[hoo
k-wurm] 
| 1. | any of certain bloodsucking nematode worms, as Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, parasitic in the intestine of humans and other animals. |
| 2. | Also called hookworm disease. a disease caused by hookworms, which may enter the body by ingestion or through the skin of the feet or legs, causing abdominal pain, nausea, and, if untreated, severe anemia. |
| an·cy·lo·sto·mi·a·sis (ān'sə-lō-stō-mī'ə-sĭs, āng'kə-lō-) n. A disease caused by hookworm infestation and marked by progressive anemia. Also called hookworm disease, tunnel disease. [New Latin Ancylostoma, hookworm genus (Greek ankulos, curved + Greek stoma, mouth) + -iasis.] |
| hookworm disease n. See ancylostomiasis. |
hookworm hook·worm (h&oobreve;k'wûrm')
n.
Any of numerous small parasitic nematodes of the family Ancylostomatidae having hooked mouthparts with which they fasten themselves to the intestinal walls of various hosts, including humans.
hookworm disease n.
A disease resulting from infestation with hookworms and usually marked by abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and anemia.
hookworm (h k'wûrm') Pronunciation Key
Any of numerous small, parasitic nematode worms of the family Ancylostomatidae, having hooked mouthparts with which they fasten themselves to the intestinal walls of various animals, including humans. |
hookworm disease
a parasitic infestation of humans, dogs, or cats caused by bloodsucking worms (see ) living in the small intestine-sometimes associated with secondary anemia. Several species of hookworm can cause the disease. Necator americanus, which ranges in size from 5 to 11 millimetres (0.2 to 0.4 inch), is responsible for about 90 percent of human hookworm infections that occur in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Ancylostoma duodenale, 8 to 13 millimetres long, is found on all continents but is most prevalent in warm regions. A. braziliense, from 8 to 11 millimetres long, is normally parasitic in dogs and cats; man, however, is sometimes infected by this species in the southern United States, South America, and Asia. A. ceylanicum, normally parasitic in dogs, is sometimes found in man in South America and Asia. A. duodenale, possesses four hooklike teeth in its adult stage, and N. americanus has plates in its mouth rather than teeth.
Learn more about hookworm disease with a free trial on Britannica.com.