title: Pigs are the most important animal reservoir for Tunga penetrans (jigger flea) in rural Nigeria.
abstract: We examined the domestic animals and rodents in a community in rural Nigeria. Of the 133 animals examined, 29 (21.8%) were infested, the highest prevalence of infestation and highest parasite load was found in the pigs (prevalence 54.8%, median = nine embedded parasites), followed by dogs (45.5%; median = 4), Rattus rattus (29.4%; median = 2) and Mus minutoides (15.4%; median = 1.5). Of all the tungiasis lesions identified 83% were found in pigs. Our data confirm that tungiasis is a zoonotic disease, and that pigs are its most important animal reservoir in this endemic community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Uade S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Ugbomoiko
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ariza
authors.forename: Jorg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heukelbach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D051381:Rats / Q000469:parasitology; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000469:parasitology*