Tunga penetrans
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Authors: Francis Mutebi, Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Hermann Feldmeier, Charles Waiswa, Jeanne Bukeka Muhindo and Jürgen Krücken
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2016, 10(10) e0005056
Tunga penetrans (Linnaeus) - (chigoe flea)
This species of sand flea, causes zoonotic ectoparasitosis (tungiasis) on humans and domestic animals. It is common in sub-Saharan Africa and South America. The adult fleas are very small, about 1 mm. Both males and females feed on the blood of humans and other mammals. The females burrow into the exposed skin, mainly of the feet.
Infestation rates in humans can reach 50% in some areas. Although infestations by chigoe fleas are often considered minor ailments, they can cause painful inflammations, deformations and entry points for other diseases, resulting in walking difficulties.
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| • English: | chigoe flea jigger flea |
| • Français: | puce-chique |
The female feeds inside the skin and ejects eggs which fall to the ground. It eventually dies inside the host. The eggs hatch to larvae on the ground which feed on organic matter and develop through 2 instars into pupae and adults within a period of about 1 month.
For details see the respective page in Wikipedia.
- Other images of Tunga penetrans (Wikimedia Commons - click to enlarge)
female
diagnostic characters
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