Current status of the knowledge on the epidemiology of tungiasis in the Americas

Abstract

Objectives. To present the state-of-the-knowledge on the epidemiology of tungiasis in the Region of the Americas. Methods. A search of publications on the epidemiology of tungiasis in the Americas was performed in PubMed and LILACS databases from January 2007 to June 2021. In addition, a manual literature search on articles on the epidemiology of tungiasis was performed. Results. A total of 83 articles were analyzed which contained relevant information on tungiasis cases and their geographical distribution, prevalence and risk factors, life cycle, sites where transmission takes place, and zoonotic aspects. The on-host and off-host life cycles have been researched in detail. In certain contexts, the whole life cycle is completed indoors enabling transmission around the whole year. Cases were reported from 10 countries; 71% of them were from Brazil. In the general population, the prevalence varied between 1.0% and 82.6% according to the settings. Age-specific prevalence indicated that children and the elderly bear the highest disease burden. Risk factor studies indicate that tungiasis is associated with severe poverty. Conclusions. In the Americas, there are important gaps in information and knowledge of tungiasis. Understanding the burden, epidemiology, distribution, magnitude, related risk factors, and reservoirs, among others, is needed to develop and implement integrated control measures tailored to the context and patterns of transmission in the affected communities.

Occurrence of Tungiasis in Ceará State, Northeast Brazil: Results of a Rapid Assessment Method

“…Severe cases were reported from a high number of municipalities, evidencing an urgent need for the implementation of systematic control measures. In the case of massive infection, chronic inflammation, difficulty walking, deformation of digits, loss of toenails and superinfection with pathogenic bacteria are common [4,7]. During past decades -mostly because of increasing urbanization and better living conditions -the number of affected municipalities and of those reporting severe cases has been reduced.…”

“…There are only few population-based studies from Brazil, indicating that tungiasis is a severe problem in human and animal populations in several settings [1,[4][5][6][7]. Thus, there is a dire need for data on the distribution of tungiasis in possibly endemic regions.…”

Current Status of Tungiasis in Endemic Areas. Prevalence, Risk Factors, Prevention

“…So-called integrated interventions are proposed in this case. These are based on the One Health approach and require large-scale cross-sectoral support to reduce DNDi, as those living in these endemic areas often also suffer from a range of other DNDi [24,27,29]. Remarkably, despite the demonstration of the S-model, sick children ≤1 year are also found in US communities.…”

“…In another study on the prevalence of tungiasis in the Americas for January 2007 to June 2001, PubMed and LILACS databases were used, and a manual search of publications on the topic was performed. A total of 83 articles were analyzed, with cases reported in 10 countries, and 71% of cases were in Brazil [24]. In the general population, the prevalence varied between 1.0% and 82.6% depending on several criteria.…”

Current Status of Tungiasis in Endemic Areas. Prevalence, Risk Factors, Prevention

“…Socalled integrated interventions are proposed in this case. These are based on the One Health approach and require large-scale cross-sectoral support to reduce DNDi, as those living in these endemic areas often also suffer from a range of other DNDi [24,27,29]. Remarkably, despite the demonstration of the S-model, sick children ≤1 year are also found in US communities.…”