Development of a Model of Hookworm Infection Exhibiting Salient Characteristics of Human Infection

Patent and pathologic infections of the human hookworm Necator americanus were established in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). In a pilot study, a laboratory strain of N. americanus was compared with a fresh field isolate. Pathology was more severe in animals infected with a fresh isolate. In all animals, infection was associated with increased total plasma IgE and production of IgG specific to adult worm excretory/secretory (ES) products. Histamine was released by basophils in response to IgE, ES products, and a recombinant hookworm allergen, calreticulin. The pilot study indicated the potential of this animal model of hookworm infection and led us to investigate the consequences of infecting a further cohort with the fresh field isolate. This second study confirmed our initial findings, that it is possible to investigate the human hookworm N. americanus in a model exhibiting many of the characteristics of the immunology of hookworm infection in its definitive host.