The growth and migration of Necator americanus following infection of neonatal hamsters

Abstract

Necator americanus was studied in neonatally infected hamsters in order to determine precisely the growth and migration of the parasite in this laboratory host. Most larvae stayed at the skin infection site for at least 48 hours following administration of larvae and the movement to the lungs commenced on day 3. There was no significant growth at the skin site or during the first two days in the lungs. 98% of the larvae were recovered from the lungs by day 6 and showed signs of some growth and development. Moulting larvae were seen in the lungs on days 7 and 8, but intestinal worms, which were first detected on day 7, were all L4 larvae. These worms were significantly longer than the lung stages and henceforth grew rapidly. Over 80% of the worms were recovered from the intestine on day 9, only small numbers of larvae persisting in the lungs until day 12. Moulting worms were observed in the intestine on days 17 to 21, after which growth continued and did not slow until about the fifth week. Small quantities of eggs were occasionally detected as early as day 34 and continuous egg production commenced in the seventh week of infection reaching a peak by about the 10th week.