Epidemiology of the flea Tunga penetrans in affected neighborhoods of Puerto Iguazú, Misiones

URDAPILLETA MARA; LARESCHI MARCELA; SALOMON, OSCAR D.

La Plata

Congreso; II Congress of the Latin American Society for Vector Ecology; 2022

Latin American Society for Vector Ecology

For the period 2021-2030, WHO launched an action plan that includes tungiasis as one of the neglected tropical skin diseases. The plan proposes reinforce skills health workers to know and identify the disease, understand the risk factors according to the context and living conditions of the affected communities, and promote the implementation of integrated interventions. This disease is a health problem in the tropics and subtropics, exacerbated by social, economic, political and environmental conditions. Tunga penetrans, the causal agent of this zoonotic ectoparisitosis, is known by different names depending on the region: pique in Argentina, bicho do pé or pulga da areia in Brazil, nigua in Colombia and Costa Rica. Studies carried out in Brazil show high incidences in humans and domestic animals associated with disadvantaged areas with a high index of social vulnerability and poor sanitary conditions. In our country, cases have been reported in Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Chaco, Formosa, Misiones and Corrientes. This study analyzed the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of the inhabitants of the neighborhoods of Puerto Iguazú, regarding tungiasis and its association with care and prevention practices, and their effectiveness. Thirty-eight homes were randomly selected from urban and periurban areas, and through the application of semi-structured surveys, different aspects related to the constructed and naturalized knowledge about tungiasis were addressed. The information collected was grouped into five categories: 1) sociodemographic factors, 2) factors associated with housing, 3) presence and habits of domestic animals, 4) knowledge, attitudes and practices related to tungiasis, 5) perceptions of the actions of the Municipality-Ministry of Health. A qualitative analysis of the data obtained in the surveys was carried out and measurements and percentages of the five categories were compared between the two areas sampled. Most of the people interviewed expressed that they knew about the sting, having been affected at least one of their family members, mainly children, by its sting in the last six months. Some of the causal factors for the high prevalence of flea bites were: lack of information on the flea's life cycle, its treatment and prevention; lack of protection due to the absence or type of footwear used; lack of access to products for the control of ectoparasites; negligence of municipal and provincial health and zoonosis services. In this sense, transdisciplinary research and training of health promoters would provide, on the one hand, information on preventive measures, specific use of repellents and insecticides, identification of pique breeding sites and their reservoirs, and on the other hand, health support to the community in the correct treatment, use of instruments, ways of extraction and disinfection to avoid risks of secondary bacterial infections.