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Hookworm Larvae Adaptation

Hookworms throughout the world are most prominent in constantly moist, warm climates. Two species of hookworm, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, infect more than 740 million people all over the world every year. The most common result of a hookworm infection is anemia due to the loss of iron in the blood. Hookworms develop adaptations that aid their survival and allow them to become efficient parasites in humans and animals.

  1. Egg and Larvae Adaptation

    • Hookworm eggs developed a thin shell that provides them with protection as they travel through their host's digestive tract. Eggs get nutrients from the feces of the host. Large, paired sensilla on each side of the larvae mouth, called amphids, help the larvae locate their host while living in a substrate. Amphids allow hookworm larvae to find, attach and penetrate through the skin of a human host.

    Juvenile and Adult Adaptation

    • Juvenile hookworms develop two pairs of sharp teeth, giving them the ability to attach to their host's intestines while they eat intestinal mucus. Teeth also help them penetrate blood vessels and a natural anticoagulant secretion that prevents blood clots while the adult hookworm feasts on blood. The adult hydrostatic skeleton makes movements through circulatory and digestive systems easier.

    Hookworm Disease

    • Hookworm eggs, located in moist soil, develop into larvae. As larvae, they extend their bodies into the air, waiting for a host to pass by or step on them. Once in contact, they penetrate the skin of their host. An allergic reaction, known as ground itch, may occur at the point of entry. Larvae then travel through the blood stream to the lungs. Once in the lungs, they migrate to the esophagus where swallowing carries them to the small intestine.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of hookworm disease generally begin with diarrhea, but many times symptoms are unnoticeable. Occasional symptoms include slight abdominal pain, intestinal cramps, colic and nausea. Anemia results from a long-lasting chronic hookworm infection usually detected by your physician.

    Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

    • A stool sample examination provides information on the number of eggs present there. If more than 2,000 eggs per gram of stool exist, your doctor may prescribe mebendazole or albendazole along with an iron supplement. Hookworm transmission occurs when bare skin is in contact with infested soil or sand. If you are in an area where hookworm disease is common, avoid going barefoot and playing in dirt or sand with bare hands.

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