Cat Hook Worm (hookworm)

The cat hook worm (hookworm) is yet another type of intestinal parasite that cats and their owners may have to deal with at some point. Some hook worms are species specific, and some cross the species boundary. Cats may be infected with several different types of hook worm.

Like some other cat intestinal parasites, such as round worm, your cat can become infected with feline hook worms (hookworms) in more than one way. And, just like other cat parasites, the likelihood of a cat hook worm infection can be greatly reduced by keeping your cat indoors.

Cat Hook Worm (hookworm) : What are they?

Note: According to most veterinary and medical sources, the correct term is all one word, as in ' hookworm. ' Since some sources consider it as two words, and much of the web browsing public does as well, it is referred to as ' hook worm ' throughout most of this document.

There are four types of hook worm that may infect your cat...

Ancylostoma tubaeforme, the feline hook worm
Ancylostoma braziliense, the canine and feline hook worm
Uncinaria stenocephala, the northern canine hook worm
Ancylostoma caninum, the canine hook worm

The two most common infections of hook worm in cats are the feline hook worm, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, and the less common, but still infecting cats, as well as dogs and foxes is Ancylostoma braziliense.

Cats may also become infected with Uncinaria stenocephala, although this is typically more in colder climates than the other two. It is also possible that a cat may become infected with the dog hook worm, Ancylostoma caninum.

As the name implies, the hook worm hooks itself onto the wall of the cat's intestine with hook-like mouthparts. It then begins to suck blood from the intestine of the cat.

Cat hook worms are relatively small. They are only about 1/8" (2-3 mm) long, which is barely visible to the naked eye. Their eggs, which are shed by infected cats in the stool, cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope.

Cat Hook Worm : Is Your Cat at Risk?

In general, cats tend to suffer relatively few hook worm infections when compared with dogs. As with most parasites, environment plays a role as does hygiene. Cats that are allowed to hunt or roam are at higher risk for infection.

Cat hook worm infections are more common in warm, moist environments, which is more ideal for the organism's growth. In locations such as shelters, overcrowding and poor sanitation may contribute to the spread of infection, or re-infection.

Cat Hook Worm : Signs and Symptoms

An infected cat can suffer blood loss from ingestion by the hookworm, as well as continued bleeding into the bowel. As opposed to round worms, which feed off of free nutrients in the cat's intestine, feline hook worms feed off the blood of the host cat.

This is accomplished by anchoring to intestinal tissue and sucking blood. In order to prevent the blood from clotting at the feeding site, they inject an anti-coagulant. If the hookworm moves its feeding location, the old location may continue to bleed into the bowel.

The blood-loss anemia caused by hook worms is usually a more serious problem in kittens and debilitated cats than otherwise healthy adults. In severe cases, although rare, a blood transfusion may be required. Death is a possible outcome.

You may suspect hook worms in your cat if any of the following symptoms are present:

anemia (due to intestinal blood loss)
black tarry stools (blood in the stool)
bloody diarrhea
poor coat
weight loss

Cat Hook Worm : Methods of Transmission

Adult hookworms latch on to the intestinal wall, and pass microscopic eggs into the intestinal canal of the cat. These eggs ultimately end up in the cat's stool.

Under the right environmental conditions of temperature and moisture, the eggs hatch and develop into larvae (immature worms). According to some sources, the larvae can exist in the soil and remain infective for months.

Note: Some sources state that the eggs can hatch and become larvae in less than one day, sooner if the weather is warmer. Other sources say it takes weeks. The Centers for Disease Control states that if conditions are right, eggs can develop into infective stage larvae in as few as five days. According to documentation from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, A. braziliense larvae are sometimes found in feces more than 24 hours old.

You will note that in contrast to some parasites, hook worms have a direct life cycle. In other words, they don'tnecessarily need a host in order to be transmitted.

A cat will become infected either by direct ingestion, or when the larvae penetrate the skin (usually the feet).

Sometimes a transport host (such as a a rodent) can be involved. When infection starts by skin penetration, the larvae will migrate via the circulatory system to the lungs. They will then make their way to the throat, where they are swallowed.

Once in the intestine, they may mature and begin producing eggs, and the cycle begins again.

Prenatal infection (infection prior to birth through transplacental blood flow), may be a significant problem in dogs, but has not been shown to occur in kittens. Some sources tell us that kittens can become infected as well through ingesting the milk of an infected queen(transmammary), but others seem to state otherwise.

Cat Hook Worm : Diagnosis

Since hook worm eggs are too small to be seen with the naked eye, we must rely on testing by a veterinarian. Since large number of eggs are produced on a daily basis, hook worm infection is fairly easy to diagnose through microscopic examination of the cat's stool.

Cat Hook Worm : Treatment

Treatment for hook worm is safe, simple, and relatively inexpensive. At least two treatments of deworming medication are needed, typically given at 2-3 week intervals. Kittens should be treated for worms during their kitten vaccination series.

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