Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 12 3 2017 09 17 374 381 Meysam SHARIFDINI Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran Laleh GHANBARZADEH Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran AND Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran Nasrolla KOUHESTANI-MAKLAVANI Guilan Province Health Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran Hamed MIRJALALI Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehrzad SARAEI Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran AND Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran 2017 09 17 2017 09 17 Background: Hookworm infection is one of the important Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) in the world. It was previously more prevalent in the northern and southern parts of Iran with a prevalence rate higher than 40% in some endemic regions; nevertheless, the infection rate has decreased to less than 1%. This study aimed to determine prevalence and molecular aspects of hookworm infections in rural inhabitants of Fouman County, Guilan Province, northern Iran Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 31 villages of Fouman district in Guilan Province, northern Iran during 2015-2016. Stool samples were collected from 1500 rural inhabitants and examined by formalin ethyl-acetate concentration as well as agar plate culture techniques. After treatment with albendazole, adult hookworms were isolated. FollowingDNA extraction,PCR amplification of ITS2-rDNA region was performed and the product was sequenced, followed by genetic variation analysis. Results: Of 1500 samples, one case was morphologically diagnosed as N. americanus. In addition, molecular characterization verified the presence of N. americanus, showing more than 95% similarity with sequences of N. americanus present in GenBank. The patient showed no clinical symptoms and a mild hypereosinophilia was the only laboratory finding observed. Conclusion: A reduced prevalence of human hookworms was demonstrated within Guilan Province located in north of Iran. The N. americanus originated from Guilan had  a high homology with the isolates found in Japan, Laos, Malaysia, and Australia. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/1768 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/1768/759