title: Pathogenicity of hookworms. The significance of population regression for the pathogenicity of hookworms.
abstract: A method is described to estimate the reduction of the hookworm population in the host during the infection period (population regression). A formula is proposed to estimate the average worm population during the infection period, on the assumption that a decreasing hookworm population causes a decrease in daily blood loss. Daily  blood loss per worm was calculated for Ancylostoma caninum: 43 microliters; for A. ceylanicum: 14 microliters for A. braziliense: 5 microliters. Accordingly hookworms cause blood loss one half to two thirds smaller than formerly assumed.
mesh_terms: D000722:Ancylostoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000724:Ancylostomiasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D009331:Necator / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009332:Necatoriasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology