Question

The scientific name of the Guinea worm is -
(a)Dracunculus medinensis
(b)Brugia malayi and B. timori
(c)Trichinella spiralis
(d)Oxyuris vermicularis

Answer 1

Hint The guinea worm is a nematode whose common name is derived from the Guinea region of Africa. It is known to cause a parasitic disease to human beings which are almost eradicated. The scientific name directly translates to ‘little dragon from Medina’.

Complete answer: - The guinea worm is a nematode that causes the parasitic infection dracunculiasis, or the guinea worm disease. The scientific name is Dracunculus medinensis, which translates to ‘little dragon from Medina’.
- The disease is caused only by the female guinea worm.
- The larvae of the worm are found in freshwater, which is consumed by higher organisms that further enter the human body when they consume unfiltered water. The disease is characterized by painful blisters that appear on the skin surface.
- Dracunculiasis is rarely fatal and takes 10 to 14 months for the mature worm to appear. There is no vaccine or treatment for it except prevention by sanitization of drinking water.

Additional information: - Brugia malayi and B. timori are parasitic filarial nematodes that cause lymphatic filariasis and Timori filariasis, respectively. Lymphatic filariasis is also known as elephantiasis.
- Trichinella spiralis, commonly known as pork worm, is a parasitic nematode that causes trichinosis.
- Oxyuris vermicularis is a parasitic nematode, commonly known as the human pinworm which causes one of the most common nematode infections.

So, the correct answer is ‘Dracunculus medinensis’.

Note: - Oxyuris vermicularis is currently known as Enterobius vermicularis. The pinworm is also known as threadworm or seatworm.
- The female guinea worm is much larger than the male counterpart, with the longest female worm to be recorded at 80 cm and the largest male worm recorded at 4 cm.