After saying this to a friend, she suggested I start this blog. It will feature information about various parasites that infect humans!
Interesting fact: The teeth are actually coming out of the ventral, or bottom, side of the worm, so it's basically bent back on itself
This first post is about Ancylostoma duodenale and it's close relative, Necator americanus. These are both geo-helminths, which mean they are worms that live in the soil! Both of them are commonly known as hookworm!
These worms typically live in areas of the world around the equator. They like warm, humid climates. Ancylostoma duodenale is sometimes known as the "Old World Worm", as opposed to Necator americanus's "New World Worm", but this is not altogether true, as their habitats often overlap.
Hookworms can cause chronic anemia in patients with bad infections. In children, this can mean cognitive development problems and growth issues. Ancylostoma can also be transmitted via breastmilk, so even tiny babies are at risk!
Hookworms enter the skin through the pores in the skin. The larvae are tiny, and can easily enter through hair follicles. From here, they enter the bloodstream, and eventually come to reside in the lungs. The larvae go through a molt in the alveoli to become bigger, which irritates the lungs, causing them to be coughed up. They are then swallowed, which allows them to go right where they wanted to be - the small intestine!
Once in the small intestine, the now-adult worms bite into the lining, drawing blood, which they eat. This understandably causes a lot of irritation. It can present in patients as acute abdomen or with symptoms similar to food poisoning. Ancylostoma infections are typically more severe, both because the worm is bigger, and because they can send larvae to hid out in stasis in the muscle tissue, allowing for re-infection to occur. They can cause up to a 0.2 ml blood loss per day per worm. Since infections can get over 100 worms, this can be quite a lot of blood!
Worms can be diagnosed by looking in the stool for eggs. The eggs have thin shells and are sort of oval shaped. Both species have eggs that are indistinguishable.
Both can easily be treated with anti-helminthic drugs and with iron replacement therapy.
Hookworms get into the soil by the eggs being passed out with the feces. They then lay in the ground for approximately 2 weeks, until they reach the appropriate stage to seek out a new host.
Hookworm infestation can be prevented by using flush toilets, wearing shoes, and educating people!
My poor puppy is getting over a batch of hookworms. Now I feel educated about the situation! :D Eww...
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