The common hookworm (Ancylostoma ceylanicum)
infection of humans was studied in golden hamsters model system. Significant biochemical modulations were observed in hamster jejunal brush border membrane (BBM), the primary site of
infection. Analysis of BBM at the peak of
infection (3-weeks) revealed a marked decrease in the activities of
sucrase,
lactase and
maltase, while activities of
alkaline phosphatase, (Ca2+ +
Mg2+)-ATPase and
gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were increased. Kinetic studies conducted with
maltase, a superficially localised
enzyme of jejunal BBM, revealed loss of
enzyme active site during the
infection. Among other constituents, the levels of
cholesterol and
triglycerides were significantly decreased with slight increase in
phospholipid content in the infected animals. The
hookworm infection also caused a decline in total
hexose content indicating an altered membrane glycocalyx. Conversely, there was significant enhancement of
hydroxyproline and
sialic acid contents. SDS-PAGE analysis showed an enhancement in both low and high molecular weight
proteins in jejunal BBM preparations of the infected group. Gel electrophoresis of
glycoproteins further revealed the appearance of two additional peaks in the low molecular weight region and concomitant disappearance of a peak in the high molecular weight region. These results strongly support the view that the
hookworm infection causes severe damage not to the site of attachment alone but also to the entire cell lining of the jejunum and therefore could influence overall digestion and absorption.