hook-worm
Noun: A parasitic nematode worm of the family Ancylostomatidae, especially of the genera Ancylostoma or Necator, that infects the intestines of mammals, including humans, by attaching to the intestinal wall with hook-like mouthparts and feeding on blood.
- (The parasitic worm causes blood loss by feeding on the host’s blood.)
- (The worm enters the body through the skin of the feet.)
- (The infestation impairs nutrient absorption and causes iron deficiency.)
"hookworm disease": the medical condition caused by hookworm infection, characterized by anemia, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
- Treatment for hookworm disease includes antiparasitic medication and iron supplements. (The condition is treated with drugs that kill the worms and iron to address the anemia.)
"hookworm larvae": the immature, infective stage of the worm that lives in soil and penetrates the skin.
- The hookworm larvae can survive in moist soil for weeks. (The larvae remain infectious while waiting for a host.)
Hookworm infection (n): the state of being infested with hookworms.
- Hookworm infection is common in areas with poor sanitation. (The infestation occurs where human feces contaminate the soil.)
Ancylostomiasis (n): the medical term for hookworm disease, especially from the Ancylostoma species.
- Ancylostomiasis is treated with mebendazole. (The disease caused by this specific genus has a standard drug treatment.)
Necator: a genus of hookworm, specifically Necator americanus, the most common human hookworm.
- Necator is responsible for the majority of hookworm cases globally. (This genus is the primary cause of infection in humans.)
Ancylostoma: a genus of hookworm that also infects dogs and cats.
- Ancylostoma caninum is a common hookworm in dogs. (This species affects pets and can sometimes infect humans.)
- "to have a hookworm in one's gut": a figurative expression meaning to suffer from persistent, nagging discomfort or a hidden problem.
- He felt like he had a hookworm in his gut worrying about the debt. (He had a constant, gnawing anxiety.)
- (None commonly associated with "hookworm" as a noun; the word is primarily used in medical and biological contexts.)