hookworm

American  

[hook-wurm] / ˈhʊkˌwɜrm /

noun

1. any of certain bloodsucking nematode worms, as Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, parasitic in the intestine of humans and other animals.

2. Also called hookworm disease.  a disease caused by hookworms, which may enter the body by ingestion or through the skin of the feet or legs, causing abdominal pain, nausea, and, if untreated, severe anemia.

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hookworm British  

/ ˈhʊkˌwɜːm /

noun

1. any parasitic blood-sucking nematode worm of the family Ancylostomatidae, esp Ancylostoma duodenale or Necator americanus, both of which cause disease. They have hooked mouthparts and enter their hosts by boring through the skin

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hookworm Scientific  

/ hk′wûrm′ /

1. Any of numerous small, parasitic nematode worms of the family Ancylostomatidae, having hooked mouthparts with which they fasten themselves to the intestinal walls of various animals, including humans.

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Other Word Forms

• hookwormy adjective

Etymology

Origin of hookworm

First recorded in 1900–05; hook ¹ + worm

Example Sentences

Traditionally vets didn't pay much attention to hookworm infections in dogs, because there weren't that many cases.

From Scientific American • Jun. 18, 2023

Gilleard has successfully adapted a DNA-sequencing technique that can screen hundreds of hookworm eggs from a single dog simultaneously for resistance mutations.

From Scientific American • Jun. 18, 2023

When Kaplan raised the issue of drug-resistant hookworm with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he found little interest because cutaneous larva migrans is not something they monitor or track.

From Scientific American • Jun. 18, 2023

Moreover, the exercise pens for these dogs are set up on sand or dirt, which can be the perfect habitat for developing hookworm larvae.

From Scientific American • Jun. 18, 2023

That happens with hookworm and many other parasites.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond