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A Case of Zoonotic Ancylostoma ceylanicum Infection in a Suburban Area of Selangor, Malaysia

Acta Parasitologica volume 67, pages 564–568 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

The animal hookworm, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, is a dominant hookworm species of dogs and cats. However, it has increasingly been found infecting humans in Southeast Asia.

Purpose

We report an autochthonous case of A. ceylanicum in a suburban area of Selangor, Malaysia. A 66-year-old Indian lady who is an avid gardener presented with chronic diarrhea of 4 months’ duration.

Methods

The patient was examined clinically and colonoscopy was performed. Adult parasites obtained via colonoscopy were subjected to microscopy and molecular investigations.

Results

Clinical examinations were unremarkable, and blood investigation revealed normochromic normocytic anemia. Stool occult blood was positive but negative for ova, cyst and adult parasites. Colonoscopy performed showed multiple diverticulae and worm infestation from the terminal ileum to sigmoid colon. Morphological examination on the adult worms showed the specific characteristics of Ancylostoma species. Molecular investigations further confirmed the nematode as Ancylostoma ceylanicum. She was treated with albendazole 400 mg daily for 3 days with symptomatic improvements sustained 3 months later. It is suspected that the patient had ingested or contacted soil contaminated with filariform larvae while gardening.

Conclusion

Information on the A. ceylanicum infection in humans, especially in urban and suburban areas, is limited, necessitating further epidemiological and clinical studies.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff at the Gastroenterology Unit and Microbiology Laboratory, Clinical Trial Centre, Faculty of Medicine, UiTM for their kind support and assistance.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, 47000, Selangor, Malaysia

    Chong Chin Heo

  2. Institute of Pathology, Laboratory & Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia

    Chong Chin Heo

  3. Gastroneterology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, 47000, Selangor, Malaysia

    Abdul Rani Rafiz

  4. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Romano Ngui

Authors
  1. Chong Chin Heo
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  3. Romano Ngui
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Contributions

Writing and identification of the worms: CCH; extracting worms via colonoscopy from patient: ARR; molecular identification of the worms: RN.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chong Chin Heo.

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Cite this article

Heo, C.C., Rafiz, A.R. & Ngui, R. A Case of Zoonotic Ancylostoma ceylanicum Infection in a Suburban Area of Selangor, Malaysia. Acta Parasit. 67, 564–568 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-021-00478-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-021-00478-1

Keywords

  • Zoonotic hookworm
  • Ancyclostoma
  • Ceylanicum
  • Colonoscopy
  • Ancylostomiasis
  • Malaysia

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