Jigger flea infestation (tungiasis) in rural western Tanzania: High prevalence and severe morbidity

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Volumn 106, Issue 4, 2012, Pages 259-263

  Mazigo, H D ^a   Bahemana, E ^a   Konje, E T ^b   Dyegura, O ^b   Mnyone, L L ^c   Kweka, E J ^d   Kidenya, B R ^a   Heukelbach, J ^e,f  

^a Faculty of Medicine Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College   (Tanzania)

^b CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH AND ALLIED SCIENCES   (Tanzania)

^c SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE   (Tanzania)

^d TROPICAL PESTICIDES RESEARCH INSTITUTE   (Tanzania)

^e FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF CEARÁ   (Brazil)

^f JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

Author keywords

Africa; Morbidity; Prevalence; Tanzania; Tungiasis

Indexed keywords

ADOLESCENT; ADULT; ARTICLE; BACTERIAL SUPERINFECTION; CHILD; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY; DESQUAMATION; FEMALE; HUMAN; MALE; MORBIDITY; NAIL DISEASE; PAIN; PARASITE LOAD; PRESCHOOL CHILD; PREVALENCE; PRURITUS; SCHOOL CHILD; SEX DIFFERENCE; SKIN FISSURE; SKIN ULCER; TANZANIA; TUNGIASIS; WALKING DIFFICULTY;

ADOLESCENT; ADULT; ANIMALS; CHILD; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES; FEMALE; FLEA INFESTATIONS; HUMANS; MALE; MIDDLE AGED; NEEDS ASSESSMENT; POVERTY AREAS; PREVALENCE; PUBLIC HEALTH; RISK FACTORS; RURAL HEALTH; RURAL POPULATION; SEVERITY OF ILLNESS INDEX; TANZANIA; TUNGA; TUNGIASIS; YOUNG ADULT;

ANIMALIA; SIPHONAPTERA (FLEAS);

EID: 84858282979     PISSN: 00359203     EISSN: 18783503     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2011.12.001     Document Type: Article

References (35)

1. Heukelbach J., Oliveira F.A., Hesse G., Feldmeier H. Tungiasis: a neglected health problem of poor communities. Trop Med Int Health 2001, 6:267-272.
2. Chadee D.D. Tungiasis among five communities in south-western Trinidad, West Indies. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 1998, 92:107-113.
3. Carvalho R.W., Almeida A.B., Barbosa-Silva S.C., Amorim M., Ribeiro P.C., Serra-Freire N.M. The patterns of tungiasis in Araruama Township, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2003, 98:31-36.
4. Joseph J.K., Bazile J., Mutter J., Shin S., Ruddle A., Ivers L., et al. Tungiasis in rural Haiti: a community-based response. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2006, 100:970-974.
5. Ugbomoiko U.S., Ariza L., Ofoezie I.E., Heukelbach J. Risk Factors for tungiasis in Nigeria: identification of targets for effective intervention. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2007, 1:e87.
6. Collins G., McLeod T., Konfor N.I., Lamnyam C.B., Ngarka L., Njamnshi N.L. Tungiasis: a neglected health problem in rural Cameroon. Int J Coll Res Intern Med Pub Health 2009, 1:2-10.
7. Ugbomoiko U.S., Ofoezie I.E., Heukelbach J. Tungiasis: high prevalence, parasite load, and morbidity in a rural community in Lagos State, Nigeria. Int J Dermatol 2007, 46:475-481.
8. Mazigo H.D., Bahemana E., Zinga M., Heukelbach J. Tungiasis infestation in Tanzania. J Infect Dev Ctries 2010, 4:187-189.
9. Greco J.B., Sacramento E., Tavares-Neto J. Chronic ulcers and myiasis as ports of entry for Clostridium tetani. Br J Infect Dis 2001, 5:319-323.
10. Heukelbach J., Jackson A., Ariza L., Calheiros C.M.L., Soares V.L., Feldmeier H. Epidemiology and clinical aspects of tungiasis (sand flea infestation) in Alagoas State, Brazil. J Infect Dev Ctries 2007, 1:202-209.
11. Pilger D., Schwalfenberg S., Heukelbach J., Witt L., Mencke N., Khakban A., et al. Controlling tungiasis in an impoverished community: an intervention study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2008, 2:e324.
12. Pampiglione S., Trentini M., Gentili F.M., Mendes J.L.X., Pampiglione C., Rivasi F. Tunga penetrans (Insecta: Siphonaptera) in pigs in São Tomé (Equatorial Africa): Epidemiological, clinical, morphological and histopathological aspects. Rev élev Méd Vét Pays Trop 1998, 51:201-205.
13. Njeumi F., Nsangou C., Ndjend A.G., Ostanello F., Pampiglione S. Tunga penetrans in Cameroon [in French]. Rev Méd Vét 2002, 153:176-180.
14. Swaminathan A., Gosbell I.B., Zwar N.A., Douglas M.W. Tungiasis in recently arrived African refugees. Med J Aust 2005, 18:51.
15. Kilonzo B.S., Mbise T.J., Mwalimu D.C., Kindamba L. Observations on the endemicity of plague in Karatu and Ngorongoro, northern Tanzania. Tanz Health Res Bull 2006, 8:1-6.
16. Ratovonjato J., Randriambelosoa J., Robert V. Tunga penetrans (Insecta, Siphonaptera, Tungidae) in Madagascar: a neglected nuisance [in French]. Rev Méd Vét 2008, 159:551-556.
17. Wanjala J. Jigger healing gesture restores hope in villagers. Kenya Times, Nation Media Group (Nairobi, Kenya); 21 September 2007. p. 17.
18. Ahadi Kenya Trust. Woman dies from jigger attack. [accessed 29 August 2009]. http://jigger-ahadi.org/press%20coverage/pages/31-08-09%20The%20Star.jpg.htm.
19. Olukya G, Associated Press. Horror rotting disease hits Uganda: Jiggers, small insects which look like fleas blamed for epidemic which has killed at least 20. [Updated 22 October 2010]. Redmond: msnbc.com ©2011. [accessed 22 October 2010]. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39796049/ns/health-infectious_diseases.
20. Mango C. Thousands locked out of voters roll over jiggers. The Star (Nairobi, Kenya); 10 May 2010. p. 10.
21. Heukelbach J., Wilcke T., Harms G., Feldmeier H. Seasonal variation of tungiasis in an endemic community. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2005, 72:145-149.
22. Eisele M., Heukelbach J., van Marck E., Mehlhorn H., Meckes O., Franck S., et al. Investigations on the biology, epidemiology, pathology and control of Tunga penetrans in Brazil: I. Natural history of tungiasis in man. Parasitol Res 2003, 90:87-99.
23. Muehlen M., Feldmeier H., Wilcke T., Winter B., Heukelbach J. Identifying risk factors for tungiasis and heavy infestation in a resource-poor community in northeast Brazil. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2006, 100:371-380.
24. Heukelbach J., Ugbomoiko U.S. Tungiasis in the past and present: a dire need for intervention. Nig J Parasitol 2007, 28:1-5.
25. Muehlen M., Heukelbach J., Wilcke T., Winter B., Mehlhorn H., Feldmeier H. Investigations on the biology, epidemiology, pathology and control of Tunga penetrans in Brazil II. Prevalence, parasite load and topographic distribution of lesions in the population of a traditional fishing village. Parasitol Res 2003, 90:449-455.
26. Wilcke T., Heukelbach J., Cesar Saboia M.R., Kerr-Pontes L.R.S., Feldmeier H. High prevalence of tungiasis in a poor neighbourhood in Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil. Acta Trop 2002, 83:255-258.
27. Heukelbach J., Wilcke T., Eisele M., Feldmeier H. Ectopic localization of tungiasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2002, 67:214-216.
28. Feldmeier H., Eisele M., Van Marck E., Mehlhorn H., Ribeiro R., Heukelbach J. Investigations on the biology, epidemiology, pathology and control of Tunga penetrans in Brazil: IV. Clinical and histopathology. Parasitol Res 2004, 94:275-282.
29. Heukelbach J. Tungiasis. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo 2005, 47:307-313.
30. Feldmeier H., Eisele M., Sabóia-Moura R.C., Heukelbach J. Severe tungiasis in underprivileged communities: case series from Brazil. Emerg Inf Dis 2003, 8:949-955.
31. Feldmeier H., Heukelbach J., Eisele M., Sousa A.Q., Barbosa L.M., Carvalho C.B. Bacterial superinfection in human tungiasis. Trop Med Int Health 2002, 7:559-564.
32. Heukelbach J. Revision on tungiasis: treatment options and prevention. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2006, 4:151-157.
33. Heukelbach J., Mencke N., Feldmeier H. Cutaneous larva migrans and tungiasis: the challenge to control zoonotic ectoparasitoses associated with poverty. Trop Med Int Health 2002, 7:907-910.
34. Heukelbach J., Costa A.M., Wilcke T., Mencke N., Feldmeier H. The animal reservoir of Tunga penetrans in severely affected communities of north-east Brazil. Med Vet Entomol 2004, 18:329-335.
35. Ugbomoiko U.S., Ariza L., Heukelbach J. Pigs are the most important animal reservoirs for Tunga penetrans (jigger fleas). Trop Doctor 2008, 38:226-227.