UNCINARIA AMERICANA Meaning and
Definition
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Uncinaria americana is a parasitic roundworm, commonly known as the New World hookworm or American hookworm, that predominantly infects dogs but can also be found in other mammals, including humans.
This species of hookworm belongs to the family Ancylostomatidae, which comprises small, blood-feeding parasites that attach themselves to the lining of the small intestine. It is characterized by its distinctive hook-like buccal structures, typically consisting of a pair of cutting plates and two pairs of ventral teeth, hence its name. The adult worms measure approximately 10-15 mm in length and have a cylindrical, elongated shape, with the males being slightly smaller than the females.
Uncinaria americana has a complex life cycle, with infective larvae developing in the environment from eggs passed in the feces of an infected host. These larvae can penetrate the skin of a suitable mammalian host, usually through direct contact with contaminated soil or feces. Once inside the host's body, the larvae migrate through the bloodstream and then to the lungs, where they are coughed up and swallowed, eventually reaching the small intestine, where they mature into adults and start producing eggs.
Infections with Uncinaria americana can cause various health issues, including anemia, weight loss, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, due to the worms' feeding on the host's blood. Severe infestations can be life-threatening, particularly in young or immunocompromised individuals. Treatment typically involves the use of anthelmintic medications, aimed at eliminating the adult worms, larvae, and eggs from the host's body, along with implementing proper hygiene and sanitation practices to prevent reinfection.
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New-world hookworm, present in the southern United States, Cuba, Porto Rico, and probably elsewhere in tropical America; it is shorter and more slender than U. duodenalis, and has semilunar chitinous plates instead of the hooklike teeth.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for UNCINARIA AMERICANA
- yncinaria americana
- hncinaria americana
- jncinaria americana
- incinaria americana
- 8ncinaria americana
- 7ncinaria americana
- ubcinaria americana
- umcinaria americana
- ujcinaria americana
- uhcinaria americana
- unxinaria americana
- unvinaria americana
- unfinaria americana
- undinaria americana
- uncunaria americana
- uncjnaria americana
- uncknaria americana
- unconaria americana
- unc9naria americana
- unc8naria americana
Etymology of UNCINARIA AMERICANA
The word "Uncinaria americana" consists of two parts: "Uncinaria" and "americana".
The term "Uncinaria" originates from the Latin word "uncinātus", which means "hooked" or "bent like a hook". It is derived from the Latin word "uncus", meaning "hook". The genus name "Uncinaria" is commonly used to refer to a group of hookworm parasites.
The specific epithet "americana" refers to the region of origin or identification for this specific species. In this case, "americana" signifies that the species belongs to or was discovered in the Americas.
Therefore, "Uncinaria americana" can be translated to mean "the American hookworm".
