Skin penetration of infective hookworm larvae. III. Comparative studies on the path of migration of the hookworms Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, and Ancylostoma caninum.

The lateral skin areas of nine hookworm-free puppies were exposed to infective larvae of Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Ancylostoma caninum. Serial sections, stained with Harris' haematoxylin and eosin, showed that many similarities exist in the migration patterns of the hookworm species used. However, striking differences were observed between Ancylostoma braziliense on the one hand and Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Ancylostoma caninum on the other hand with regard to the speed with which the penetration occurred. Larvae of Ancylostoma braziliense may travel directly from the epidermis into the dermis--apart from migration via hair follicle systems--a path of migration we did not observe in infections with the other species used. Larvae of Ancylostoma braziliense seem to pass the skin more rapidly than those of Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Ancylostoma caninum. Many larvae of Ancylostoma ceylanicum managed to penetrate the skin 2--6 h after the onset of the exposure.