The hookworm is a parasitic nematode worm that lives in the small intestine of its host - eg, dog, cat or human. Two species of hookworms commonly infect humans, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. Other hookworms that mainly infect animals can also be parasites of humans (Ancylostoma ceylanicum) or can cause cutaneous larva migrans (Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma braziliense caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala). A. caninum larvae can occasionally migrate to the human intestine, causing eosinophilic enteritis. A. caninum larvae have also been implicated as a cause of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis. This article covers intestinal hookworm infection. See the separate Cutaneous Larva Migrans article.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/doctor/gastroenterology/hookworm-infections