The animal reservoir of Tunga penetrans in severely affected communities of north‐east Brazil

Abstract

Tungiasis is a zoonotic ectoparasitosis caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans L. (Siphonaptera: Tungidae). This disease is hyperendemic in poor communities of north-east Brazil, causing considerable morbidity in affected human populations, but the animal reservoirs have not been investigated previously in Brazil. To assess the prevalence and intensity of T. penetrans infection in domestic and peri-domestic animals, as well as in the human population, we surveyed two typical communities of north-east Brazil: an urban slum and a traditional fishing village. In the slum we examined 849 humans, 121 cats, 82 dogs, 2 pigs, 2 rabbits, 1 monkey and 56 rodents, comprising 34 rats (Rattus rattus L.) and 22 mice (Mus domesticus L). In the fishing village we examined 505 humans, 68 dogs, 37 cats, 7 donkeys, 4 cattle, 3 pigs and 1 monkey. Tungiasis was common among dogs and cats of both communities, with respective prevalence rates of 67.1% (95% CI: 55.8-77.1) and 30.9% (95% CI: 20.2-43.3) in dogs, 49.6% (95% CI: 40.4-58.8) and 32.4% (95% CI: 18.0-49.8) in cats. Slum rats were 41.2% (95% CI: 24.6-59.3) infested, but the other animals were not. Human prevalence rates were 54.4% (95% CI: 51.0-57.8) in the slum and 52.1% (95% CI: 47.6-56.5) in the fishing village. High prevalence rates (range 31-67%) of tungiasis in humans, pets and rats (but apparently not other animals) indicate the need for an eco-epidemiological approach to control of this anthropo-zoonotic problem.

Tungiasis infestation in Tanzania

“…Climatic conditions in our case were similar to these previous studies. In addition, people keep animals such as cattle, goats, pigs, dogs and cats that have been described as important animal reservoirs for T. penetrans [22][23][24].…”

Assessment of Socioeconomic status and the Prevalence of Tungiasis in Jimma and Wolaita sodo, Ethiopia

“…Most of the houses were of kacha or semipucca type with muddy or sandy floorings. The inadequate health care and unhygienic behavior of the population also contributed a significant role in the spreading of the disease [9,12]. Close contact with the animals also an important factor in the high prevalence of this disease in the studied area (8) .…”

“…Tunga penetrans complete its life cycle in the sandy or muddy floor of the houses and it premises. So poor houses with muddy or sandy soil, unhygienic health behavior of the population, all these factors affects the rate of infection [10][11][12]. Previous studies revealed that there were high prevalence of disease in sheep, dog and pig [8,13,14].…”

Faunal distribution of fleas and their blood-feeding preferences using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays from farm animals and human shelters in a new rural region of southern Iran

“…Most fleas infest their host temporarily then pass to another of the same kind, while others move from one to a different host species. There are reports of flea infestations on economically valuable livestock including cattle (Heukelbach et al 2004), sheep (Sertse and Wossene 2007), goats (Christodoulopoulos et al 2006) and other ruminants (Kaal et al 2006;McCauley et al 2008).…”