Presence of dogs and proximity to a wildlife reserve increase household level risk of tungiasis in Kwale, Kenya

Peter S Larson,Kensuke Goto,Noboru Minakawa,Mwatasa Changoma,Masanobu Ono,Satoshi Kaneko,Kazuhiko Moji

doi:10.1186/s41182-021-00338-8

Abstract

IntroductionTungiasis is a ectopic skin disease caused by some species of fleas in the Tunga genus, most notably T. penetrans. The disease afflicts poor and marginalized communities in developing countries. Transmission of tungiasis comprises a complex web of factors including domesticated animals and wildlife. This research explores animal and environmental risk factors for tungiasis in an area adjacent to a wildlife reserve in Kwale, Kenya.MethodsA two-stage complex sampling strategy was used. Households were selected from three areas in and around Kwale Town, Kenya, an area close to the Kenyan Coast. Households were listed as positive if at least one member had tungiasis. Each household was administered a questionnaire regarding tungiasis behaviors, domesticated animal assets, and wild animal species that frequent the peridomiciliary area. Associations of household tungiasis were tests with household and environmental variables using regression methods.ResultsThe study included 319 households. Of these, 41 (12.85%) were found to have at least one person who had signs of tungiasis. There were 295 (92.48%) households that possessed at least one species of domesticated animal. It was reported that wildlife regularly come into the vicinity of the home 90.59% of households. Presence of dogs around the home (OR 3.85; 95% CI 1.84; 8.11) and proximity to the park were associated with increased risk for tungiasis infestation in humans in a multivariate regression model.ConclusionsHuman tungiasis is a complex disease associated with domesticated and wild animals. Canines in particular appear to be important determinants of household level risk.

Highlights

Tungiasis is a ectopic skin disease caused by some species of fleas in the Tunga genus, most notably T. penetrans
Presence of dogs around the home and proximity to the park were associated with increased risk for tungiasis infestation in humans in a multivariate regression model
13% (41) of households had at least one member who was infected with tungiasis with household level tungiasis prevalence varying between the three regions

Summary

Introduction

Tungiasis is a ectopic skin disease caused by some species of fleas in the Tunga genus, most notably T. penetrans. Known variously as the “jigger flea,” the “chigoe flea”, “nigua,” or “pico,” is a zoonotic ectoparasite common to developing countries [1, 2]. After attaching itself to the human host, the female flea burrows into. The unfertilized female burrows head first into the skin, leaving the last three abdominal segments, the so-called. It is through the abdominal cone that the female sand flea is fertilized, expels eggs, excretes fluid and fecal matter, and breathes [9]. Adults emerging from the pupal state will attach to and penetrate the skin of humans when they walk barefoot, sit, or sleep on contaminated surfaces [12]. Infestations occur mainly on the feet, ectopic infestations can occur on the hands, elbows, knees, palpebral and tongue [3, 13,14,15,16,17]

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