Question

Ground itch is due to larvae of
A. Ancylostoma
B. Enterobius
C. Trichuris
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Ground itch is a skin disease that shows symptoms of the cutaneous creeping eruption. Humans are not the hosts for these worms so the larvae only penetrate the upper five layers of the skin and cause intense, local itching, usually on the foot or lower leg, known as ground itch.

Complete answer:
Ancylostoma duodenale, A. ceylanicum, and Necator americanus cause Intestinal hookworm disease in humans. Classically, A. duodenale and N. americanus are the two primary intestinal hookworm species worldwide.
For both A. duodenale and N. americanus humans are the principal hosts.
Geographic Distribution
The species of Hookworm are worldwide distributed. Chiefly they are found in the regions that have moist and warm climates. For example- Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale are found in Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. Exclusively, N. americanus is found in south India and predominantly in the Americas. A. duodenale is found in North India, the Middle East and North Africa.
A. ceylanicum is highly endemic in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, but absent in Europe and North America.
Intestinal hookworm infections are characterised by:
1. Mostly asymptomatic
2. If attached to the intestinal wall may cause abdominal pain, nausea, and anorexia.
3. In heavy infection Occult blood in the stool and anaemia may be observed due to blood loss at the site of intestinal attachment of adult worms. may occur especially in heavy infections.
4. In severe cases, protein malnutrition can be reported due to the loss of chronic plasma protein.
5. Other clinical manifestations of hookworm infection include an
> urticarial dermal reaction (“ground itch”)
> filariform (L3) larvae penetration
> respiratory & eosinophilic pneumonia

So, the correct answer is option (A) Ancylostoma

Note:
Hookworm's larval invasion of the skin can produce a skin disease called cutaneous larva migrans or creeping eruption. The larvae can penetrate only in the upper layers of the skin. Upon penetration, they produce intense, local itching, usually on the lower limbs such as foot or leg, known as ground itch. This infection is due to larvae from the A. braziliense hookworm. The larvae migrate between the stratum basale and stratum corneum of the skin, causing serpiginous vesicular lesions. With an advance movement of the larvae in the skin, the lesions become dry and crusty from rear end & are typically intense itchy.