**Core Concept**
Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a skin condition characterized by a serpiginous, pruritic rash caused by the migration of larvae from certain nematodes. This condition typically occurs after walking barefoot in contaminated areas.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The major causative agents of CLM are the larvae of hookworms, particularly Ancylostoma braziliense and Ancylostoma caninum. These larvae penetrate the skin, causing an intense inflammatory response, and then migrate superficially, creating the characteristic rash. The larvae release enzymes, such as proteases and collagenases, which break down the skin tissue and facilitate their movement.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** Ancylostoma duodenale is a hookworm species that primarily causes intestinal infection, not CLM.
* **Option B:** Strongyloides stercoralis larvae can cause a similar condition, but it is more commonly associated with intestinal infection and autoinfection.
* **Option D:** Toxocara cati is a nematode that primarily infects cats and can cause ocular larva migrans in humans, but it is not a major causative agent of CLM.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
To diagnose CLM, clinicians should consider the patient's history of walking barefoot in contaminated areas and look for the characteristic serpiginous rash. CLM can be differentiated from other skin conditions, such as eczema or dermatitis, by its unique migration pattern and intense pruritus.
**Correct Answer: C. Ancylostoma braziliense and Ancylostoma caninum**
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