Research Paper on How Parasite Was Discovered

Introduction

A parasite is a common term often described from a biological perspective as a group of animals or plants that live and obtain their nutrients from a particular host (Williamson et al 417). Typically, a host is an organism that supports a parasite and sometimes the relationship is neutral while other times is non-mutualistic, in that the parasite benefits whereas the host incurs costs.

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Furthermore, there are numerous primary categories of parasites that affect both plants and animals, but the most-studied parasites are those which affect human beings. Broadly categorized they include arthropods, protozoa, and helminths. Among the three major categories, the helminth parasites commonly known as worm-like parasites are the most prevalence soil-transmitted human parasites causing chronic human infections globally (Hotez et al 799). The helminths parasites are further classified into four primary nematodes species of human soil-transmitted infections which includes Necator Americanus or hookworm, whipworm, Ancylostoma duodenale, and roundworm (Williamson et al 419). But, this paper mainly concentrates on the Necator Americanus parasite. Necator Americanus is adequately described as a parasitic nematode or a species of helminth that primarily lives in the small intestines of human hosts and is commonly found in sub-tropical and tropical climates (Velikkakam, Jacqueline and Soraya 121). Throughout this paper, the host range, discovery, transmission, diagnostics, treatment, and medication as well as exciting concepts associated with the hookworm will be explored.

Host Range

The primary host range of the Necator Americanus parasite is humans (Hotez et al 800). Ideally, the Necator Americanus parasite appears to affect male hosts more as compared to female hosts mainly because of the labor division in regions of high infestation. It is said to have infected over one billion people globally, with approximately 1.6 million individuals suffering from anemia which leads to over 50, 000 deaths annually (Hotez et al 801). The Necator Americanus is found in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia but is primarily found in Australia and the Americas (Velikkakam, Jacqueline and Soraya 124). Majority of the infected people are therefore concentrated in East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa with each section having around 198 million and 149 million infected persons correspondingly (Hotez et al 801). Besides, most of these infected individuals live in the world's poorest regions with poor sanitation, and the most vulnerable population is children in these regions as hookworm infection can stunt physical growth and impair intellectual and cognitive development.

Discovery History

From a virtually anonymous worm-like parasite to currently being one of the most significant public health risks, the nematode Necator Americanus has developed to be the most prevalent species of human parasite globally. In essence, the discovery history of Necator Americanus dates back to 1838, when a young Italian physician namely Angelo Dubini discovered and named the hookworm after a post-mortem of a farmworker woman (Hotez et al 803). The reports of hookworm continued to increase throughout the world, and a breakthrough happened in 1880, when Edoardo Perroncito, also an Italian physician discovered the relationship between hookworms and anemia amongst the mineworkers working at the St. Gottard tunnel located in the Alps. Physicians Arthur Looss later in 1898 examined the hookworm's life cycle whereas Charles Stiles discovered the Necator Americanus as an important hookworm species that mainly infested human beings (Hotez et al 803). Consequently, it was Charles Stiles who strived to convince the Rockefeller Foundation to establish a one million dollar campaign in the United States to fight hookworms through programs involving latrine building, treatment, and education (Hotez et al 805). Despite the battle being unsuccessful in eradicating the menace of hookworm in the U.S., today the campaign is a substantial model in the hookworm elimination history for its objectives and size.

Mode of Transmission

The only way through which the Necator Americanus parasite can be transmitted is through skin penetration by the transdermal or percutaneous transmission (Williamson et al 420). Typically, the hookworm has a direct lifecycle comprising of a geo-helminthic phase by which infective larvae that are mainly found in the soil actively enter the skin of their hosts. The female Necator produces a lot of eggs every day which are in turn excreted along with the host feces. The eggs are then said to be embryonated quickly in a warm moist environment and hatch in two days, discharging free-living rhabditiform larvae that feed on organic remains and bacteria (Velikkakam, Jacqueline and Soraya 124). These larvae molt once in three days, transforming into non-feeding filariform larvae (L3) that are the transmittable stages. The transferrable larvae enter the skin typically through the dorsum of the bare feet (Williamson et al 420). Vertical transmission of this hookworm infection is also possible mainly from the mother to the child. Also, the larvae are viable merely for several weeks under a warm moist condition, which also demonstrates a little vertical migration by moving to the surface for host seeking in humid conditions and retreating to the soil during dry conditions.

The Diagnostics Criteria

Once a patient is suspected of having been infected with this parasite mainly through the exhibition of clinical symptomatology such as chronic anemia, one of the most effective ways to diagnose them is by carrying out a microscopic examination of their faecal samples to confirm the presence of the parasite eggs (Velikkakam, Jacqueline and Soraya 125). The hookworm diagnostics hugely depends on the detection of the eggs from the stools. Typically, the eggs are generally in an early segmentation phase when passed, although other times when the specimens have been made to stand at room temperature for an extended period, a larva can be observed within the egg (Center for Disease Control). In recent research, various immunoserological examinations and molecular diagnosis have been established to identify the hosts' antibodies against hookworm antigens although they do not accurately distinguish between patent and previous infections.

Treatments for this Parasite

Due to the significant health risks posed by this particular parasite, identification of the active and accurate medication is vital to curtail the number of deaths that result from hookworm infections (Center for Disease Control). As such, there are several recognized treatments for this parasite which includes mass deworming, anthelmintic drugs and surgery.

How to Treat a Patient With This Parasite

After a patient has been diagnosed with Necator Americanus, the first line, as well as the most common treatment to recommend, is the anthelmintic drugs primarily the benzimidazoles that include pyrantel pamoate, mebendazole, and albendazole all which are more effective when used together with dietary supplementation, in particular, the iron replacement (Keiser, Jennifer, and Jurg 1937). The drugs, however, work by killing the adult worms and subsequently restraining the microtubule polymerization within the parasite. Besides, a study on the efficacy for a single dose medication of Necator Americanus has shown to contain 31% for the pyrantel pamoate, 72% for albendazole and 15% for the mebendazole that results in a 95% cure rate as well as a 99.9% reduction in egg count (Keiser, Jennifer, and Jurg 1940). Currently, there are increasing concerns regarding this parasite as a result of the increased drug resistance of these anthelmintic drugs (Keiser, Jennifer, and Jurg 1940). Several control programs including education and environmental management campaigns should also be initialized in endemic regions to substantially to enhance sanitary conditions, reduce soil contamination thus preventing further infections.

Interesting Facts About Necator Americanus

The Necator Americanus has numerous interesting facts mainly concerning its classification, morphology, lifecycle, pathology, food habits, lifespan, and behavior. Necator Americanus is primarily classified as a Nematode and given the common name "hookworm" or an "American Murderer" due to the massive amount of blood it sucks from the body of a human host (Williamson et al 423). Concerning its morphology, the female adult measures 9 to 11 mm whereas the male is slightly smaller measuring 7 to 9 mm long. The worm anterior is curved in the opposite direction of the body curvature forming a hooked look (Chauhan et al). Also, as a nematode, the parasite has a cylindrical body with a cuticle that has three primary external layers consisting of collagen and various compounds secreted by the epidermis, which acts as a protective measure while invading the digestive tract of their host range. The adult parasite can survive up to five years, and its main food is the blood of their hosts (Chauhan et al). The adult Necator Americanus attaches itself on the intestinal wall and causes bleeding by using its cutting plates that consequently causes anemia to the host. The pathogenesis of this parasite is divided into two primary phases the larvae and the adult.

Conclusion

The Necator Americanus hookworm is the prime soil-transmitted human parasite that feeds on the blood in the small intestine, stunting growth and development in children and causing severe morbidity and mortality rates as a result of malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia. Due to its adverse impacts on morbidity, it becomes necessary from a public health perspective and thus the need for an urgent intervention concerning its treatment.

Works Cited

Center for Disease Control. "Laboratory Identif...