Abstract
Tunga is the most specialized genus among the Siphonaptera because adult females penetrate into the skin of their hosts and, after mating and fertilization, undergo hypertrophy, forming an enlarged structure known as the neosome. In humans and other warm-blooded animals, neosomes cause tungiasis, which arises due to the action of opportunistic agents. Although its effects on humans and domestic animals are well described in the literature, little is known about the impact of tungiasis on wild animals. This review focuses on the morphology, taxonomy, geographical distribution, hosts, prevalence, sites of attachment, and impact of tungid neosomes on wild and domestic animals. Because neosomes are the most characteristic form of the genus Tunga and also the form most frequently found in hosts, they are here differentiated and illustrated to aid in the identification of the 13 currently known species. Perspectives for future studies regarding the possibility of discovering other sand flea species, adaptation to new hosts, and the transfer of tungids between hosts in natural and modified habitats are also presented.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00436-014-4081-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Adult fleas (Siphonaptera) are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites that infest humans and wild and domestic animals
Neosomy exists in other Arthropoda, in fleas, the process occurs in approximately 90 sessile or semisessile species (Rothschild 1992), primarily in the families Vermipsyllidae and Tungidae
How do we evaluate the action of tens of neosomes of T. travassosi on the toes or the 30 cm ventral surface of armadillos? Or more than 30 neosomes of T. caecigena over the ears or the tail of a rat that measure, respectively, 24 and 180 mm? It is important to stress that in rats, the pinna can be rotated to catch the slightest sound from almost any direction
Summary
Adult fleas (Siphonaptera) are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites that infest humans and wild and domestic animals.
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