''Ancylostoma tubaeforme'' is a

hookworm Hookworms are intestinal, blood-feeding, parasitic roundworms that cause types of infection known as helminthiases. Hookworm infection is found in many parts of the world, and is common in areas with poor access to adequate water, sanitation, an ...

that infects cats worldwide. Infection can occur through penetration of the skin, ingestion of infected hosts, such as birds, or by directly consuming the organism. ''Ancylostoma tubaeforme'' along with ''

Ancylostoma braziliense ''Ancylostoma braziliense'' is a species of hookworm belonging to the genus ''Ancylostoma''. It is an intestinal parasite of domestic cats and dogs. Severe infection is often fatal to these pets, especially in puppies and kittens. The infection ...

'' are the two most common hookworms to infect cats, causing anemia and compromising the immune system.

Morphology

The body of an adult A. tubaeforme is between 7 to 12 millimeters long. Youssefi, M. R., Hoseini, S. H., Hoseini, S. M., Zaheri, B. A., & Tabari, M. A. (2010). First report of Ancylostoma tubaeforme in Persian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor). Iranian Journal of Parasitology, 5(1), 61–63.

Signs

''Ancylostoma tubaeforme'' infection may lead to

dermatitis Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened. The area of skin involved can v ...

anemia Anemia or anaemia (British English) is a blood disorder in which the blood has a reduced ability to carry oxygen due to a lower than normal number of red blood cells, or a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin. When anemia comes on slowly, th ...

, weight loss, and pulmonary

lesions A lesion is any damage or abnormal change in the tissue of an organism, usually caused by disease or trauma. ''Lesion'' is derived from the Latin "injury". Lesions may occur in plants as well as animals. Types There is no designated classifi ...

Life cycle

''Ancylostoma tubaeforme'' larvae may infect a host through oral ingestion or through skin lesions. Larvae ingested by the host pass through the esophagus into the stomach. From there, they burrow into the lining of the stomach and duodenum, and develop into their adult form. The adult hookworms then burrow back into the lining of the stomach and release their ova into the gastrointestinal tract. Larvae that infect a host by penetrating the skin migrate to the stomach by first traveling through the lungs, up the trachea, and down the esophagus. From there, the larvae develop into adult hookworms, burrow back into the stomach lining, and release their ova into the gastrointestinal tract. The prepatent period, the time between infection and when larvae can be detected, is 22-25 days.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of ''A. tubaeforme'' infection is done through routine

fecal flotation Feces ( or faeces), known colloquially and in slang as poo and poop, are the solid or semi-solid remains of food that was not digested in the small intestine, and has been broken down by bacteria in the large intestine. Feces contain a relat ...

Treatment

Infections are typically treated with oral

anthelmintics Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them and without causing significant damage to the host. They may a ...

such as

fenbendazole Fenbendazole is a broad spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic used against gastrointestinal parasites including: giardia, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, the tapeworm genus '' Taenia'' (but not effective against ''Dipylidium caninum'', a common d ...

, or topical treatments such as

selamectin Selamectin (trade names Revolution and Stronghold manufactured by Zoetis, and Revolt manufactured by Aurora Pharmaceuticals, among others) is a topical parasiticide and anthelminthic used on dogs and cats. It treats and prevents infections of ...

References