Ancylostoma ceylanicum Zoonotic Hookworm: Neglected Tropical Disease

Abstract

Hookworm infection is a parasitic disease which is important in developing countries. Most infected individuals are asymptomatic. Heavy and chronic infection cause blood loss, iron-deficiency anemia and hypoproteinemia. The disease has received little attention from public health authorities hence the term Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Main helminth parasites which are common infectious agent are Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. In the present, the various reports show that the disease has a secondary helminth parasite, Ancylostoma ceylanicum. A. ceylanicum is a hookworm found primarily in dogs and cats, which is common health problem in companion animals, also represents a neglected public health concern due to the incidence of the disease in humans is believed to be low. Although dogs and cats are natural host of A. ceylanicum, adult works can adapt to growing up and shedding egg in human intestines. Clinical manifestation of this infection in human also mimics that of human hookworm. Australia is interested in the pathogenesis of A. ceylanicum in humans as an emerging and re-emerging disease with increasing reports of human infections, particularly among travelers returning from travel in Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar which have been diagnosed by adult morphology by gastroendoscopy. Fecal examination of helminth eggs could not distinguish between A. ceylanicum, N. americanus, and A. duodenale. Epidemiological surveys of hookworm disease in this region by molecular biology indicate that Human infection with the parasite A. ceylanicum is second only to N. americanus and found that the rate of environmental contamination of A. ceylanicum was the highest among the hookworm group. Currently, the prevention of hookworm disease in humans focuses on students who are at risk groups according to the principle of eating hot food, serving spoons, washing hands, and not walking barefoot by overlooking the current incidence of A. ceylanicum infection in humans. Therefore, recognizing the importance of A. ceylanicum infection in humans from companion animals and considering the integrated control and prevention of hookworm disease with the implementation of One Health policy including people, animals and the environment will be a way to prevent the transmission of A. ceylanicum to humans and spread wider areas This can reduce the rate of hookworm infection in humans. dogs and cats in the endemic region.