http://books.google.com/books?id=8AWz0cS6e9kC&pg=PA115&lpg=PA115&dq#PPA115,M1

This article goes into great detail on the advantages of each method:

http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/content/full/77/6/1087

Incubation temperature is important, and 30C (86 degrees farenheit) is optimal:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3569472

I’ll provide an equipment list and write about the process once I’ve ordered the supplies, and tried it out. Oh why didn’t I take a science class in college? An art major in oil painting is not helping me out here…perhaps I’ll start a larval triptych!

School of Public Health, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112.

“A Necator infection produced by percutaneous exposure of a volunteer to three larvae was followed with periodic egg counts for 4 months beyond 18 years when passage of eggs in the feces ceased permanently. During the 2nd year of infection, there was unintentional exposure to two additional larvae. Egg counts per gram of feces (EPG) were approximately 1,000 during the 1st year, 1,500 over the next 5 years, and less than or equal to 200 over the final 3 years, during which time there were 6 periods of approximately 1 month each when Kato thick-smear examinations revealed no eggs. During 6 of the 1st 14 years, when egg counts were done by the standard direct smear method, up to 37% of the eggs were infertile. Based on the assumption that two female worms were present during the 1st year, three during the next 3 years or more, and only one during the final 3 years, the estimated output per female in this light infection was 500 EPG in the worm’s prime of life, and less than 200 EPG in the final year of the 17 or 18 year life span.”

From: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3189697

This study is quite amazing in that such a small infection could last so long. (I’d like to know how he was accidentally exposed to 2 larvae, and how did he know they were two? Was he fooling around under the microscope and his hand slipped and they splashed onto his arm? I wish they provided details!) Also, that anyone would do fecal egg counts for 18 years, and monthly! If such a high EPG is found from only a few females, then why are we messing around with doses of 25-50? I’m still probably going to dose with 10, I just want to do my egg counts to see what happens. And if they all die, I’ll think of this man, who hosted 5 for two decades. Clearly, the modern lifestyle didn’t affect his hookworm status. Amazing creatures!

As we’re waiting for the train, my husband runs in to get batteries at the kiosk – and there’s a man across the tracks who is staring at me. I wonder at first if this is Jasper, the owner of the hookworm clinic. But this guy is strange looking. A little too bundled and sweaty. He keeps looking at me and I keep thinking… is it Jasper?

We drag our bags onto the trolley and selfishly take up 2 entire benches with my cooler full of special food, my pads, 20 pairs of underwear, changes of clothes.  Crohn’s-disease luggage is extra large. The man who isn’t Jasper stands against the wall near me, staring, then finally closes his eyes.

We take off. The man is sweating, crouching now against the wall. His mouth is wide open, eyes rolled back into his sockets, whites showing, drool glistening against his chin. I’m glad he isn’t Jasper, because I wouldn’t want this guy’s hookworms.

...last chance to turn back...

Finally the train arrives in San Ysidro, we get off and join the exodus marching towards the border. We walk through the concrete pedestrian maze over the real freeway that connects the US with Mexico.  No customs. No passports. I am thankful I don’t have an attack of diarrhea, since there is no toilet paper in the bathrooms, and God knows what infectious diseases are on the faucet. We are in Mexico! Last 24 hours to be parasite free. Tomorrow, I will have 10 squirmy little friends. I’ll be thousands of dollars poorer, but rich with possibility.

The irony is, I never went to Mexico for fear of catching parasites.