Invade or die: behaviours and biochemical mechanisms that drive skin penetration in Strongyloides and other skin-penetrating nematodes

Abstract

Skin-penetrating nematodes, including the human threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworms in the genera Necator and Ancylostoma , are gastrointestinal parasites that are a major cause of neglected tropical disease in low-resource settings worldwide. These parasites infect hosts as soil-dwelling infective larvae that navigate towards hosts using host-emitted sensory cues such as odorants and body heat. Upon host contact, they invade the host by penetrating through the skin. The process of skin penetration is critical for successful parasitism but remains poorly understood and understudied. Here, we review current knowledge of skin-penetration behaviour and its underlying mechanisms in the human parasite S. stercoralis , the closely related rat parasite Strongyloides ratti, and other skin-penetrating nematodes such as hookworms. We also highlight important directions for future investigations into this underexplored process and discuss how recent advances in molecular genetic and genomic tools for Strongyloides species will enable mechanistic investigations of skin penetration and other essential parasitic behaviours in future studies. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘ Strongyloides : omics to worm-free populations’.

Intestinal parasitic infections and predisposing factors among prison inmates in Southern Ghana: A cross‐sectional study

“…Also, itchy skin was found to be associated with intestinal parasitic infections (AOR [95% CI]: 5.99 [3.43–10.43]; p < 0.001). The result of this current study is consistent with those of other studies conducted among pregnant women and children found skin itching to be associated with intestinal parasites such as Strongyloides stercoralis and Hookworms ( Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus ) 27,28 . It is important to note that unrelated factors such as allergic reactions, dermatitis, and insect bites among others can contribute to skin itching.…”

Strongyloides : omics to worm-free populations

“…A crucial step in the life cycle of Strongyloides is finding and percutaneously entering a host individual. Courtney McClure, Ruhi Patel and Elissa Hallem review the current knowledge of skin-penetration behaviour and the underlaying mechanisms for Strongyloides and for hookworms, which are phylogenetically rather distant nematode parasites with similar infection biology (McClure et al [34]).…”