Relative prevalence of the human hookworm species, Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale in an urban community in Ogun State, Nigeria

In order to estimate the proportion of hookworm infections represented by Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale, the 2 major species of human hookworms in Nigeria, stool samples from 1253 hookworm-positive schoolchildren were cultured to the third-stage (L3), filariform larvae, using the Harada-Mori test-tube method. N. americanus larvae were recovered from a total of 1177 (93.9%) coprocultures while A. duodenale larvae were recovered from a total of 274 (21.9%) stool cultures. 58.2% of the hookworm infections were due solely to N. americanus, 6.1% solely to A. duodenale and 25.8% were mixed infections with both species. In all mixed infections, much higher number of N. americanus larvae were recorded compared with those of A. duodenale. Key words: Hookworm species, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, filariform larvae. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.2(11) 2003: 470-47