Tungiasis Has Reached Europe

The patterns of tungiasis in Araruama township, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…Clostridium tetani has been isolated from flea in Costa Rica where 250 fatal cases were attributed to tungiasis (Lowry et al 1996). The prophylactic methods suggested by the laboratory staff, were the ones habitually recommend by Ministério da Saúde (1994), Rozendaal (1997), Veraldi et al (2000), Heukelbach et al (2001) and Linardi (2001), consisting in actions on the environment such as urbanization with pavements of streets, construction of sewage systems and improved housing; actions on humans, as daily examination of the feet, mainly in young children, use of appropriate footwear; treatment of single parasites through extraction with a splinter forceps, topical application of an antibiotic, to avoid secondary infestations and the antitetanus prophylaxis must be employed as routine, principally in reached areas; actions on domestic animals: treatment by feet bathing of infested animals with organophosphorous and carbamate insecticide (neguvon and propoxur respectively), control or reduction of stray dog population and appropriate management husbandry of domestic swine.…”

“…Nowadays T. penetrans is endemic in Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Sahara Africa; only sporadic occurrence has been reported in America, Asia, Oceania and Europe, mainly in citizens, returning from tropical areas after tourism, and military expeditions (Goldman 1976, Difonzo et al 1990, Lowry et al 1996, Veraldi et al 2000; in Brazil, it occurs with a high prevalence (Matias 1989(Matias , 1991. Consequently, the prevalence of tungiasis is poorly known or neglected because it is not a reportable disease (Mckinney & Mcdonald 2001).…”

Ectoparasitic infestations

“…Some years ago, an autochthonous case of tungiasis was reported from southern Italy [41]. It remains to be seen whether global warming and increased international travel will allow T. penetrans to establish its life cycle in areas where it has not been observed before in the future.…”

Dermatologic infectious diseases in international travelers

“…It is endemic in Central and South America, Africa, and Central and East Asia, and cases have been reported in travelers to these areas. Autochthonous tungiasis was reported in an Italian lifeguard [58], and tungiasis (complicated by osteomyelitis and cellulitis) has been documented in children who were adopted from Liberia [59].…”