Hookworm Graduation Card

Eggs of Ancylostoma duodenale in stool develop into infective larvae in warm, moist soil. The larvae penetrate the skin of the bottom of the foot of their human host upon contact. They burrow into the circulatory system, which carries them to the lungs, where they penetrate the alveoli. When ready, they migrate up to the pharynx and get swallowed into the stomach. When they reach the small intestine they finish their development into adults, mate, and lay eggs that get passed with the feces (1).

There are several human hookworms, including A. duodenale, A. ceylanicum, and Necator americanus (1). A. duodenale is found in Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, and South America in areas warm enough to support the larval soil growth (1). The adults feed on blood from their host and in rare cases can cause intestinal bleeding (2).

1) https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/hookworm/index.html

2) 10.1016/j.bjid.2019.09.002

Greeting Cards Team:

Dr. Chenhua Li (Lead, Ideas), Dr. Þórey Jónsdóttir (Illustrator, Ideas), Dr. Stephen Pollo (Writer, Researcher), Yuanzhe Wang (Digital Consultant).