Dracunculus (nematode)

Dracunculus
Dracunculus medinensis larvae
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Nematoda
Class:	Secernentea
Order:	Camallanida
Family:	Dracunculidae
Genus:	Dracunculus Reichard, 1759
Species
Dracunculus alii Dracunculus dahomensis Dracunculus fuelliborni Dracunculus globocephalus Dracunculus insignis Dracunculus lutrae Dracunculus medinensis Dracunculus ophidensis

Dracunculus is a genus of spirurid nematode parasites in the family Dracunculidae.

The worms can reach a metre in length. If one simply pulls off the protruding head of the worm, the worm will break and leak high levels of foreign antigen which can lead to anaphylactic shock and fast death of the host. Hence it is important to remove the worm slowly (over a period of weeks). This is typically undertaken by winding the worm onto a stick (say, a matchstick), by a few centimetres each day.