Which hookworm species is acquired by walking barefoot on contaminated soil and is associated with a serpiginous rash and iron-deficiency anemia?

Which hookworm species is acquired by walking barefoot on contaminated soil and is associated with a serpiginous rash and iron-deficiency anemia?

• A. Necator americanus
• B. Ancylostoma duodenale
• C. Enterobius vermicularis
• D. Ascaris lumbricoides

Answer: (B)

Hookworm infection starts when larvae in contaminated soil penetrate the skin, usually through bare feet. That skin invasion often causes a serpiginous, pruritic rash at the entry site as the larvae migrate. After entering, the larvae travel to the gut, where the adults feed on host blood, leading to chronic blood loss and iron-deficiency anemia. Ancylostoma duodenale is the classic hookworm acquired by walking barefoot in contaminated soil and is especially associated with this pattern of skin penetration plus significant blood loss causing anemia. Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) causes perianal itching without this skin-penetration rash or anemia. Ascaris lumbricoides causes malnutrition and sometimes obstruction, not the described skin migration with a resulting iron deficiency. While another hookworm can cause similar disease, the scenario described aligns best with Ancylostoma duodenale.

Hookworm infection starts when larvae in contaminated soil penetrate the skin, usually through bare feet. That skin invasion often causes a serpiginous, pruritic rash at the entry site as the larvae migrate. After entering, the larvae travel to the gut, where the adults feed on host blood, leading to chronic blood loss and iron-deficiency anemia. Ancylostoma duodenale is the classic hookworm acquired by walking barefoot in contaminated soil and is especially associated with this pattern of skin penetration plus significant blood loss causing anemia. Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) causes perianal itching without this skin-penetration rash or anemia. Ascaris lumbricoides causes malnutrition and sometimes obstruction, not the described skin migration with a resulting iron deficiency. While another hookworm can cause similar disease, the scenario described aligns best with Ancylostoma duodenale.