Control of tungiasis through intermittent application of a plant-based repellent: an intervention study in a resource-poor community in Brazil

Buckendahl, John, Heukelbach, Jörg, Ariza, Liana, Kehr, Judith Dorothea, Seidenschwang, Martin, and Feldmeier, Hermann (2010) Control of tungiasis through intermittent application of a plant-based repellent: an intervention study in a resource-poor community in Brazil. PLoS Neglected Tropical Disease, 4 (11). e879. pp. 1-9.

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Abstract

Background Tungiasis, an ectoparasitosis caused by the female sand flea Tunga penetrans, is an important health problem in many impoverished communities in the tropics. Sand flea disease is associated with a broad spectrum of clinical pathology and severe sequels are frequent. Treatment options are limited.

Methodology/Principal Findings We assessed the effectiveness of the intermittent application of the plant-based repellent Zanzarin to reduce infestation intensity and tungiasis-associated morbidity in a resource-poor community in Brazil, characterized by a very high attack rate. The study population was randomized into three cohorts. Initially, during a period of four weeks, the repellent was applied twice daily to the feet of all cohort members. This reduced the number of embedded sandfleas to 0 in 98% of the participants. Thereafter members of cohort A applied the repellent every second week twice daily for one week, members of cohort B every fourth week for one week, and members of cohort C served as controls. Infestation intensity and tungiasis-associated morbidity were monitored during five months. The intermittent application of Zanzarin for one week every second week significantly reduced infestation intensity from a median 4 lesions (IQR 1–9) during the whole transmission season. In contrast, in cohort B (application of the repellent every fourth week) the infestation intensity remained twice as high (median 8 lesions, IQR 9–16; p = 0.0035), and in the control cohort C 3.5 times as high (median 14 lesions; IQR 7–26; p = 0.004 during the transmission season). Tungiasis-related acute pathology remained very low in cohort A (median severity score 2; IQR 1–4) as compared to cohort B (median severity score 5; IQR 3–7; p<0.001), and control cohort C (median severity score 6.5; IQR 4–8; p<0.001).

Conclusions/Significance Our study shows that in a setting with intense transmission, tungiasis-associated morbidity can be minimized through the intermittent application of a plant-based repellent.

Item ID: 16955
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1935-2735
Keywords: Tungiasis, plant-based, Brazil, repellent
Additional Information:

Copyright: © 2010 Buckendahl et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Date Deposited: 13 May 2011 05:24
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920499 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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