Abstract

SERVIAN, Andrea; REPETTO, Silvia A.; ZONTA, María Lorena  and  NAVONE, Graciela T.. Human hookworms from Argentina: Differential diagnosis of Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale in endemic populations from Buenos Aires and Misiones. Rev. argent. microbiol. [online]. 2022, vol.54, n.4, pp.111-120.  Epub Dec 01, 2022. ISSN 0325-7541.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ram.2022.05.005.

Hookworm infection is endemic in many countries throughout the world; however,the information about the prevalence of each species, Necator americanus and Ancylostomaduodenale, is inaccurate in many South American countries. We aimed to determine the preva-lence of human hookworm species by combining the results of both microscopy and PCR amongendemic populations in Argentina, represented by natives and immigrants. A total of 140 serialfecal specimens were obtained from natives in the province of Misiones and an immigrantcommunity living in the province of Buenos Aires. Samples were examined using the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT) and one flotation technique (screening tests)and specific PCRs for N. americanus and A. duodenale. We characterized samples containingN. americanus by sequencing a fragment of the cytochrome b gene. The observed hookwormprevalence as assessed by the screening tests and PCR were 24.3% and 32.8%, respectively. PCRpositive samples were identified as N. americanus. PCR had 100% sensitivity compared with73.9% of screening tests. A total of 12 samples from individuals with hookworm-infected house-hold members were positive only by PCR. N. americanus sequences showed 90.5% identity, beingmore similar to each other than to any of the sequences obtained from GenBank. This is thefirst study that provides molecular data and characterization of N. americanus in Argentina.The complementary use of FECT and one flotation technique to screen hookworm infections,followed by PCR to differentiate the species contribute to produce better prevalence estimates.

Keywords : Necator americanus; Ancylostomaduodenale; Differentialdiagnosis; Microscopicexamination; PCR.

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