HOOKWORM (Ancylostoma spp. , Uncinaria stenocephala)
• Hookworms are haematophagous nematodes that parasitise the gastrointestinal tract of a range of mammalian species, including domestic and wild animals, and humans. • Hookworms are a common cause of morbidity (iron deficiency anaemia and malnutrition) in low- and middle-income countries, affecting an estimated 500 million people globally. 1 Human host-adapted hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale) are not zoonotic, however a third common hookworm species in humans, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, is a major zoonosis and highly endemic in dogs and cats across the Asia Pacific. • Other hookworm species infesting dogs and cats are also known to cause zoonotic disease, most notably eosinophilic enteritis and cutaneous larva migrans.
ACAZAP RECOMMENDATIONS
weeks of age to eight weeks of age (two weeks after weaning). This is particularly important for puppies due to the risk of vertical and lactogenic transmission of A. caninum. • Given the prepatent period of hookworm species may be as short as two weeks, at least monthly deworming of dogs and cats older than eight weeks is recommended to reduce environmental contamination and minimise zoonotic risk. • Depending on health and lifestyle factors, adult dogs should have a faecal flotation performed yearly, with puppies tested more frequently. • Do not feed raw meat or allow dogs to hunt, as many animals and birds act as paratenic hosts for some hookworm species. • Veterinarians and public health workers should educate dog owners regarding the potential risks of improper parasite control in dogs.
• Observing good hygiene measures and avoiding skin contact with contaminated soil and sand is recommended. • Given hookworm-associated zoonotic infections are more frequently diagnosed in tropical and subtropical areas, adults and children in these locations should avoid walking barefoot to avoid larval penetration where dogs and cats are known to roam. • Individuals with occupations that require consistent contact with moist soil for extended periods of time should consider wearing shoes and gloves. • Children’s sand pits should be covered when not in use. • Prompt daily removal of cat and dog faecal matter from backyards will help prevent hookworm larval contamination of the environment. • Puppies and kittens should be dewormed fortnightly from two
IN ANIMALS
AETIOLOGY AND EPIDEMIOLOGY • Five hookworm species have been identified in dogs and cats in Australia: Ancylostoma caninum, A. tubaeforme (cats only), A. braziliense, A. ceylanicum and Uncinaria stenocephala . 2 • Hookworms are found throughout Australia, however there are geographical differences in the species distribution related to the climatic conditions required for larval development in the environment. 2
- Ancylostoma caninum is by far the most widely distributed owing to the ability of larvae to undergo arrested development during seasons unfavourable for its survival. - The other species of Ancylostoma are mainly found in warmer tropical and subtropical regions, with A. braziliense restricted to the wet tropics. - Uncinaria stenocephala is more adapted to temperate and cold regions and found in the southern parts of Australia.
CONTENTS
49 Companion Animal Zoonoses Guidelines
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