UNCINARIASIS
Hookworm infection (uncinariasis, ankylostomiasis) is commonly caused by infection through the skin of the feet, but the possibility of mouth infection cannot be disregarded, and in regions where hookworm disease exists methods of guarding against food contamination should be practiced, as well as other precautions. Billings and Hickey[93] believe that hookworm disease is contracted by unconscious coprophagy (from raw vegetables) much more frequently than is generally supposed.
OTHER PARASITES
A number of other parasitic worms (e.g., Strongyloides, Ascaris or eelworm, and Oxyuria or pinworm) may conceivably enter the human body in contaminated food, and while, as in hookworm disease, other modes of infection are probably more important, the liability to occasional infection by uncooked food must not be overlooked.
Fig. 9.—Lamblia intestinalis. (After Neumann and Mayer.)
Various forms of dysentery or diarrhea have been attributed to infection with Giardia (Lamblia) intestinalis. Observations made by Fantham and Porter[94] upon cases contracted in Gallipoli and Flanders have given support to this view. Strains of this parasite of human origin have been shown to be pathogenic for mice and kittens. It is considered possible that these animals may act as reservoirs of infection and spread the disease by contamination of human food.