Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Hookworms in the Americas: An alternative to trans-Pacific contact
1Medical Helminthology Laboratory, Departments of Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, 501 LEPH, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Abstract:
Recent New World archaeoparasitological discoveries of hookworm in pre-European contexts have revived a long-standing debate about the origin of hookworms in the Americas. Historically, the climatic conditions of Beringia encountered by migrating people have been considered too harsh for tropical hookworms to survive, suggesting that hookworms must have been introduced into South America by 'storm-tossed' fisherman or explorers from Asia. Here, John Hawdon and Susan Johnston review the history of hookworms in the Americas, and propose an alternative to their trans-Pacific introduction based on the unique natural history of one of the human hookworms.
Related Concept Videos
Toxoplasmosis
American Trypanosomiasis
Giardiasis
Amebiasis
Anthelminthic Agents

