|  | Conditions Treatments | Diseases

Interesting Facts on Hookworms

Hookworms can be the cause of a zoonotic infection, a disease that both humans and animals can share, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council. Hookworms can infect people and their pets either through ingestion of the parasite's eggs or cutaneously, when hookworm larvae migrate through the skin.

  1. About Hookworms

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), hookworms can be found all over the world, but they exist primarily in areas with warm, humid climates. In the U.S., human hookworm infections tend to be geographically restricted to the Southeast and Gulf Coast states.

    Hookworms and Pets

    • Cats and dogs acquire hookworms either by ingesting infected soil (through grooming themselves) or cutaneously, when hookworm larvae enter through their skin. Larvae can also be passed to kittens and puppies through their mother's milk. Hookworms attach or "hook" themselves to the animal's intestines and feed from the animal's blood.

    Hookworms and People

    • People acquire hookworms either by accidentally ingesting contaminated soil or fecal matter or cutaneously, such as by walking on contaminated soil with bare feet.

    Who's Most at Risk?

    • The CDC notes that the main risk factors for human transmission of hookworms are the presence of a dog in a household (usually a puppy) and pica, an eating disorder in which a human consumes nonfoods, such as feces and soil. Children are more at risk for acquiring hookworm infections.

    Cutaneous Larva Migrans

    • Hookworm infections in humans can cause cutaneous larva migrans, a condition that results in an itchy, red rash, according to the Winn Feline Foundation. In heavily infested humans, the parasite may migrate to the lungs. A. caninum (dog hookworm) larvae penetrate deeper into the tissues and can migrate into the intestines.

    Hookworms: A Real Concern

    • The CDC notes that most people don't realize their pets may be infested with a parasite such as the hookworm. Routine worming treatment of adult pets and all new puppies and kittens can prevent hookworm infection as well as contamination of the human environment.

Diseases - Related Articles