Hookworm Infection in Oceania

Abstract

Hookworm disease and its associated morbidities continue to be a major public health problem in many tropical and subtropical nations and remain endemic throughout the Oceania region. Three species of hookworm cause patent infection in humans in this region: Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale and Ancylostoma ceylanicum. Historical hookworm infection rates of up to 90 % throughout many parts of Oceania have significantly declined; however, the disease remains a major problem requiring ongoing public health intervention. The effectiveness of such interventions is evident in northern Australia, where once widespread hookworm disease is now limited to a few remaining endemic foci of isolated communities in the far north of the country. Outside of Australia, there is limited data available in the literature on hookworm prevalence, but a few recent (since 2000) studies have found hookworm prevalence rates of between 3 and 23 %. Infections with A. caninum, leading to eosinophilic enteritis, and sporadic cases cutaneous larva migrans caused by dermal migration of animal hookworm larva are also reported from several regions. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of both the historical and current literature on species of hookworms infecting humans and the geographical prevalence and distribution of hookworm disease in the Oceania region.