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Which endoparasite can be contracted by penetration of the skin?

A) Hookworms
B) Tapeworms
C) Roundworms
D) Whipworms

User Parkgrrr
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Hookworm is the endoparasite that can be contracted by skin penetration, entering through the feet and migrating to the intestines, where it completes its life cycle.

Step-by-step explanation:

Endoparasites and Skin Penetration

The type of endoparasite that can be contracted through the penetration of the skin is the hookworm. These parasitic worms, specifically Ancylostoma braziliense, can enter their host through bare skin, often the feet. They then migrate to the intestine where they attach themselves using hooks and mature into adults. Hookworms are responsible for a condition known as cutaneous larva migrans, which is characterized by pruritic tracks on the skin caused by the migrating larvae.

Conversely, tapeworms and other endoparasites such as roundworms and whipworms usually have different modes of infection and do not typically penetrate the skin to infect the host. For instance, tapeworms are typically ingested through undercooked or contaminated meat and reside within the host's digestive system, whereas other roundworms may be ingested in other ways such as through contaminated food or water.

User Abdelhakim AKODADI
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