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Glite Dictionary
Dracunculus medinensis

Dracunculus medinensis

9.9
A worm that lives under people's skin and causes Guinea worm disease
  • noun
  • /ˌdrækʌŋˈkjuːləs ˌmɛdɪˈnɛn.sɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Dracunculus medinensis
  • Dracunculus medinensis is responsible for causing Guinea worm disease in humans.

Examples

  • The life cycle of Dracunculus medinensis involves contaminating water sources.

  • In Africa, the Dracunculus medinensis infection is commonly known as Guinea worm disease.

  • Doctors in endemic regions are actively working to eradicate Dracunculus medinensis infections.

  • The Dracunculus medinensis is a significant health concern in some regions.

  • Dracunculus medinensis is a parasitic roundworm that primarily infects humans in tropical regions.

  • Efforts to control Dracunculus medinensis infections have led to a significant decrease in cases of Guinea worm disease.

  • Infection by Dracunculus medinensis occurs when people drink contaminated water containing the worm's larvae.

Synonyms

Guinea worm
vsDracunculus medinensis
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A small parasite that lives in people and comes out through the skin causing strong pain after drinking dirty water

emphasizes species distribution and other vertebrate hosts living beneath the skin

Surface Forms

Dracunculus medinensis singular
Dracunculus medinenses plural

Morphology

Dracunculus + medinensis

The name is a taxonomic binomial: 'Dracunculus' denotes a nematode parasite, and 'medinensis' is an adjectival species epithet (literally 'of/from Medina'), so a learner who knows both parts can infer this is a particular species of parasitic worm. However, the precise clinical meaning, typical hosts, and geographic distribution are specialist facts not recoverable from the surface parts alone, and Latin binomials are a technical naming convention, so the relation is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Dracunculus medinensis may come from Latin: dracunculus meaning 'little dragon' and medinensis meaning 'from Medina', which gives a picture of a small, twisting creature. That's why the name fits a parasitic worm that lives under the skin and can push out painfully, like a tiny dragon emerging.