Comparative studies on two culture methods for hookworm species identification

Abstract

Ninety stool specimens obtained from patients referred to the National Research Institute of Health and found to reveal hookworm ova were cultured using the Test Tube Filter Paper and the Charcoal methods with a view to recover and identify the third stage larvae. Infective larvae were harvested in a total of 88(97.8%) specimens, 79(87.8%) of which were detected by both methods. Only 5(5.6%) and 4(4.4%) were exclusively detected by the Test Tube and Charcoal methods, respectively. Except in one specimen where filariforms of both species (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale) were encountered, N.americanus was dominant. Both methods exhibited no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the development capacity of third stage larvae. The importance of culturing hookworm species in relation to the understanding of species dominance and the merits and demerits of both methods are discussed.