duodenale

Duodenale is the Latin epithet used in zoological nomenclature, most prominently in the name Ancylostoma duodenale, a parasitic nematode and one of the human hookworms. The epithet duodenale refers to the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine, where the organism resides and feeds during its adult stage.

Ancylostoma duodenale is a bloodsucking nematode that inhabits the proximal small intestine of humans and some animals. Infection begins when larvae in soil penetrate the skin, typically through bare feet. The larvae migrate through the bloodstream to the lungs, are coughed up, swallowed, and then mature into adults in the small intestine. There they attach to the mucosa and consume blood, potentially causing iron-deficiency anemia and protein loss. Eggs produced by female worms pass in feces and hatch in soil, continuing the life cycle.

Symptoms of infection range from mild or asymptomatic to fatigue, abdominal pain, and pale skin in heavy cases. Diagnosis relies on stool examination for characteristic eggs, complemented by serologic or antigen tests in some settings. Treatment typically uses anthelmintic medications such as albendazole or mebendazole; pyrantel pamoate and ivermectin may be used in certain circumstances. Prevention emphasizes sanitation, safe fecal disposal, and measures to reduce skin exposure in endemic areas, including wearing shoes in contaminated soil.

Duodenale as a term is used in other species names to indicate a connection with the duodenum, but Ancylostoma duodenale is the best-known example in parasitology. The organism is distributed in warm, humid regions with poor sanitation, and public health efforts often include deworming programs and education to reduce transmission.