Can canine hookworms infect humans?
Canine hookworms can infect humans, but because we are not their natural hosts, they infect us in a different way than they do dogs. Hookworms infect humans by burrowing through the skin. People may be exposed in a number of different ways, but most frequently infection occurs when an individual is lying, sitting, or standing in or on moist soil or sand. Hookworm larvae penetrate bare skin and their subsequent migration through the dermis is known as cutaneous larva migrans or, more commonly, “creeping eruption.” Lesions appear as red lines under the skin and sometimes break open at the skin’s surface. The condition causes no harm beyond severe itching, and usually disappears within several weeks as the larvae die. Very rarely a more severe condition may evolve, causing lung disease and painful muscles, in which case medical treatment should be sought. It should be noted that human infections with canine hookworms are relatively rare and can almost always be prevented by avoiding prolo
