A plant-based repellent protects against Tunga penetrans infestation and sand flea disease

Feldmeier, Hermann; Kehr, Judith Dorothea; Heukelbach, Jörg

doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2006.05.013

Cited by 52 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The attack rate became zero-or near zero-immediately after the repellent had been applied to the feet regularly. [17][18][19] The major repellent component of Zanzarin is capric acid, a fatty acid from coconut oil. The repellent also contains jojoba oil and Aloe vera, which have an anti-inflammatory effect and presumably also contributed to the rapid reduction of the inflammation of the feet as soon as sand fleas were effectively repelled.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…16 We have previously shown that the regular application of a repellent-based coconut oil effectively reduces tungiasisassociated morbidity in lightly and moderately infected individuals. [17][18][19] Here, we test the hypothesis, whether this approach is also effective in extremely severe cases and compare the effectiveness of the regular application of the repellent to the protection provided by closed shoes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Regression of Severe Tungiasis-Associated Morbidity after Prevention of Re-Infestation: A Case Series from Rural Madagascar

Thielecke

Raharimanga

Stauss-Grabo

et al. 2013

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Tungiasis (sand flea disease) is a neglected tropical disease. Heavy infestation results in mutilation of the feet and difficulty in walking. We identified eight individuals with extremely severe tungiasis in rural Madagascar. To prevent reinfestation, four individuals received solid shoes and four received a daily application of an herbal repellent effective against Tunga penetrans. Over a period of 10 weeks the feet were examined and the severity of tungiasisassociated morbidity was measured. Within this period, the severity score for acute tungiasis decreased 41% in the shoe group and 89% in the repellent group. The four major inflammation-related symptoms disappeared in the four patients of the repellent group, but only in two patients of the shoe group. Those observations indicate that cases with extremely severe tungiasis, associated morbidity almost totally disappears within 10 weeks if the feet are protected by a repellent. Wearing shoes reduced acute morbidity only marginally.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regression of Severe Tungiasis-Associated Morbidity after Prevention of Re-Infestation: A Case Series from Rural Madagascar

Thielecke

Raharimanga

Stauss-Grabo

et al. 2013

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…In fact, recent studies have shown that intermittent application of a plant-based repellent reduced morbidity significantly, but that transmission and subsequently morbidity increased rapidly after interruption of this intervention [20]. Control ideally should consist of individual therapeutic measures, and interventions concerning improved housing and environmental conditions, and veterinary measures to reduce animal reservoirs such as cats, dogs, pigs and rats [4,21].…”

Section: In Vitro Efficacy Of Four Insecticides Against Eggs Of Tungamentioning

confidence: 99%

In VitroEfficacy of Four Insecticides Against Eggs of Tunga penetrans (Siphonaptera)

Kiesewetter¹,

Ariza²,

Martins³

et al. 2013

TODJ

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Systematic assessments of control measures against the jigger flea Tunga penetrans are scarce, and there are no published data available on the efficacy of environmental insecticides against immature stages. We tested four environmental contact insecticides used by Brazilian authorities for disease control (deltamethrin, bifenthrin, dichlorvos and etofenprox) against T. penetrans eggs. Eggs were reared in vitro. Hatch rates were observed under standardized conditions and compared to a control group (40 eggs in each group). No larvae hatched after treatment with the organophosphate dichlorvos (100% efficacy). The efficacies of the other products tested varied between 17% and 57%. The data show that the organophosphate dichlorvos had a good in vitro efficacy. The use of dichlorvos can be directed to typical spots where early stages of T. penetrans are expected, considering its toxicity. Disease control should also consist of prevention measures concerning housing and environmental conditions, veterinary and human health measures.

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“…Zanzarin, a plant-based repellent, has been shown to effectively prevent the infestation with T. penetrans in areas with high attack rates. This compound would be an ideal candidate for prophylaxis [13].…”

Section: Control Measures Of Tunga Penetransmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On-host treatment is mandatory because animals act as reservoirs of the fleas hence they fuel peri-and intra-domiciliary transmission of the parasite. On-host products have been developed, such as a combination of imidacloprid and permethrin (Advantix) which prevents infestation with T. penetrans in animals [13,14].…”

Section: Control Measures Of Tunga Penetransmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tunga penetrans―A Silent Setback to Development in Kenya

Ruttoh¹,

Omondi²,

Wanyama³

2012

JESE-B

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Tungiasis is an ectoparasitic skin disease caused by the penetration of the female sand flea, Tungapenetrans, into the epidermis of the host. Through an intensive literature review, poor hygiene, poverty, social neglect, ignorance, and poor cultural beliefs were found to promote jigger infestation in Kenya. The research revealed the vicious cycle of poverty, low educational standards, low self-esteem/stigmatization, violation of civil rights, HIV/AIDS and secondary infections as the effects of the infestation. Fumigation, on-host treatment of animals, proper hygiene, and health education are the suggested control measures. Generally, one needs to be physically, emotionally and socially sound to appropriately deliver the much needed services of national development. The jigger infestation negatively impacts on these aspects of human health, hampering the wholesome participation in nation building by both the infected and the affected. As a country, the Jigger menace is frustrating Kenya's attempts to achieve the Millennium Development Goal on poverty reduction by the year 2015, as well as reducing the pace of national development.

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A plant-based repellent protects against Tunga penetrans infestation and sand flea disease

Cited by 52 publications

References 20 publications

Regression of Severe Tungiasis-Associated Morbidity after Prevention of Re-Infestation: A Case Series from Rural Madagascar

Regression of Severe Tungiasis-Associated Morbidity after Prevention of Re-Infestation: A Case Series from Rural Madagascar

In VitroEfficacy of Four Insecticides Against Eggs of Tunga penetrans (Siphonaptera)

Tunga penetrans―A Silent Setback to Development in Kenya

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