Uncinaria Stenocephala - Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Stage:

• Eggs are found in fecal flotation.
• Eggs measure 75 um long by 45 um wide.

Common Diagnostic Test

• Fecal float to recover eggs.

Clinical Signs:

• All hookworms suck blood, they are capable of removing 0.1mls of blood per worm, per 24 hour period.
• Light infections are asymptomatic.
• Infected pups may present with pale mucus membranes and anemia, ill thrift, failure to gain weight, poor hair coat, dehydration, and dark, tarry diarrhea (melena). Puppies harboring many worms will develop an acute normocytic, normochromic anemia followed by hypochromic, microcytic anemia due to iron deficiency. Without immediate intervention, these animals may die of the infection. Those that survive may continue as "poor doers" with chronic anemia.