Tag: Nematode

An estimated 406–480 million people globally are infected with hookworm, a parasitic roundworm that primarily resides in the small intestine of its host. To survive, the adult stage of the parasite engages in a blood-feeding process to fulfill what is the mode of nutrition of hookworm, a strategy that results in significant blood and nutrient loss for the infected individual.

According to the World Health Organization, over 657 million people in 39 countries still require preventive chemotherapy for lymphatic filariasis. While often associated with poverty and malnutrition, the core question remains: is filariasis a nutritional disorder? The definitive answer is no; it is a parasitic infection caused by nematodes transmitted by mosquitoes.