Among the human hookworms, which species is unusual because infection can be acquired not only percutaneously but also by the oral route and by transplacental transmission?

• A Necator americanus
• B Ancylostoma duodenale ✓
• C Strongyloides stercoralis
• D Trichostrongylus orientalis

Explanation

Ancylostoma duodenale larvae can infect humans through intact skin, by ingestion (relevant in infants fed contaminated food or water), and rarely across the placenta or through breast milk. Necator americanus infects exclusively via the percutaneous route. Strongyloides is percutaneous with autoinfection, and Trichostrongylus is acquired by ingestion of larvae on vegetation but causes neither cutaneous entry nor congenital transmission, so these cannot match the full triad described.

Reference: Paniker's Textbook of Medical Parasitology, 9th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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