Hookworm in the terminal ileum:a common cause of severe anaemia residing in a rare location

Abstract

Adult Hookworms usually live in the duodenum and jejunum and can be recovered endoscopically for the diagnosis of chronic anaemia. This report describes an interesting case where adult hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale) was recovered from the terminal ileum by colonoscopy in an old female patient suffering from chronic severe anemia. Her upper gastro intestinal endoscopic findings were normal and fecal occult blood test was positive. The colonoscopic finding was further confirmed by the presence of characteristic eggs of hookworm in stool microscopy and she was treated with anthelminthic along with symptomatic measures. Her clinical condition as well as the blood profile showed much improvement after treatment. Thus, colonoscopy should be considered for the presence of hookworms if the upper endoscopic findings are normal in a clinically suspected patient. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2017; 7(2): 98-100

Chitin Bodies Vs Teeth of Hookworm

“…In addition to duodenum [20,21], jejunum [22], and terminal ileum [23] are also its favorite predilection, but especially in the region of distal jejunum [22]. According to Wei et al [24] Most hookworms frequently appeared between the distal duodenum and the distal jejunum.…”

“…During the process of invasion, adult hookworms which secrete biochemically vigorous peptides that promote the lust to blood feeding [19], penetrate actively until it reaches the arterioles and venules along the luminal surface of the intestine [26] causing these vital microvasculatures to rupture [20][21][22][23][24]; but in the same time, hookworm possess anticoagulant substances that are secreted to prevent blood clotting to the shed of blood flowing from the wound [12,27].…”