Guinea Worm (Dracunculus medinensis) Infection in a Wild-Caught Frog, Chad

Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 Nov;22(11):1961-1962. doi: 10.3201/eid2211.161332. Epub 2016 Nov 15.

Abstract

A third-stage (infective) larva of Dracunculus medinensis, the causative agent of Guinea worm disease, was recovered from a wild-caught Phrynobatrachus francisci frog in Chad. Although green frogs (Lithobates clamitans) have been experimentally infected with D. medinensis worms, our findings prove that frogs can serve as natural paratenic hosts.

Keywords: Chad; Dracunculus medinensis; Guinea worm; Guinea worm disease; Phrynobatrachus francisci; dogs; dracunculiasis; humans; infective larvae; parasites; paratenic host; transmission; wild frog; zoonoses.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anura / parasitology*
  • Chad / epidemiology
  • Dracunculiasis / veterinary*
  • Dracunculus Nematode* / classification
  • Dracunculus Nematode* / cytology
  • Dracunculus Nematode* / genetics
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / epidemiology*
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / parasitology*
  • Larva