Tunga penetrans

Diagram of adult female:

Pathology caused by infestation:

Images:

Adult, infected foot

Phylogeny: Order Siphonoptera

Metamorphosis: Complete

Geographical location: Tropical America, parts of Africa, Near East, India

Organs affected: Skin

Symptoms and clinical signs: Fertilized female burrows into the skin of mammals or humans. Lesions can become a festering, painful sore. Secondary bacterial infections are common.

Diseases transmitted: None

treatment/control: Tropical DDT treatment. Burrowing females are surgically removed.