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!

It better work.

The drive down is uneventful save for the relentless boredom of highway 5. We finally make it to my sister’s house after dark.  I am so tired. Wonder if I’ll find the bathroom in my sleep.

Yet I feel oddly giddy. Drunk on the ridiculousness of what I’m doing. Tomorrow I’m driving to Mexico to get hookworms! Just another day.

The phone rings, and it is my father. I tell him I’m going to a clinic connected to UCSD, and am getting an experimental drug that is a natural immunosuppressive.

“You’re not going to some quack in Tijuana, are you?”

“No, Dad.”

“Because there’s all sorts of charlatans down there.”

“I know, Dad.”

“You’re staying at a hotel?”

“Yeah, overnight in San Diego.”

“You’re not going to some Mexican hotel, are you?”

“No, Dad.”

“Because you can catch anything down there. How much is this costing you?”

“Oh, a few thousand dollars.” He whistles. “They’re not getting you hooked on some radical therapy are they?” I almost choke on my homemade SCD yogurt.

“No, Dad.” I lie and reassure him, as I sit here, afraid.

What the hell am I doing?