Blood Loss during Hookworm Infection, Determined by Erythrocyte Labeling with Radioactive 51 Chromium. II. Pathogenesis of Ancylostoma braziliense Infection in Dogs and Cats

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Abstract
Detection and measurement of fecal blood loss from pups and kittens infected with Ancylostoma braziliense showed that, compared with Ancylostoma caninum, A. braziliense was relatively nonpathogenic. Blood loss started on the 10th and 11th days after inoculation of A. braziliense larvae to pups and kittens, respectively. Group mean ml ([plus or minus] standard deviation) of blood loss per worm per day in the feces was 0.00109 ([plus or minus] 0.00111) from pups and 0.00187 ([plus or minus] 0.00187) from kittens. Even with relatively large infections of 600 to 800 A. braziliense the total blood loss per pup per day was less than the normal prepatent fecal blood loss and was equivalent to from 0.2% to 1.3% of circulating blood volume each day. Absence of pathogenesis was also shown by the failure of A. braziliense infection to adversely affect hematologic measurements and weight gains although infection of pups and kittens with A. braziliense induced a slight hypoproteinemia. There were no changes in half-life of circulating erythrocytes nor was there evidence of alteration of the normal rate of intravascular catabolism of erythrocytes. Clinical signs of infection were not detected, since pups and kittens infected with 600 to 800 adult A. braziliense appeared to be normal. It appeared that kittens were a less suitable host for A. braziliense than were pups, since the worms were slower to develop and of smaller size in kittens.