Human neonatal infections with hookworms in an endemic area of Southern Nigeria. A possible transmammary route
Nwosu, A.B.
Tropical and Geographical Medicine 33(2): 105-111
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-3232 PMID: 7281208 Document Number: 177935
Examination of faecal smears of 316 neonates (4 to 5 weeks old) in a human hookworm endemic area of southern Nigeria showed that 33 (10%) of them were infected. Most neonatal infections (88%) were due to Ancylostoma duodenale although Necator americanus was the more prevalent hookworm species in the area. The prevalence of neonatal infections was pronounced (64%) for mothers who were A. duodenale-positive 5 to 6 weeks postpartum. A thorough screening of 12.4 l of colostral milk from all the 316 nursing mothers failed to show the presence of infective hookworm larvae. The possibility of a transmammary infection route for the A. duodenale is discussed. [AS].