Chigoe flea

Tunga penetrans females after surgical removal

Tunga penetrans (usually called in English jigger ) is a flea from the family of chiggers ( Tungidae ). It can be found in the tropical areas of America ( original home ), Africa and Asia. Like other fleas also, he is a parasite and infects mammals. The infection is called Tungiasis and is a harmless, albeit annoying disease. Due to the penetration of the parasite under the skin, however, other microorganisms may infiltrate the fabric, which may lead to secondary infections. In addition to this ulcerations infection with Clostridium tetani is particularly dangerous.

Features

The animals are one to two millimeters long and have a laterally flattened body. Like all fleas are wingless, but have evolved to jump legs back legs.

The male reaches a size of 0.5 to 0.7 millimeters, and the females 0.5 to 6 millimeters when saturated. The preferred hosts are humans and great pets.

Way of life

Tunga penetrans lives on sandy soils. They feed on parasites from the blood of various mammals, including humans. The female burrows into the skin of the host ( mainly under the toenails ) and grows within 8 to 10 days at a size of four to twelve millimeters in diameter. The parasite is then palpated as papulo nodular structure may be observed, a small opening, wherein a portion of the abdomen may extend beyond the plane of the skin to the oviduct and the stigmas. Copulation occurs only here on males that move across the skin level. The female secretes several thousand eggs that fall on the ground and in about 3 weeks for larvae to develop here (after about three to four days ) to pupae and adult fleas. The female dies still in the body of the host sticking.