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Ancylostoma tubaeforme is a hookworm that infects cats worldwide. Infection can occur by penetration of the skin, eating other hosts such as birds, or by directly consuming the organism. Ancylostoma tubaeforme along with Ancylostoma braziliense are the two most common hookworms to infect cats, causing anemia and also compromising the immune system.

Signs and symptoms
A. tubaeforme infection can cause dermatitis, anemia, wight loss, and pulmonary lesions.

Life cycle
A. tubaeforme larvae may infect a host through oral ingestion or through skin. Larvae ingested by the host and pass through the esophagus to the stomach. From there they burrow into the wall of the stomach and duodenum, pausing to develop into the adult hookworm. They then burrow back into the stomach and release their ova into the gastrointestinal tract. Larvae that infect a host through the skin migrate to the lungs, up the trachea and down to the stomach through the esophagus. From there, they develop into adults and release ova in the same way as larvae ingested by the oral route.

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.

Treatment
Infections are typically treated with oral anthelmitics such as fenbendazole or topical treatments such as selamectin.



Epidemiology