Clinical and macroscopic morphological features of canine tungiasis

Harvey, Tatiani Vitor; Freire, Zelina dos Santos; Santos, Katharine Costa dos; Jesus, Anderson Vieira de; Guedes, Paula Elisa Brandão; Sevá, Anaiá da Paixão; Borges, Fernando de Almeida; Carlos, Renata Santiago Alberto

doi:10.1007/s00436-020-07013-7

Cited by 14 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…After approximately 4 to 6 weeks the fleas die in situ [8,9]. Before dying, the flea infestation causes acute and chronic injuries that trigger clinical signs including local inflammation, pain and itching [10,11]. High parasitic loads can cause serious injuries resulting from self-trauma, deformities, loss of digits, secondary bacterial infections, and septicemia [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Efficacy of oral fluralaner (Bravecto) against Tunga penetrans in dogs: A negative control, randomized field study in an endemic community in Brazil

et al. 2022

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The sand flea Tunga penetrans is one of the zoonotic agents of tungiasis, a parasitic skin disease of humans and animals. The dog is one of its main reservoirs. This negatively controlled, randomized, double-masked clinical trial evaluated the therapeutic and residual efficacy of fluralaner for treatment of dogs naturally infested with T. penetrans. Sixty-two dogs from an endemically affected community in Brazil were randomly assigned to either receive oral fluralaner (Bravecto chewable tablets) at a dose of 25 to 56 mg fluralaner/kg body weight, or no treatment (31 dogs per group). Dogs were clinically examined using a severity score for acute canine tungiasis (SCADT), parasitological examinations as defined by the Fortaleza classification, and pictures of lesions on days 0 (inclusion and treatment), 7 ± 2, 14 ± 2, 21 ± 2, 28 ± 2, 60 ± 7, 90 ± 7, 120 ± 7 and 150 ± 7. The percentage of parasite-free dogs after treatment was >90% between days 14 and 90 post-treatment with 100% efficacy on study days 21, 28 and 60. Sand flea counts on fluralaner treated dogs were significantly lower (p<0.025) than control dogs on all counts from day 7 to 120. The number of live sand fleas on treated dogs was reduced by > 90% on day 7, > 95% on days 14 and 90, and 100% from day 21 to 60, and with a significant difference between groups from day 7 to 120. From day 7 to day 120, mean SCADT scores were significantly reduced in treated dogs with a mean of 0.10 compared to 1.54 on day 120 in untreated dogs. Therefore, a single oral fluralaner administration is effective for treating and achieving long lasting (> 12 weeks) prevention for tungiasis in dogs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Clinical signs and resulting consequences are similar for infested dogs and people [6]. In dogs, a small number of fleas can lead to considerable morbidity presenting as local pain, ulcers, necrosis, hyperemia and edema [10,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of oral fluralaner (Bravecto) against Tunga penetrans in dogs: A negative control, randomized field study in an endemic community in Brazil

et al. 2022

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“…Tunga penetrans is a hematophagous ectoparasite that affects mammals [ 1 ] and causes tungiasis, a zoonosis characterized by the penetration of the female flea into the host’s epidermis [ 2 ]. This disease occurs mainly in poor communities in developing countries, being reported in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]. In Brazil, its occurrence has been widely described in indigenous [ 5 ] and rural [ 6 , 7 ] communities, slums [ 8 , 9 , 10 ], and fishing villages [ 9 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Brazil, its occurrence has been widely described in indigenous [ 5 ] and rural [ 6 , 7 ] communities, slums [ 8 , 9 , 10 ], and fishing villages [ 9 , 11 ]. The state of Bahia is located in the country’s Northeast region, and tungiasis was reported as endemic in a fishing community in the municipality of Ilhéus [ 4 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Distribution of Off-Host Stages of Tunga penetrans in the Soil within the Home Range of Nine Infected Dogs in An Endemic Tourist Area in Brazil

et al. 2023

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Tungiasis is a neglected disease caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans, and dogs are considered the main reservoirs in Brazil. This study aimed to identify the role of dogs as tungiasis dispersers and to investigate the presence of T. penetrans in the soil of an endemic tourist area. Nine dogs infected by T. penetrans were included in this study and received GPS collars to analyze their movement through the village. Duplicate sand samples were collected in different areas of the community. Those areas were classified as peridomicile (n = 110), open area (n = 110), beach (n = 50), and river (n = 58). The analysis of the points recorded by the collars showed that the dogs roamed throughout the community, potentially facilitating the spread of the disease. Samples contaminated with developmental forms of the parasite were found in the circulation area of three dogs. Adult fleas were found in 3/328 samples. These data emphasize that infected dogs’ roaming can influence the fleas’ dispersion in the soil. Statistically, none of the study variables had a significant correlation (p > 0.5) with the presence of T. penetrans in the area analyzed. This study was the first to assess infected dogs’ role as tungiasis propagators.

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“…Although the disease is often considered to be only a nuisance and is, therefore, extremely neglected [ 4 ], human disease can be very severe without treatment [ 5 , 6 ]. Domestic animals can also show severe pathology [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. For example, pigs can be infected by several hundred fleas at the same time [ 9 ], which can be associated with severe pathology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cost-Effective PCR-Based Identification of Tunga penetrans (Siphonaptera) Larvae Extracted from Soil Samples Containing PCR Inhibitor-Rich Material

Amugune

Matharu

Ouma

et al. 2022

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Tungiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by skin-penetrating female Tunga penetrans fleas. Although tungiasis causes severe health problems, its ecology is poorly understood and morphological descriptions of the larvae are unavailable. To identify T. penetrans immature stages and sites where they develop, diagnostic PCRs are required. However, flea larvae feed on soil organic matter rich in PCR inhibitors. Here, three DNA preparation methods, including a soil DNA kit that removes inhibitors, a simple ammonium acetate precipitation approach (AmAcet) and a crude lysate of larvae (CL), were combined with amplification by the highly processive FIREPol® Taq or the inhibitor-resistant Phusion® polymerase. Independent of the polymerase used, the frequency of successful amplification, Cq values and PCR efficacies for the low-cost CL and AmAcet methods were superior to the commercial kit for amplification of a 278 bp partial internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) and a 730 bp pan-Siphonaptera cytochrome oxidase II PCR. For the CL method combined with Phusion® polymerase, the costs were approximately 20-fold lower than for the methods based on the soil DNA kit, which is a considerable advantage in resource-poor settings. The ITS-2 PCR did not amplify Ctenocephalides felis genomic or Tunga trimammilata ITS-2 plasmid DNA, meaning it can be used to specifically identify T. penetrans.

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Clinical and macroscopic morphological features of canine tungiasis

Cited by 14 publications

References 33 publications

Efficacy of oral fluralaner (Bravecto) against Tunga penetrans in dogs: A negative control, randomized field study in an endemic community in Brazil

Efficacy of oral fluralaner (Bravecto) against Tunga penetrans in dogs: A negative control, randomized field study in an endemic community in Brazil

Spatial Distribution of Off-Host Stages of Tunga penetrans in the Soil within the Home Range of Nine Infected Dogs in An Endemic Tourist Area in Brazil

Cost-Effective PCR-Based Identification of Tunga penetrans (Siphonaptera) Larvae Extracted from Soil Samples Containing PCR Inhibitor-Rich Material

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