Day 4: Hookworm of Dogs and Cats

Question 1

What is the name of hookworms in dogs and cats

Answer 1

Ancylostoma caninum

Question 2

What is the morphology of hookworms

Answer 2

Adult worms are small sized (~1 inch) and red in color
having the 3-cutting “teeth” on each side of the oral opening
Adults and L4 larvae have teeth and suck blood

Question 3

What is the epidemiology of Hookworms

Answer 3

Canine hookworm
Occurs in tropical, subtropical and warm temperatures
Wildest host range-Other canids like coyotes, wolves, foxes, etc.

Question 4

What is the generalized life cycle of hookworms

Answer 4

Infection by skin penetration or ingestion of L3 larvae
L3 larvae penetrate, migrate through tissues and lungs then get coughed up, swallowed ane developed to adult in small intestines

Question 5

What are the routes of Infection of hookworms

Answer 5

Transmammary (lactogenic) most important route
Peroral-Tracheal migration not required; development occurs in intestine
Percutaneous-Tracheal migration with maturity by 21 days
Transplacental-Very minor less than 2% of newborns infected this way

Question 6

What are the clinical signs of hookworms

Answer 6

Young pups are most susceptible
Signs are due to L4 and adults in intestines sucking blood
Anemia is severe/blood loss can be medical emergency
White MM
Diarrhea (black tarry stools)
Depression
Weak
Anorexia
Pot bellied
Iron deficient
Can have bloody stools

Question 7

How is the outcome of Hookworm affected

Answer 7

Strain of hookworm
Nutrtional status
Iron reserves
Resistance and immune status

Question 8

What is the pathology of hookworms

Answer 8

Anemia-microcytic (small size)
Hypochronic (Hb deficient)

Question 9

What are the other species of Hookworms

Answer 9

Uncinaria stenocephala
Ancylostoma brasilense
Ancylostoma tubaeforme

Question 10

What are the traits of Uncinaria stenocephala

Answer 10

Adults have cutting plates
Take less blood then A. caninum
Principal canine hookworm in northern cooler regions

Question 11

What are the traits of Ancylostoma brasilense

Answer 11

Large buccal capsule has two teeth on each side
Infects both cats and dogs
Found from Florida to N. Carolina
Most efficient skin penetrator

Question 12

What are the traits of Ancylostoma tubaeforme

Answer 12

Infects only cats
Not common

Question 13

What does the Hookworm egg look like

Answer 13

Strongyle-type egg
Only strongyle type egg found in dog feces
Diagnosed by fecal flotation

Question 14

What is the name for Whipworm

Answer 14

Trichuris

Question 15

What are the species of Trichuris

Answer 15

vulpis
suis
discolor
serrata

Question 16

What species is trichuris vulpis

Answer 16

Dog

Question 17

What species is trichuris suis

Answer 17

Pigs

Question 18

What species is trichurus discolor

Answer 18

Ruminants

Question 19

What species is trichurus serrata

Answer 19

Cats

Question 20

What is the morphology of whipworms

Answer 20

Adults are 30-45 mm in length
Shaped like a whip
Adults have long slender anterior end that is wound through mucosa colon to keep the worm in place

Question 21

What do the eggs in whipworms look like

Answer 21

Barrel shaped eggs with polar plugs

Question 22

What is the epidemiology of trichuris

Answer 22

Eggs resistant and persist for years
Common in dogs kept on chain or in small lots
Common in swine kept in confinement
Associated with secondary bacterial diarrhea with Campylobacter in dogs and pigs

Question 23

What is the prepatent period of Trichuris in pigs and dogs

Answer 23

40 days in pigs
10 weeks/70 days in dogs

Question 24

What are the clinical signs of trichuris

Answer 24

Diarrhea (colon orgin)
Low volume/low frequency
Weight loss
Straining to defecate
Secondary bacterial infections
Idiopathic diarrhea in adult dogs

Question 25

What is the pathology of trichuris suis

Answer 25

Heavy infections–>colitis and typhilitis occur in pseudonecrotic membranes and sloughing of colonic mucosa
Heavy infections can lead to death of young weaning age pigs
Severe disease is uncommon in dogs