Drug resistance in Ancylostoma caninum, a hookworm of dogs

What is it about?

Hookworms are one of the most common soil-transmitted parasites and can infect a wide variety of mammals. There are three major drug classes currently available for treatment of hookworms in canines: the benzimidazoles, the tetrahydropyrimidines and the macrocylic lactones. In registration studies for the food and drug administration in the USA, compounds of these drug classes demonstrated an efficacy of at least 94%, with the majority having >99%. The only mechanism of resistance currently known for anthelmintics is for the benzimidazole drugs. Detection of drug-resistant Ancylostoma caninum in dogs is a complex issue that deserves greater recognition before more multiple anthelmintic drug-resistant A. caninum infections are reported in an even wider geographic area and dog population distribution. Beyond the concerns for canine health, multiple drug resistance in canine hookworms could present serious public health concerns because A. caninum is zoonotic.

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Photo by Chewy on Unsplash

Photo by Chewy on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Hookworms have evolved to be very successful parasites. Appropriate follow-up is paramount to diagnose resistance. Currently, the only known and described molecular mechanism of resistance is against the benzimidazole drug class Affordable molecular tests with a rapid-turnaround are crucial to evaluate the molecular epidemiology of resistant A. caninum infections Appropriate veterinary anthelmintic use is required.