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On a new species of sand flea from Ecuador and tungiasis, a problem of Public Health in many developing countries

Abstract:

The authors recently described a new species of sand flea (genus Tunga) occurred in goat, sheep, cow, pig and man, in the Andean village of S.ta Isabel (Ecuador) and named Tunga trimamillata. Its most important morphological characteristics are: slightly larger dimensions than T. penetrans, both in male and female; presence on the anterior extremity of gravid female of three rounded humps surrounding head and thorax; length of the first segment of maxillary palpi which is longer than each of the other three. The importance of this parasite is due to the fact that it can cause the same damages as T. penetrans both in humans and domestic animals, with conseguent walking difficulties and local or generalized infections. For breeders, economic losses can be remarkable. Tungiasis is a serious problem of Public Health in many countries of Latin America and Subsaharian Africa, and it can be considered in these localities as an indicator of underdevelopment and poor hygiene conditions.