Ternidens Deminutus

Abstract

The position of hookworm infections in Rhodesia is not altogether clear, partly due to a lack of critical surveys and partly due to the fact that hookworm in Rhodesia co-exists with Ternidens deminutus — a fact which has been overlooked by workers in this country for the last 35 years. The aim of the present paper is to define more clearly the problem of human infection with hookworm and T deminutus in Rhodesia and to compare the epidemiology of these species where possible in an attempt to gain greater insight into the importance and biology of the latter species — a species about which relatively little seems to be known. It appeared from the results obtained that while hookworm infection was fairly widespread in Rhodesia, it was largely introduced, being maintained at relatively low levels over most of the country. Hookworm disease here, seems to be rare but could develop if transmission is facilitated by increased irrigation in areas where low levels of hookworm infection already exist unless measures are taken to prevent infection.