Bunostomum phlebotomum

Bunostomum phlebotomum is a hookworm in the family of hookworms (Ancylostomatidae) and the genus Ancylostoma, found in sheep and cattle. It colonizes the intestines of animals as a parasite and is highly pathogenic to these animals. Infestation causes anaemia, emaciation and often bloody diarrhoea in sheep and cattle. Bronchopneumonia and pruritic skin lesions may also occur.

Bunostomum phlebotomum is also pathogenic to humans, although humans are false hosts. In this respect, these hookworms can penetrate the skin of humans, but they do not succeed in haematogenously spreading to infect internal organs. In this respect, only a local infection occurs with the appearance of a larva migrans cutanea syndrome.

1. Gao JF et al. (2014) Comparative analyses of the complete mitochondrial genomes of the two ruminant hookworms Bunostomum trigonocephalum and Bunostomum phlebotomum. Genes 541:92-100.