Ancylostoma caninum (1)

Question 1

What are the final host(s)?

Answer 1

Dogs and Foxes

Question 2

What are the paratenic host(s)?

Answer 2

Rodents

Question 3

Describe an adult hookworm

Answer 3

3 pairs of teeth
Small (1-2 cm)
Characteristic hook appearance

Question 4

Describe a hookworm egg

Answer 4

Oval
Thin-shelled
60x40 micro m

Question 5

Explain the modes of infection

Answer 5

Percutaneous - common in adult dogs
Per os - common in adult dogs
Paratenic hosts
Transplacental - rare
Transmammary - important (makes young animals the sickest)

Question 6

Explain the life cycle

Answer 6

1. L3 migrate - travel to small intestine
2. Develop to adult or travel to skeletal muscle cells (Arrested
   development)
3. Lung migration
4. L3 leaves feces because cuticle forms and it can’t eat
   PPP: 2-3 weeks
   Survive several months in dog
   Common in southeast (warm weather - >20*C)

Question 7

What is the importance of arrested development?

Answer 7

Adult dogs - wait to be passed onto offspring (during last 2 weeks of
pregnancy, resume development)
Heavily infected
- Competition for nutrients
- Makes it hard to treat them
Makes it necessary to treat dog every 2 weeks

Question 8

What is the importance of PPP?

Answer 8

PPP: 2-3 weeks

Egg -> L3 =

Question 9

Site of infection

Answer 9

Small intestine

Question 10

Explain the Pathogenesis

Answer 10

Peracute Hookworm Disease

 - can be fatal in young pups
 - occurs prior to end of PPP
 - eggs not seen in feces

Acute Hookworm Disease - older puppies

Chronic Hookworm Disease

Acute or chronic hemorrhagic anemia

Pups infected by transmammary route challenged

ZOONOTIC!

Question 11

What are the clinical signs?

Answer 11

Peracute Hookworm Disease

 - Anemia
 - Diarrhea (with or without partially digested blood)
 - Lassitude

Acute Hookworm Disease

 - Respiratory disease; Pneumonia
 - Anemia
 - Diarrhea (Blood/Mucus)
 - Lassitude

Chronic Hookworm Disease

 - Weight loss
 - Poor Hair Coat
 - Loss of appetite 

Moist Eczema (dermatitis) - percutaneous

Question 12

How do you diagnose?

Answer 12

Clinical Signs

History of hematological and fecal examinations

A few hookworm eggs confirms infection (-iasis) only, not hookworm disease
- Consider age and time of infection to determine if hookworms are
the issue

Larval culture - differential

Question 13

What is involved in the treatment and prevention?

Answer 13

Pregnant bitches treated during pregnancy/Deworming puppies

Parenteral iron

Sound diet

May require blood transfusion

Good hygiene

Several treatments may be required

Anthelmintics

 - Adults and larvae
 - Species specific

Larval “leakage”

Treat nursing litters twice at 1-2 weeks and again 2 weeks later

Question 14

What are the common names for Ancylostoma caninum?

Answer 14

Hookworm

Southern Hookworm