Body Louse Pathogen Surveillance among Persons Experiencing Homelessness, Canada, 2020-2021.

We analyzed body lice collected from persons experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, during 2020-2021 to confirm vector species and ecotype and to identify louseborne pathogens. Of 556 lice analyzed from 7 persons, 17 louse pools (218 lice) from 1 person were positive for the louseborne bacterium Bartonella quintana.

Efficacy of monthly treatment with oral fluralaner (Bravecto® 1-Month) against Tunga penetrans in dogs in Brazil: a randomized, double-blind, controlled field study.

BACKGROUND: Tungiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the adult female sand flea (Tunga penetrans). Dogs are considered important reservoirs of T. penetrans in Brazil. The aim of this study was to determine the monthly insecticidal efficacy of a single oral administration of fluralaner at a dose of 10-18 mg/kg (Bravecto® 1-Month, also registered as Defenza® in some countries; MSD Animal Health) in dogs naturally infested with T. penetrans. METHODS: This clinical trial was conducted in a rural community located in Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. A total of 64 dogs were selected and distributed in a completely randomized design between a treated group (TG) that received one single dose of Bravecto® 1-Month (Defenza®) and a negative control group (CG) that received no treatment. Each group was composed of 32 dogs. The evaluations took place on days 0, 7 ± 2, 14 ± 2, 21 ± 2, 28 ± 2, 35 ± 2, and 42 ± 2 post treatment, in which the dogs were inspected to evaluate the infestation stage and classify lesions associated with tungiasis. The primary efficacy was determined from the percentage of treated dogs free of fleas (stage II and III lesions) after administration of the formulation at each evaluation time. Secondary efficacy was based on the number of active lesions (stages II and III) in each group at each evaluation time. The clinical condition of the animals was defined based on the Severity Score for Acute Dog Tungiasis (SCADT), which is related to the number and severity of lesions. RESULTS: The primary efficacy of the product was greater than 95.0% from days 7 to 21 and reached 100.0% between days 28 and 42, with a significant association between treatment and infestation decline (P < 0.025) between days 7 and 42. Secondary drug efficacy was greater than 99.9% from days 7 to 21, reaching 100.0% between days 28 and 42 (P < 0.05). The treated dogs also scored lower on the SCADT than the control animals did during the entire clinical evaluation period (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A single administration of Bravecto® 1-Month (Defenza®) was effective in eliminating Tunga penetrans infestations, as well as in preventing parasitism for at least 42 days after treatment.

Ectoparasitosis, a rare cause of severe iron deficiency anemia: A case report.

Pediculosis is a common condition caused by an infestation of head and body louse (ectoparasites) and remains a public health concern. Generally, infestation presents as pruritus in children and has a benign course, but there have been a handful of cases reported in the literature describing severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in high-risk groups such as children, history of psychiatric disorder including depression, and low socioeconomic status. Though an uncommonly encountered etiology of anemia, the aim of this case is to increase awareness of a rare cause of severe anemia from an ectoparasites affecting a high risk population, even in developed countries.

A Study of Clinical Profile and Quality of Life in Patients with Scabies at a Rural Tertiary Care Centre.

INTRODUCTION: Scabies is a contagious disease primarily related to poverty and overcrowding, it rapidly spreads from person to person specially in people with poor hygiene. We come across many patients from rural areas with scabies. In India the incidence ranges from 13% to 59% in rural and urban areas. Many people complain of sleep disturbances and affection of work and leisure activities due to itching. Very few studies are done in India about the affection of quality of life in such patients. AIM: To study the demographic details, clinical profile and quality of life in patients with scabies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational and cross-sectional study conducted at Department of Dermatology and Venereology, rural based tertiary care centre, Gujarat for a period of 6 months from March to August 2015, after ethical approval from the institute. Study included all patients with clinical features suggestive of scabies. The data including age, sex, occupation, education, socioeconomic status, complaints, past history, family history and clinical features along with the questionnaire for affection of quality of life were recorded in predesigned proforma and detailed analysis was done. Total of 102 newly diagnosed scabies patients attending skin OPD were included in the study. RESULTS: Out of 102 patients, 50.98% were males. The most common age group affected was 21-40 years, in 44.11% patients. Students were commonly affected with 41.17% followed by housewives with 20.58% cases. Most common lesion seen was papules in 84.3% followed by excoriations in 82.3% cases. Maximum 51.6% adults had small effect on quality of life while 62.5% children reported minimal effect on quality of life. CONCLUSION: Scabies is an important and commonly encountered health problem which is highly contagious and if not attended timely and adequately can affect the quality of life in the form of work affection, sleep disturbances and psychosocial problems in patients as well as its family members. This could be easily prevented if the patients of scabies are recognised and treated early and proper awareness is must to avoid recurrences. The profile of scabies patients helps in early recognition of scabies even at the peripheral centers.

Miíases humanas: Atualidades para a prática clínica / Human myiasis: updates to the clinical practice

Miíase é uma infestação ectoparasitária, que tem as espécies Cochliomyia hominivorax, Dermatobia hominis e Cochliomyia macellaria como maiores destaques. Os principais fatores de risco são baixo nível socioeconômico, padrões inadequados de higiene, enfermidades psiquiátricas, diabetes mellitus, imunodepressão, etilismo, desnutrição e úlcera varicosa. Os autores abordam a importância epidemiológica da miíase humana em regiões endêmicas, discorrendo sobre manifestações clínicas, diagnóstico, tratamento e medidas profiláticas...

The myiasis consists of a parasitic infestation, the species having Cochliomyia hominivorax, Dermatobia hominis and Cochliomyia macellaria as most prominent. The main risk factors are low socioeconomic status, inadequate hygiene standards, psychiatric disease, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, alcoholism, malnutrition and varicose ulcer. There may be asymptomatic or systemic cases with serious complications. The purpose of this article is to address the epidemiological importance of human myiasis in endemic regions, discussing clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prophylactic measures...

Tungiasis, una enfermedad tropical emergente en Chile: Comunicación de tres casos clínicos importados / Tungiasis, an emerging tropical disease in Chile: Three imported cases reports

Tungiasis is a cutaneous ectoparasitosis caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans whose higher prevalence occurs in South America, the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa. It is clinically characterized by a papular lesion, either single or multiple, with a whitish halo and a brown-black central core, most of them localized on the feet. The lesions can be painful and itchy with the most common complication being bacterial superinfection of the skin. We report three cases of Chilean patients who presented skin lesions suggestive of tungiasis on their return from areas of high prevalence of the disease. The diagnosis is made by the clinical features of lesions in a patient from an endemic zone. Standard treatment consists of surgical extraction of the flea followed by application of a topical antibiotic and a tetanus prophylaxis. Prevention of the infestation is essential and includes the use of closed footwear and repellents.

La tungiasis es una ectoparasitosis cutánea causada por la pulga Tunga penetrans, prevalente en Sudamérica, el Caribe y África Subsahariana. Clínicamente se caracteriza por la formación de pápulas, únicas o múltiples, con un halo blanquecino translúcido y una región central pardo-negruzca, frecuentemente localizadas en los pies. Las lesiones pueden cursar con prurito o dolor leve, siendo la sobreinfección bacteriana la complicación más frecuente. Se comunican tres casos clínicos de chilenos que viajaron a zonas de alta prevalencia de tungiasis y que a su regreso presentaron lesiones dérmicas sugerentes de la enfermedad. El diagnóstico se realizó en base a las características clínicas de las lesiones en un paciente proveniente de zonas endémicas. El tratamiento de elección es la extracción quirúrgica de la pulga seguido del uso de antimicrobianos tópicos y la vacunación antitetánica. La prevención es esencial con el uso de calzado cerrado y repelentes.

Efectividad de una mezcla de cipermetrina y clorpirifós para el control de la mosca Haematobia irritans / Mixture of cipermetrina and clorpirifós to control Haematobia irritans fly

Objetivo. Determinar la eficacia de una mezcla de Cipermetrina y Clorpirifós contra la mosca de los cuernos Haematobia irritans. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaron 24 novillas Holstein con infestación natural de moscas Haematobia irritans y se asignaron aleatoriamente a dos grupos, tratado y control, de 12 animales cada uno. El grupo tratado recibió el producto por aspersión en dilución 1:800, utilizando 1 litro por cada 100 kilos de peso. Se hicieron conteos de moscas antes del tratamiento y en los días 7, 14 y 21 post-aplicación para evaluar la eficacia del producto. Resultados. Los porcentajes de eficacia del producto fueron de 89.9, 97.4 y 99.5%, para los días 7, 14 y 21 post-tratamiento, respectivamente. Conclusiones. La mezcla de Cipermetrina y Clorpirifós resultó altamente eficaz contra la mosca de los cuernos Haematobia irritans y surge como una nueva alternativa para el control del parásito, especialmente donde se presente resistencia a las diferentes moléculas que contienen los productos comerciales.

Tungiasis afecta a un turista chileno / Tungiasis affects a chilean turist

Tungiasis is a cutaneous ectoparasitosis caused by the female sand flea Tunga penetrans whose higher prevalence occurs in Sub-Saharan África, South América and the Caribbean. We report a case of a 23 year old chilean male who presented dermal lesions suggestive of tungiasis on his return from Brazil. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy, identifying the arthropod and an egg from one of the lesions. The natural history, co-morbidities and treatment options were reviewed.

La tungiasis es una ectoparasitosis cutánea producida por la hembra de la pulga de arena Tunga penetrans, cuya mayor prevalencia ocurre en África Sub-sahariana, Sudamérica y el Caribe. Comunicamos el caso de un chileno de 23 años que viajó a Brasil y que a su regreso presentó lesiones dérmicas sugerentes de tungiasis. El diagnóstico fue confirmado por una biopsia identificando el artrópodo y un huevo en una de las lesiones. Se revisa la historia natural, las co-morbilidades asociadas y alternativas de tratamiento.

Determinaçäo do teor do princípio ativo e avaliaçäo da inocuidade dérmica e ocular de produtos para o tratamento de ectoparasitoses contendo lindano / Quantitative determination of active principle and evaluation of the dermal and ocular safety to treatment of ectoparasitosis products containing lindane

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o teor do princípio ativo e avaliar a inocuidade dérmica e ocular em amostras de produtos contendo 1 por cento de lindano (m/m), que säo utilizados para o tratamento de ectoparasitoses: pediculoses e escabioses. Foram analisadas 06 (seis) amostras de produtos: um xampu, um creme, dois sabonetes e duas loçöes, de diferentes marcas. O teor de lindano das amostras foi realizado de acordo com a Farmacopéia Americana, 1995. Os testes de irritaçäo dérmica e ocular foram realizados de acordo com o método de Draize modificado nas amostra e nas soluçöes alcoólicas de lindano em diferentes concentraçöes. Foi efetuado também o teste nas amostras conforme o modo de uso, isto é, de acordo com as instruçöes fornecidas pelos fabricantes dos produtos analisados. Os resultados obtidos referentes ao teror de lindano mostraram que as amostras analisadas estavam de acordo com o ter especificado no rótulo. Os resutados dos exames toxicológicos das amostras demonstraram que os produtos aplicados de acordo com o modo de uso näo evidenciaram danos à pele dos animais testados. Porém, quando submetidos ao teste de irritaçäo dérmica cumulativa, isto é, através de repetidas aplicaçöes do produto, apresentaram irritaçäo, mostrando que o produto utilizado de forma näo correta poderá acarretar lesäo à pele e consequentemente comprometer a saúde do consumidor devido à toxicidade do lindano. (AU)

The aim of this study was the quantification of the drug as well as dermal and ocularsafety evaluation in samples containing 1% lindane (w/w), that are used in the treatment of ectoparasitosis:pediculosis and scabies. Six samples were analyzed: a shampoo, a cream, two bars of toilet soap andtwo lotions of different brands. The quantification method was described in the United StatesPharmacopeia, 1995. Tests of dermal and ocular irritation using the method of Draize with modificationwere done in samples and lindane alcoholic solutions in different concentrations. In samples, also thetest was done according to the manufacturer's directions for use and composition. The results of thelindane antification showed that the analyzed samples were in accordance with the label. The resultsof the toxicological tests showed that, when applied according to manufacturer's directions, the productsusing did not damage the skin or the eyes of the animal. However, when the samples were submitted tothe cumulative dermal test, implying repeated application of the product, they showed dermal irritation.So the incorrect use was proved to cause skin damage and compromise the customers's health due to thelindane toxicity. (AU)