Mitigation of hookworm disease by immunization with soluble extracts of Ancylostoma ceylanicum

Hookworms are a leading cause of anemia in developing countries, and a stra tegy aimed at reducing pathology caused by blood-feeding adult parasites wo uld be a valuable addition to global control efforts. This article describe s experiments designed to induce resistance to the major clinical sequelae (weight loss and anemia) of Ancylostoma ceylanicum hookworm infection in Sy rian golden hamsters of the outbred LVG strain. Previously infected animals acquired long-lived resistance to weight loss and anemia caused by a secon dary hookworm infection. Furthermore, transfer of pooled serum from twice-i nfected hamsters to animals undergoing a primary infection was associated w ith partial resistance to growth delay and anemia. Active vaccination of ha msters with soluble adult hookworm antigens emulsified in alum led to parti al protection from hookworm-associated pathology in the absence of reductio ns in adult worm burden. This intriguing result may have important implicat ions for human vaccine development.