TA K E A T O U R

H OO KWO R
M
HOOKWORM
INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION
• Hookworms are parasites which when transmitted to
humans affect the gastrointestinal tract, lungs and
skin

• The hookworms are divided into numerous species

from which 5 are known to affect humans

• Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale

play a major role in the path of the hookworm
infection in humans

• Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma ceylanicum,

and Ancylostoma caninum cause hookworm
infection in cats and dogs and are also found to
infect humans
TA X O N O M Y
FOR
HOOKWORM
 Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Nematoda

Class: Secernenta
TA X O N O M Y Order: Strongiloidae
FOR Family: Ancylostomatidae
HOOKWORM Genus: Necator/ Ancylostoma

Species: americanus (humans)duodenale

(humans)braziliense (cats and dogs)ceylanicum (cats and
dogs)caninum (dogs)
HISTORY
 • 1838-Angelo Dubini an Italian physician had come across Ancylostoma duodenale
during an autopsy

• 1878- Giovanni B Grassi and his associates had derived a method of diagnosis of
hookworm infection in humans through microscopical analysis of the faeces which
contain the hookworm eggs

• 1880- the link between anemia and hookworm infection was made by Edoardo
Perroncito

• 1881- thymol was developed to counter hookworm infection and was used as a
preferred choice of medicine till the 1920’s
HISTORY • 1898- the lifecycle of hookworm was determined by zoologist and parasitologist
Arthur Looss while another species of hookworm Necator americanus was identified
by Charles W Stiles a parasitologist

• 1910- The Rockefeller Sanitary Commission for the Eradication of Hookworm

Disease ( RSC) was established

• 1914- The RSC was disbanded on the 31stof December and replaced by International
Health division (IHD) to deal with other health issues such as malaria .
PAT H O G E N E S I S
 • There are two types- Ancylostoma duodenale
and Necator americanus. These worms enter
into the upper part of the small intestine and
can live for several years in the host. These
PAT H O G E N E S I parasites attach to the mucosa through their
S teeth and develop by feeding on the hosts blood
and mucosa.
PAT H O G E N E S
IS
PAT H O G E N E S
IS
PAT H O G E N E S I
S
LIFE CYCLE
LIFE CYCLE
EPIDEMOLO
GY
 Worldwide it is estimated that there are 900
million infected individuals. Infection with
hookworm is more common in warm, moist
areas of the world. Worm burdens vary
considerably; those individuals having few
worms tend to be asymptomatic. Several
EPIDEMOLO factors influence hookworm prevalence:
GY infection in the human population, defecation
onto the soil, acceptable environmental
conditions, and human contact with the
infective larvae in soil. Environmental
conditions include temperature, rainfall
pattern, and the presence of open, sandy soil
MORPHOLO
GY
 • Ancylostoma duodenale ( Old
World hookworm)
• Pinkish-white worms which are
S- shaped 2 pairs of semilunar
MORPHOLO cutting plates are located in the
GY Buccal capsule
• Adult males: 8-11mm

• Adult females: 10-13mm

• Form 10000-30000 eggs

 • Necator americanus ( New World
hookworm)
• They are small, cylindrical off-white
worms
• A pair of both dorsal and ventral plates
MORPHOLO
are located in the buccal capsule
GY
• Adult males: 7-9mm

• Adult females: 9-11mm

• Forms 5000- 10000 eggs

MORPHOLO
GY
ANCLOSTOM
A
DOUDENALE
VS
N E C AT O R
AMERICANU
S
A N C L O S T O M
A
D O U D E N A L E
V S
N E C A T O R
A M E R I C A N U
S
HOOKWORM
DISEASE
SYMPTOMS
HOOKWOR
M
DISEASE
SYMPTOMS
HOOKWOR
M
DISEASE
SYMPTOMS
HOOKWOR
M
DISEASE
SYMPTOMS
HOOKWOR
M
DISEASE
SYMPTOMS
PREVENTIO
N AND CURE
• Sanitary disposal of feces and educational
campaigns about the proper use of latrines. Proper
disposal of feces in areas away from habitations can
prevent the occurrence of infective larvae in the
PREVENTIO
environment.
N AND CURE
• Wearing shoes can help to prevent the hookworm
larvae from penetrating the feet.
PREVENTIO
N AND CURE