title: Tungiasis in Italy: An imported case of Tunga penetrans and review of the literature.
abstract: Tungiasis is an animal and human parasitic disease caused by fleas of the genus Tunga (Siphonaptera, Tungidae), endemic in equatorial and subtropical regions and rarely described in European countries, where clinicians and general pathologists could be not aware of this parasitic disease. To our knowledge, only 75 cases of human tungiasis (not all described in detail) were previously reported in Italy. We described a new case in a 34-year-old Italian flight attendant who developed a granuloma-like, ulcerated nodule in the subungual region of his left 5th toe, partially detaching the nail, about 20-30 days after his return from Brazil. We performed a detailed review of the literature of the Italian cases, suggesting the use of histochemical stains (especially Trichrome stain) in order to underline parasitic details. Tourism in endemic regions and globalization may result in new cases in developed countries and previously unaffected regions, therefore pathologists should consider this parasitic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Solaroli 17, Novara 28100, Italy. Electronic address: andreapalicelli@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palicelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Solaroli 17, Novara 28100, Italy; Pathology Unit, "Maggiore della Carità" Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, Novara 28100, Italy. Electronic address: renzo.boldorini@med.unipmn.it.
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boldorini
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, "Maggiore della Carità" Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, Novara 28100, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont "Amedeo Avogadro", Via Solaroli 17, Novara 28100, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Giulia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Disanto
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, "Maggiore della Carità" Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, Novara 28100, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, "Maggiore della Carità" Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, Novara 28100, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Portigliotti
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, "Luigi Sacco" Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Giovan Battista Grassi 74, Milan 20157, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo 71, Modena 41124, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rivasi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D058285:Tungiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Flea; Human; Parasite; Skin nodule; Tunga penetrans