animal infections during the same period of 2017. With only five affected countries, the era...
Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... - November 16, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Hopkins DR, Ruiz-Tiben E, Weiss AJ, Roy SL, Zingeser J, Guagliardo SAJ Tags: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Source Type: research

Population genetic analysis of Chadian Guinea worms reveals that human and non-human hosts share common parasite populations
We present the first extensive population genetic data for Guinea worm, inves tigating mitochondrial and microsatellite variation in adult female worms from both human and non-human hosts in the four endemic countries to elucidate the origins of Chad’s current outbreak and possible host-specific differences between parasites. Genetic diversity of Chadian Guinea worms was co nsiderably higher than that of the other three countries, even after controlling for sample size through rarefaction, and demographic analyses are consistent with a large, stable parasite population. Genealogical analyses eliminate the other three cou...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - October 4, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Elizabeth A. Thiele Source Type: research

Dracunculiasis Eradication: Are We There Yet?
This report summarizes the status of the global Dracunculiasis Eradication Program as of the end of 2017. Dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease) has been eliminated from 19 of 21 countries where it was endemic in 1986, when an estimated 3.5 million cases occurred worldwide. Only Chad and Ethiopia reported cases in humans, 15 each, in 2017. Infections of animals, mostly domestic dogs, with Dracunculus medinensis were reported in those two countries and also in Mali. Insecurity and infections in animals are the two main obstacles remaining to interrupting dracunculiasis transmission completely. PMID: 29869608 [PubMed -...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - June 4, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Hopkins DR, Ruiz-Tiben E, Eberhard ML, Weiss A, Withers PC, Roy SL, Sienko DG Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research

Human Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases: Heading Towards 2050.
Abstract By 2050 our civilized planet may be comprised predominantly of networked megacities embedded in warm subtropical and tropical climates, and under stress from climate change and catastrophic weather events. Urban slum areas in these cities, including those found in wealthier middle- and high-income nations (blue marble health), will be especially vulnerable to disease. Moreover, regional conflicts fought over shifting and limited resources, including water, will collapse health systems infrastructures to further promote disease emergence and reemergence. Thus while by 2050 we might congratulate our...
Source: Advances in Parasitology - May 15, 2018 Category: Parasitology Authors: Hotez PJ Tags: Adv Parasitol Source Type: research