Necator

A genus of nematode hookworms (family Ancylostomatidae, subfamily Necatorinae) distinguished by two chitinous cutting plates in the buccal cavity and fused male copulatory spicules. Species include N. americanus, the so-called New World hookworm (although it is also prevalent in the tropics of Africa, southern Asia, and Polynesia); the adults of this species attach to villi in the small intestine and suck blood, causing abdominal discomfort, diarrhea (usually with melena) and cramps, anorexia, loss of weight, and hypochromic microcytic anemia, which may occur in advanced disease. SEE ALSO: Ancylostoma. [L. a murderer]

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Ne·ca·tor nə-'kāt-ər n a genus of common hookworms that have buccal teeth resembling flat plates, that include internal parasites of humans and various other mammals, and that are prob. of African origin though first identified in No. America compare ANCYLOSTOMA

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n.

a genus of hookworm that live in the small intestine. The human hookworm, N. americanus, occurs in tropical Africa, Central and South America, India, and the Pacific Islands. The worm possesses two pairs of sharp cutting plates inside its mouth cavity, which enable it to feed on the blood and tissues of the gut wall. Compare Ancylostoma.

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Ne·ca·tor (ne-kaґtor) [L. “murderer”] a genus of nematode parasites of the family Ancylostomatidae.