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Hookworms

Hookworms are soil-transmitted parasites that reside in the human small intestine, causing hookworm disease and iron deficiency anemia, particularly affecting pregnant women in Africa. The disease's burden is often underestimated due to underreporting of complications, and co-infections with malaria increase risks for maternal and neonatal health. Additionally, zoonotic hookworms can cause cutaneous larva migrans, leading to intense itching and skin lesions.

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67 views2 pages

Hookworms

Hookworms are soil-transmitted parasites that reside in the human small intestine, causing hookworm disease and iron deficiency anemia, particularly affecting pregnant women in Africa. The disease's burden is often underestimated due to underreporting of complications, and co-infections with malaria increase risks for maternal and neonatal health. Additionally, zoonotic hookworms can cause cutaneous larva migrans, leading to intense itching and skin lesions.

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Hookworms 

are soil-transmitted nematode parasites that can reside for many years 
in the small intestine of their human hosts, where they suck blood and can cause ir
on deficiency anaemia in individuals who harbour moderate and high numbers of ad
ult worms, which is known as hookworm disease.

As N. americanus globally is the predominant hookworm on a population basis, it re
mains the leading cause of hookworm disease.

It is difficult to estimate the burden of disease from hookworm infection; the most c
ommon complications of this disease are often underreported and, when they are, t
hey are not specifically associated with hookworm infection.

Pregnant women with hookworm disease - notably, across Africa, where more than 
one-quarter of pregnant women are infected33 - are at risk of higher maternal and 
neonatal issues, particularly when hookworm and malaria co-infections occur.

The increasing adoption of the human challenge model in various laboratories aroun
d the world will probably accelerate testing of new interventions to control hookwor
m disease, as well as provide proof of concept that the hookworm proteome is a ver
itable pharmacopoeia for inflammatory disease therapeutics81.

Signs of advanced severe infection are those of anemia and protein deficiency,
including emaciation, cardiac failure, and abdominal distension with ascites. Larval
invasion of the skin can produce a skin disease called cutaneous larva migrant also
known as creeping eruption. The hosts of these worms are not human and the larvae
can only penetrate the upper five layers of the skin, where they give rise to intense,
local itching, usually on the foot or lower leg, known as ground itch. This infection is due
to larvae from the A. Brasiliense hookworm. The larvae migrate in tortuous tunnels
between the stratum Basale and stratum corneum of the skin, causing serpiginous
vesicular lesions. With advancing movement of the larvae, the rear portions of the
lesions become dry and crusty. The lesions are typically intensely itchy.
Hookworms are nematodes in the superfamily Ancylostomatoidea. Humans are usually
infected by Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, which are maintained in
human populations. Hookworm larvae that normally mature in the intestinal tracts of
animals can cause cutaneous larva migrans in people.Zoonotic hookworms known to
cause this condition include A. braziliense, A. caninum, A. ceylanicum, A. tubaeforme,
Uncinaria stenocephala and Bunostomum phlebotomum. Other species of hookworms
found in animals, including wildlife and captive exotics, might also be able to cause
cutaneous larva migrans.

Reference
https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/infections/parasitic-infections-nematodes-
roundworms/hookworm-infection
CDC - Roundworms & Hookworms

CDC - Zoonotic Hookworm - Epidemiology & Risk Factors

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