RARE DISEASE
Dracunculiasis
Dracunculiasis
Dracunculiasis
Synonyms: Dracunculosis, Guinea worm disease, Medina worm disease, Medinensis
Synonyms: Dracunculosis, Guinea worm disease, Medina worm disease, Medinensis
Synonyms: Dracunculosis, Guinea worm disease, Medina worm disease, Medinensis
Drug discovery
0
drugs
With orphan designations
Overview
Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) is a parasitic infection caused by Dracunculus medinensis, transmitted via ingestion of water contaminated with copepods harboring larvae. After a 10–14 month incubation, a mature female worm emerges through a painful skin blister, typically on the lower limbs, often causing secondary bacterial infections, arthritis, or permanent joint damage. Eradication efforts since the 1980s have reduced global human cases from 3.5 million annually to 14 in 2023, though animal reservoirs (dogs, cats) complicate elimination [1][2][7].
Categories: rare infectious diseases
Research Papers
99 drug discovery papers about Dracunculiasis, with 1 first-in-class emerging drug candidates forecasted to outperform the average preclinical success rate. Recent publications:
99 drug discovery papers about Dracunculiasis, with 1 first-in-class emerging drug candidates forecasted to outperform the average preclinical success rate. Recent publications:
categories:
Small molecules
small molecules
2026-07-02 | Flubendazole 2.0: Designing a large field trial in dogs for a challenging setting.
Dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease (GWD), was targeted for eradication in 1986 after which, the annual incidence decreased by over 99.9%. As human cases of GWD near elimination, dogs have become the primary reservoir for the parasite and remain a challenge for eradication efforts. The high burden of GWD in dogs relative to humans highlights the need for therapeutic interventions in conjunction with behavioral interventions. Laboratory experiments in ferrets demonstrated that flubendazole is partially effective in inhibiting the infectivity of D. medinensis larvae. However, the implementation of large clinical field trials in dogs has proven challenging in settings where access to study areas is unreliable throughout the year and attrition is high. Alternative study design approaches are required to address these challenges. This paper outlines challenges encountered during a previous field trial and ways in which these challenges were addressed in the study design and implementation for a second clinical trial of flubendazole in dogs. The results of the second clinical trial are outlined in a separate manuscript.
2026-04-28 | Ivermectin Repurposing for Adult Dracunculus Worm Sterilization
Ivermectin binds to glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCl) in nematode nerve and muscle cells, causing hyperpolarization and paralysis. The drug also disrupts reproductive function by interfering with GABA-gated chloride channels in the reproductive tract of adult female Dracunculus medinensis, potentially preventing larval release.
2026-02-02 | Concurrent therapeutic and behavioral interventions are associated with a reduced number of emerging Dracunculus medinensis worms in dogs in Chad.
Dracunculus medinensis (Guinea worm; GW) is a parasitic nematode that causes dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease; GWD). The annual incidence of GWD in humans has been reduced by over 99.9% globally since the 1980s thanks to the implementation of complementary interventions. Dogs are now the primary hosts of GW and impede eradication efforts. The antihelmenthic drug, flubendazole (FLBZ), was suggested as a possible therapeutic intervention after it was found to be partially effective at reducing fertility of D. medinensis in experimentally infected ferrets. A 2019 clinical trial of FLBZ in Chad found no statistically significant difference in GW infections between treated and control dogs, but longer term effects may be observed if FLBZ reduced fertility of D. medinensis. This study leveraged surveillance data from the National Guinea Worm Eradication Program of the monthly count of D. medinensis worms in dogs between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2021, for 56 villages to examine whether FLBZ would have an observable effect over 33 months and in the presence of another intervention, proactive tethering. We fit hypothesis-informed models of the combined interventions using negative binomial generalized linear mixed models. We averaged the top models together and predicted the number of D. medinensis infections per month for an average village. Based on the model predictions, we observed a clear delineation of effects between March and August 2021, approximately one year after most villages initiated proactive tethering and approximately two years after a few villages initiated FLBZ treatment. During this period, the predicted number of dog infections were reduced by 83% (95% CI, 76% to 88%) when using FLBZ and proactive tethering concurrently, by 63% when using FLBZ alone (95% CI: 44% to 75%), and by 55% when using proactive tethering alone (95% CI: 52% to 58%) compared to baseline control methods. When used together, proactive tethering and FLBZ may be important tools in reducing the village-level D. medinensis burden in dogs.
2025-12-11 | Apparent failure and cryptic success of disease control via intermediate host population reduction
Abstract All populations experience density dependence, lest they grow infinitely. However, elucidating what forms of density dependence act most strongly for a given species remains incredibly challenging. Identifying the mechanisms that regulate population density is particularly relevant to pest control, which often causes high mortality, reducing population density but enabling recovery when survivors are freed from intraspecific competition and density dependent vital rates (e.g., birth, death, and maturation rates). Understanding these demographic responses is critical for effective pest management, especially when specific life stages of pests differ in the harm they cause. Guinea worm disease (GWD) is a neglected tropical disease with an obligate copepod intermediate host, and importantly, only large-bodied copepods can be infected with GW parasites. GW disease has been the target of control for several decades, with main management strategies including the use of a chemical larvicide, Abate™, which is applied to water bodies to cull copepod populations. Despite the wide application of Abate in GW endemic countries, little is known about long-term copepod population dynamics in response to Abate™. Thus, we evaluated this mortality-based management of intermediate copepod hosts to control GW transmission, combining mathematical models with a population dynamics experiment designed to mimic Abate™ pesticide control methods across a range of intensities. Despite initial reductions in both total and stage specific population densities, copepod populations recovered so rapidly that control appeared to fail, enabled by extremely fast maturation rates in low-density populations. Much to our surprise, model simulations of GW transmission showed that although total and stage-specific densities rebounded, infectious adult copepods —the proximate cause of infections—were strongly suppressed, indicating cryptic success. This effect was enabled by the 15-day developmental period of GW larvae within copepods, which blocks the accumulation of infectious copepods between interventions. Ultimately, this study highlights the importance of understanding mechanisms of density dependence when designing and optimizing pest control interventions, as well as interpreting counterintuitive consequences of interventions.
2024-09-02 | An Overview of Parasitic Disease: Dracunculiasis
Dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease, is a parasitic illness that only affects isolated, rural communities without access to clean drinking water in thirteen sub-Saharan African countries. The WHO has identified it as one of the next diseases to be eradicated. Water contaminated with copepods, or water fleas, carrying Dracunculiasis medinensis larvae is the vector of guinea worm disease transmission. A year after humans consume contaminated water, an adult female worm emerges, usually from a lower extremity, causing excruciating ulcers that can cause severe mobility impairment for several weeks. This illness strikes during the height of agricultural activity every year. A village's economically productive population is typically impacted in large numbers at the same time, which lowers agricultural output and causes economic difficulties. Since there is no known cure or vaccine for guinea worm disease, prevention is the key to its eradication. Globally, guinea worm disease cases have decreased by 98% since 1986, mostly due to community-based initiatives. Through these initiatives, the community has been taught how to filter water to get rid of parasites and how to stop people who have ulcers from contaminating drinking water sources. Sustained high-level political, financial, and community support will be necessary for complete eradication. By using an ayurvedic treatment approach, dracunculiasis can also be prevented. Ayurvedic medicine uses a few medicinal plants that exhibit antiparasitic activity against dracunculiasis, including Neem, Turmeric, Garlic, Amala, Baheda, Harde, Vidanga, Gokshura, Rasna, Bilva root, and Bala root.
proteins
2024-11-13 | Progress Toward Global Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease) Eradication, January 2023-June 2024.
The effort to eradicate Dracunculus medinensis, the etiologic agent of dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, began at CDC in 1980. In 1986, with an estimated 3.5 million global cases in 20 African and Asian countries, the World Health Assembly called for dracunculiasis elimination. The Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP) was established to help countries with endemic dracunculiasis reach this goal. GWEP is led by The Carter Center and supported by partners, including the countries with endemic disease, CDC, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization. Since 2012, infections in dogs, cats, and baboons have posed a new challenge for GWEP, as have ongoing civil unrest and insecurity in some areas. As of June 2024, dracunculiasis remained endemic in five countries (Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan). Fourteen human cases and 886 animal infections occurred, including 407 dogs in Chad and 248 dogs in Cameroon, reported in 2023, and three human cases and 297 animal infections reported during January-June 2024. Animal infections, primarily in dogs in Cameroon and Chad, and impeded access due to civil unrest and insecurity in Mali, threaten the near-term possibility of global eradication. Nevertheless, countries appear poised to reach zero cases.
2016-02-16 | “Cytochrome B”- Analysis of Hydrophobicity, Surface Accessibility, Antigenicity and Prediction of MHC I and MHC II Binders from Dracunculiasis
In this study, Cytochrome b (mitochondrion) protein has been used to investigate its role in antigenicity.Cytochrome b (mitochondrion) protein sequences (367 aa protein) is analyzed through different types B-cell epitope prediction methods.We found that the region of maximal hydrophilicity is likely to be an antigenic site, having hydrophobic characteristics, because the terminal regions of antigen protein is solvent accessible and unstructured, antibodies against those regions are also likely to recognize the native protein.It was seen that an antigen protein is hydrophobic in nature and contains segments of low complexity and high-predicted flexibility.The predicted antigenic protein segments of Cytochrome b (mitochondrion) can take active part in the host immune reactions.In this research, we have also used PSSM and SVM algorithms for the prediction of MHC class I and II binding peptide, antigenicity, Solvent accessibility, polar and nonpolar residue to analyse the regions that are likely exposed on the surface of proteins which are potentially antigenic that allows potential drug targets to identify active sites against infection as well as to design effective drug for treatment.
vaccines
2025-11-21 | A Novel Approach to Guinea Worm Disease Control Using Deep Neural Network Models for Behavioral Dog Screening Strategies
Free-roaming dogs pose serious public health challenges worldwide. This study investigates the role of owned and stray dogs in transmitting Guinea worm disease (GWD) and evaluates vaccination as a control strategy. A multi-host framework is developed with dogs as primary hosts and fish as intermediate hosts, while humans are excluded due to minimal incidence. The model uses twelve compartments and a fractional-order approach based on the Atangana–Baleanu derivative in the Caputo sense. Existence and uniqueness of solutions are established through fixed-point theorems, with Ulam–Hyers stability confirming robustness. Numerical simulations, performed using the Adams–Bashforth method, examine partial vaccination coverage, showing significant reductions in disease prevalence. Deep Neural Network techniques divide data into training, testing, and validation sets, enhancing computational accuracy. Findings highlight vaccination as a practical intervention for GWD control, offering valuable guidance for public health programs in areas with high free-roaming dog populations.
2021-05-18 | Designing a Multi-Epitope Vaccine against <em>Dracunculus medinensis b</em>y Employing Immuno-Informatics and In Silico Approaches
Dracunculiasis (also known as Guinea worm disease) is caused by Dracunculus medinensis parasite and it spreads by drinking water containing Larvae of Guinea worm. The lack of safe water facilities, preventions and treatments resulted in highly dangerous consequences in its endemic regions. The economy of the affected regions totally falls down due to less production which is the result of agricultural field worker’s bad health. In this study, a multi epitope vaccine was designed against Dracunculus medinensis by using immune-informatics. The vaccine was designed by using T-Cell and B-Cell epitopes derived from Dracunculus medinensis proteins (Lactamase-B domain-containing protein, G-Domain containing protein and Ferrochelatase) in addition to Adjuvants and Linkers. The tertiary structure, physiochemical properties and immunogenic elements of vaccine were achieved. The validation of tertiary structure was accessed, and quality was achieved. In addition, the world coverage of parasite’s CTL and HTL epitopes is 95.61%. The stability of the chimeric vaccine was achieved through disulfide engineering. The molecular docking with Toll Like Receptor 4 (TLR-4) of vaccine showed its binding efficiency followed by Molecular Dynamic Simulation. The immune simulation suggested the mediated cell immunity and repeated antigen clearance. At the end, the optimized codon was used in in silico cloning to ensure vaccine’s higher exposure in bacterium E. coli strain K12. With further assessments, it is believed that the proposed multi epitope vaccine has strong immunogen to control Dracunculus medinensis which may result in better social and economic conditions of endemic regions.
2016-05-17 | Study Hydrophobicity and Antigenicity of Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit II from D. medinensis: New Prototype of Synthetic Vaccine Development
Cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, also known as cytochrome c oxidase polypeptide II which is an oligomeric enzyme.In this study Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (mitochondrion) protein has been used to investigate its role in antigenicity.Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 protein sequences (230 aa protein) is analyzed through different types B-cell epitope prediction methods.We found that the region of maximal hydrophilicity is likely to be an antigenic site, having hydrophobic characteristics, because the terminal regions of antigen protein is solvent accessible and unstructured, antibodies against those regions are also likely to recognize the native protein.It was seen that an antigen protein is hydrophobic in nature and contains segments of low complexity and high-predicted flexibility.The predicted antigenic protein segments of Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 can take active part in the host immune reactions.In future study the predicted antigenic protein Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 fragments can be used in the investigation of MHC molecules binding and it can be the first bottlenecks in vaccine design.
2016-04-22 | Identification of Antigenic Determinants, Solvent Accessibility and MHC Binders of Antigen NADH Dehydrogenase Subunit 5 from a Little Dragon from Medina (Dracunculusmedinensis)
Dracunculiasis caused by the pathogen Dracunculus medinensis (a little dragon from Medina). The Cyclops is the intermediate host that ingests the larvae of parasite (D. medinensis), that later on ingested by the human from the contaminated stagnant unfiltered water from the water source. After an incubation period of a year these mature female worm comes towards the skin and start formation of a small round bulge on the skin by secreting an irritating chemical which causes severe pain. In this study we will summarize the potency of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (mitochondrion) from Dracunculus medinensis with 527 amino acids. Antigenic peptide of NADHdehydrogenasesubunit5 protein is most suitable for subunit vaccine development because with single epitope, the immune response can be generated in large population. In this research, we used PSSM and SVM algorithms for the prediction of MHC class I and II binding peptide, antigenicity, Solvent accessibility, polar and nonpolar residue to analyse the regions that are likely exposed on the surface of proteins which are potentially antigenic that allows potential drug targets to identify active sites against infection as well as to design effective drug to treat it.
antibodies
2025-12-30 | Progress Toward Eradication of Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease) - Worldwide, January 2024-June 2025.
Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease), caused by the parasite Dracunculus medinensis, is acquired by drinking water containing small water fleas infected with D. medinensis larvae or eating inadequately cooked aquatic animals. Efforts to eradicate D. medinensis, including the Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP), began at CDC in 1980. In 1986, with an estimated 3.5 million cases in 20 African and Asian countries, the World Health Assembly called for dracunculiasis elimination in specific geographic areas; this goal was later expanded to global eradication. GWEP has been led by The Carter Center since 1986 and is supported by countries with endemic dracunculiasis, CDC, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other partners. During 1986-2023, human dracunculiasis cases decreased by >99%, from an estimated 3.5 million to 14 worldwide. Since 2012, environmental contamination from infected animals has posed a new challenge to eradication, as have ongoing civil unrest and insecurity in some areas. As of June 2025, indigenous dracunculiasis transmission was occurring in six countries (Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan). Fifteen human cases and 664 animal infections were reported in 2024, including 299 canine infections in Cameroon and 234 in Chad; during January-June 2025, one human case and 550 animal infections were reported. Animal infections and public health personnel's impeded access to the population due to civil unrest and insecurity in Mali, South Sudan, and Sudan threaten the near-term possibility of disease eradication. Nevertheless, countries and partners appear poised to reach zero human cases soon.
2025-02-28 | South Sudan’s journey to defeat Guinea Worm Disease: The role of President Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center
No abstract.
2024-09-12 | Assessing the performance of TRX and DUF148 antigens for detection of prepatent Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) infection in dogs
Guinea worm (GW, Dracunculus medinensis) is a nematode that causes a painful and debilitating neglected tropical disease in humans. The GW Eradication Program has decreased human infections by >99% over the last 40 years. However, GW emergence in animal hosts, particularly dogs, has hampered eradication efforts. Currently, there is no method for diagnosing GW infection in animals during the prepatent period, before the adult female worms emerge. Previous works have identified two GW proteins, TRX and DUF148, as immunoreactive antigens with GW-positive human and dog sera. This study developed and validated indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using each antigen alone or in a combination of both antigens. Using serum samples from experimentally exposed dogs, TRX and DUF148 showed reactivity at 9- and 11-weeks post-exposure, respectively. In an experimentally infected ferret, TRX and DUF148 showed reactivity at 13- and 15-weeks post-exposure, respectively. These antigens were further validated using sera of dogs from endemic villages in Chad (n=47) and shelter dogs from the non-endemic United States (n=492). DUF148 showed better reactivity and sensitivity of 76.6.% in detecting GW infection in prepatent sera compared to TRX. However, DUF148 cross-reacted with one serum sample from Brugia pahangi experimental infection and several shelter dog sera. The anti-DUF148 titer was significantly higher in the shelter dogs positive for gastrointestinal nematodes than in negative dogs. To mitigate this cross-reaction, we produced 3 peptides of DUF148. Peptide 3 from the C-terminal was more reactive with prepatent sera and had a sensitivity of 83%; however, the specificity was not superior to DUF148 whole antigen. The antibody response to DUF148 in Chad dogs with the history of GW emergence waned overtime but was detectable until two years post-GW-emergence. Our findings could facilitate the development of diagnostic methods for early detection of GW infection in dogs in endemic countries.
small molecules
2026-07-02 | Flubendazole 2.0: Designing a large field trial in dogs for a challenging setting.
Dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease (GWD), was targeted for eradication in 1986 after which, the annual incidence decreased by over 99.9%. As human cases of GWD near elimination, dogs have become the primary reservoir for the parasite and remain a challenge for eradication efforts. The high burden of GWD in dogs relative to humans highlights the need for therapeutic interventions in conjunction with behavioral interventions. Laboratory experiments in ferrets demonstrated that flubendazole is partially effective in inhibiting the infectivity of D. medinensis larvae. However, the implementation of large clinical field trials in dogs has proven challenging in settings where access to study areas is unreliable throughout the year and attrition is high. Alternative study design approaches are required to address these challenges. This paper outlines challenges encountered during a previous field trial and ways in which these challenges were addressed in the study design and implementation for a second clinical trial of flubendazole in dogs. The results of the second clinical trial are outlined in a separate manuscript.
2026-04-28 | Ivermectin Repurposing for Adult Dracunculus Worm Sterilization
Ivermectin binds to glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCl) in nematode nerve and muscle cells, causing hyperpolarization and paralysis. The drug also disrupts reproductive function by interfering with GABA-gated chloride channels in the reproductive tract of adult female Dracunculus medinensis, potentially preventing larval release.
2026-02-02 | Concurrent therapeutic and behavioral interventions are associated with a reduced number of emerging Dracunculus medinensis worms in dogs in Chad.
Dracunculus medinensis (Guinea worm; GW) is a parasitic nematode that causes dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease; GWD). The annual incidence of GWD in humans has been reduced by over 99.9% globally since the 1980s thanks to the implementation of complementary interventions. Dogs are now the primary hosts of GW and impede eradication efforts. The antihelmenthic drug, flubendazole (FLBZ), was suggested as a possible therapeutic intervention after it was found to be partially effective at reducing fertility of D. medinensis in experimentally infected ferrets. A 2019 clinical trial of FLBZ in Chad found no statistically significant difference in GW infections between treated and control dogs, but longer term effects may be observed if FLBZ reduced fertility of D. medinensis. This study leveraged surveillance data from the National Guinea Worm Eradication Program of the monthly count of D. medinensis worms in dogs between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2021, for 56 villages to examine whether FLBZ would have an observable effect over 33 months and in the presence of another intervention, proactive tethering. We fit hypothesis-informed models of the combined interventions using negative binomial generalized linear mixed models. We averaged the top models together and predicted the number of D. medinensis infections per month for an average village. Based on the model predictions, we observed a clear delineation of effects between March and August 2021, approximately one year after most villages initiated proactive tethering and approximately two years after a few villages initiated FLBZ treatment. During this period, the predicted number of dog infections were reduced by 83% (95% CI, 76% to 88%) when using FLBZ and proactive tethering concurrently, by 63% when using FLBZ alone (95% CI: 44% to 75%), and by 55% when using proactive tethering alone (95% CI: 52% to 58%) compared to baseline control methods. When used together, proactive tethering and FLBZ may be important tools in reducing the village-level D. medinensis burden in dogs.
2025-12-11 | Apparent failure and cryptic success of disease control via intermediate host population reduction
Abstract All populations experience density dependence, lest they grow infinitely. However, elucidating what forms of density dependence act most strongly for a given species remains incredibly challenging. Identifying the mechanisms that regulate population density is particularly relevant to pest control, which often causes high mortality, reducing population density but enabling recovery when survivors are freed from intraspecific competition and density dependent vital rates (e.g., birth, death, and maturation rates). Understanding these demographic responses is critical for effective pest management, especially when specific life stages of pests differ in the harm they cause. Guinea worm disease (GWD) is a neglected tropical disease with an obligate copepod intermediate host, and importantly, only large-bodied copepods can be infected with GW parasites. GW disease has been the target of control for several decades, with main management strategies including the use of a chemical larvicide, Abate™, which is applied to water bodies to cull copepod populations. Despite the wide application of Abate in GW endemic countries, little is known about long-term copepod population dynamics in response to Abate™. Thus, we evaluated this mortality-based management of intermediate copepod hosts to control GW transmission, combining mathematical models with a population dynamics experiment designed to mimic Abate™ pesticide control methods across a range of intensities. Despite initial reductions in both total and stage specific population densities, copepod populations recovered so rapidly that control appeared to fail, enabled by extremely fast maturation rates in low-density populations. Much to our surprise, model simulations of GW transmission showed that although total and stage-specific densities rebounded, infectious adult copepods —the proximate cause of infections—were strongly suppressed, indicating cryptic success. This effect was enabled by the 15-day developmental period of GW larvae within copepods, which blocks the accumulation of infectious copepods between interventions. Ultimately, this study highlights the importance of understanding mechanisms of density dependence when designing and optimizing pest control interventions, as well as interpreting counterintuitive consequences of interventions.
2024-09-02 | An Overview of Parasitic Disease: Dracunculiasis
Dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease, is a parasitic illness that only affects isolated, rural communities without access to clean drinking water in thirteen sub-Saharan African countries. The WHO has identified it as one of the next diseases to be eradicated. Water contaminated with copepods, or water fleas, carrying Dracunculiasis medinensis larvae is the vector of guinea worm disease transmission. A year after humans consume contaminated water, an adult female worm emerges, usually from a lower extremity, causing excruciating ulcers that can cause severe mobility impairment for several weeks. This illness strikes during the height of agricultural activity every year. A village's economically productive population is typically impacted in large numbers at the same time, which lowers agricultural output and causes economic difficulties. Since there is no known cure or vaccine for guinea worm disease, prevention is the key to its eradication. Globally, guinea worm disease cases have decreased by 98% since 1986, mostly due to community-based initiatives. Through these initiatives, the community has been taught how to filter water to get rid of parasites and how to stop people who have ulcers from contaminating drinking water sources. Sustained high-level political, financial, and community support will be necessary for complete eradication. By using an ayurvedic treatment approach, dracunculiasis can also be prevented. Ayurvedic medicine uses a few medicinal plants that exhibit antiparasitic activity against dracunculiasis, including Neem, Turmeric, Garlic, Amala, Baheda, Harde, Vidanga, Gokshura, Rasna, Bilva root, and Bala root.
proteins
2024-11-13 | Progress Toward Global Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease) Eradication, January 2023-June 2024.
The effort to eradicate Dracunculus medinensis, the etiologic agent of dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, began at CDC in 1980. In 1986, with an estimated 3.5 million global cases in 20 African and Asian countries, the World Health Assembly called for dracunculiasis elimination. The Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP) was established to help countries with endemic dracunculiasis reach this goal. GWEP is led by The Carter Center and supported by partners, including the countries with endemic disease, CDC, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization. Since 2012, infections in dogs, cats, and baboons have posed a new challenge for GWEP, as have ongoing civil unrest and insecurity in some areas. As of June 2024, dracunculiasis remained endemic in five countries (Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan). Fourteen human cases and 886 animal infections occurred, including 407 dogs in Chad and 248 dogs in Cameroon, reported in 2023, and three human cases and 297 animal infections reported during January-June 2024. Animal infections, primarily in dogs in Cameroon and Chad, and impeded access due to civil unrest and insecurity in Mali, threaten the near-term possibility of global eradication. Nevertheless, countries appear poised to reach zero cases.
2016-02-16 | “Cytochrome B”- Analysis of Hydrophobicity, Surface Accessibility, Antigenicity and Prediction of MHC I and MHC II Binders from Dracunculiasis
In this study, Cytochrome b (mitochondrion) protein has been used to investigate its role in antigenicity.Cytochrome b (mitochondrion) protein sequences (367 aa protein) is analyzed through different types B-cell epitope prediction methods.We found that the region of maximal hydrophilicity is likely to be an antigenic site, having hydrophobic characteristics, because the terminal regions of antigen protein is solvent accessible and unstructured, antibodies against those regions are also likely to recognize the native protein.It was seen that an antigen protein is hydrophobic in nature and contains segments of low complexity and high-predicted flexibility.The predicted antigenic protein segments of Cytochrome b (mitochondrion) can take active part in the host immune reactions.In this research, we have also used PSSM and SVM algorithms for the prediction of MHC class I and II binding peptide, antigenicity, Solvent accessibility, polar and nonpolar residue to analyse the regions that are likely exposed on the surface of proteins which are potentially antigenic that allows potential drug targets to identify active sites against infection as well as to design effective drug for treatment.
vaccines
2025-11-21 | A Novel Approach to Guinea Worm Disease Control Using Deep Neural Network Models for Behavioral Dog Screening Strategies
Free-roaming dogs pose serious public health challenges worldwide. This study investigates the role of owned and stray dogs in transmitting Guinea worm disease (GWD) and evaluates vaccination as a control strategy. A multi-host framework is developed with dogs as primary hosts and fish as intermediate hosts, while humans are excluded due to minimal incidence. The model uses twelve compartments and a fractional-order approach based on the Atangana–Baleanu derivative in the Caputo sense. Existence and uniqueness of solutions are established through fixed-point theorems, with Ulam–Hyers stability confirming robustness. Numerical simulations, performed using the Adams–Bashforth method, examine partial vaccination coverage, showing significant reductions in disease prevalence. Deep Neural Network techniques divide data into training, testing, and validation sets, enhancing computational accuracy. Findings highlight vaccination as a practical intervention for GWD control, offering valuable guidance for public health programs in areas with high free-roaming dog populations.
2021-05-18 | Designing a Multi-Epitope Vaccine against <em>Dracunculus medinensis b</em>y Employing Immuno-Informatics and In Silico Approaches
Dracunculiasis (also known as Guinea worm disease) is caused by Dracunculus medinensis parasite and it spreads by drinking water containing Larvae of Guinea worm. The lack of safe water facilities, preventions and treatments resulted in highly dangerous consequences in its endemic regions. The economy of the affected regions totally falls down due to less production which is the result of agricultural field worker’s bad health. In this study, a multi epitope vaccine was designed against Dracunculus medinensis by using immune-informatics. The vaccine was designed by using T-Cell and B-Cell epitopes derived from Dracunculus medinensis proteins (Lactamase-B domain-containing protein, G-Domain containing protein and Ferrochelatase) in addition to Adjuvants and Linkers. The tertiary structure, physiochemical properties and immunogenic elements of vaccine were achieved. The validation of tertiary structure was accessed, and quality was achieved. In addition, the world coverage of parasite’s CTL and HTL epitopes is 95.61%. The stability of the chimeric vaccine was achieved through disulfide engineering. The molecular docking with Toll Like Receptor 4 (TLR-4) of vaccine showed its binding efficiency followed by Molecular Dynamic Simulation. The immune simulation suggested the mediated cell immunity and repeated antigen clearance. At the end, the optimized codon was used in in silico cloning to ensure vaccine’s higher exposure in bacterium E. coli strain K12. With further assessments, it is believed that the proposed multi epitope vaccine has strong immunogen to control Dracunculus medinensis which may result in better social and economic conditions of endemic regions.
2016-05-17 | Study Hydrophobicity and Antigenicity of Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit II from D. medinensis: New Prototype of Synthetic Vaccine Development
Cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, also known as cytochrome c oxidase polypeptide II which is an oligomeric enzyme.In this study Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (mitochondrion) protein has been used to investigate its role in antigenicity.Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 protein sequences (230 aa protein) is analyzed through different types B-cell epitope prediction methods.We found that the region of maximal hydrophilicity is likely to be an antigenic site, having hydrophobic characteristics, because the terminal regions of antigen protein is solvent accessible and unstructured, antibodies against those regions are also likely to recognize the native protein.It was seen that an antigen protein is hydrophobic in nature and contains segments of low complexity and high-predicted flexibility.The predicted antigenic protein segments of Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 can take active part in the host immune reactions.In future study the predicted antigenic protein Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 fragments can be used in the investigation of MHC molecules binding and it can be the first bottlenecks in vaccine design.
2016-04-22 | Identification of Antigenic Determinants, Solvent Accessibility and MHC Binders of Antigen NADH Dehydrogenase Subunit 5 from a Little Dragon from Medina (Dracunculusmedinensis)
Dracunculiasis caused by the pathogen Dracunculus medinensis (a little dragon from Medina). The Cyclops is the intermediate host that ingests the larvae of parasite (D. medinensis), that later on ingested by the human from the contaminated stagnant unfiltered water from the water source. After an incubation period of a year these mature female worm comes towards the skin and start formation of a small round bulge on the skin by secreting an irritating chemical which causes severe pain. In this study we will summarize the potency of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (mitochondrion) from Dracunculus medinensis with 527 amino acids. Antigenic peptide of NADHdehydrogenasesubunit5 protein is most suitable for subunit vaccine development because with single epitope, the immune response can be generated in large population. In this research, we used PSSM and SVM algorithms for the prediction of MHC class I and II binding peptide, antigenicity, Solvent accessibility, polar and nonpolar residue to analyse the regions that are likely exposed on the surface of proteins which are potentially antigenic that allows potential drug targets to identify active sites against infection as well as to design effective drug to treat it.
antibodies
2025-12-30 | Progress Toward Eradication of Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease) - Worldwide, January 2024-June 2025.
Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease), caused by the parasite Dracunculus medinensis, is acquired by drinking water containing small water fleas infected with D. medinensis larvae or eating inadequately cooked aquatic animals. Efforts to eradicate D. medinensis, including the Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP), began at CDC in 1980. In 1986, with an estimated 3.5 million cases in 20 African and Asian countries, the World Health Assembly called for dracunculiasis elimination in specific geographic areas; this goal was later expanded to global eradication. GWEP has been led by The Carter Center since 1986 and is supported by countries with endemic dracunculiasis, CDC, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other partners. During 1986-2023, human dracunculiasis cases decreased by >99%, from an estimated 3.5 million to 14 worldwide. Since 2012, environmental contamination from infected animals has posed a new challenge to eradication, as have ongoing civil unrest and insecurity in some areas. As of June 2025, indigenous dracunculiasis transmission was occurring in six countries (Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan). Fifteen human cases and 664 animal infections were reported in 2024, including 299 canine infections in Cameroon and 234 in Chad; during January-June 2025, one human case and 550 animal infections were reported. Animal infections and public health personnel's impeded access to the population due to civil unrest and insecurity in Mali, South Sudan, and Sudan threaten the near-term possibility of disease eradication. Nevertheless, countries and partners appear poised to reach zero human cases soon.
2025-02-28 | South Sudan’s journey to defeat Guinea Worm Disease: The role of President Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center
No abstract.
2024-09-12 | Assessing the performance of TRX and DUF148 antigens for detection of prepatent Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) infection in dogs
Guinea worm (GW, Dracunculus medinensis) is a nematode that causes a painful and debilitating neglected tropical disease in humans. The GW Eradication Program has decreased human infections by >99% over the last 40 years. However, GW emergence in animal hosts, particularly dogs, has hampered eradication efforts. Currently, there is no method for diagnosing GW infection in animals during the prepatent period, before the adult female worms emerge. Previous works have identified two GW proteins, TRX and DUF148, as immunoreactive antigens with GW-positive human and dog sera. This study developed and validated indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using each antigen alone or in a combination of both antigens. Using serum samples from experimentally exposed dogs, TRX and DUF148 showed reactivity at 9- and 11-weeks post-exposure, respectively. In an experimentally infected ferret, TRX and DUF148 showed reactivity at 13- and 15-weeks post-exposure, respectively. These antigens were further validated using sera of dogs from endemic villages in Chad (n=47) and shelter dogs from the non-endemic United States (n=492). DUF148 showed better reactivity and sensitivity of 76.6.% in detecting GW infection in prepatent sera compared to TRX. However, DUF148 cross-reacted with one serum sample from Brugia pahangi experimental infection and several shelter dog sera. The anti-DUF148 titer was significantly higher in the shelter dogs positive for gastrointestinal nematodes than in negative dogs. To mitigate this cross-reaction, we produced 3 peptides of DUF148. Peptide 3 from the C-terminal was more reactive with prepatent sera and had a sensitivity of 83%; however, the specificity was not superior to DUF148 whole antigen. The antibody response to DUF148 in Chad dogs with the history of GW emergence waned overtime but was detectable until two years post-GW-emergence. Our findings could facilitate the development of diagnostic methods for early detection of GW infection in dogs in endemic countries.
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