Hookworm Vaccines Are in Demand

Hookworms infect about half a billion people worldwide and cause more than two billion disability-adjusted life years to be lost. In a recent review, researchers wrote that mass drug administration is the most popular preventive approach but does not prevent reinfection.

The U.S. CDC says people get hookworm infection by walking barefoot on or consuming contaminated soil and passing the parasitic worm's eggs in their feces. And zoonotic hookworms are parasites generally found in animals like dogs or cats. Furthermore, they can also spread to humans through the skin. 

This review, published by Talor and Francis online, highlights recent human studies in which vaccination with irradiated larvae and repeated rounds of infection treatment have induced partial protection.

On November 15, 2024, these researchers stated, 'An effective vaccine would be a major public health tool in hookworm-endemic areas.'

'These studies have emphasized the importance of targeting the infective larvae to generate immunity and prevent adult worms from maturing in the gut.'

In summary, these researchers wrote 'that significant recent advances in human challenge vaccine studies should accelerate the process.'