Animal tungiasis is believed to increase the prevalence and parasite burden in
humans. Animal reservoirs of Tunga penetrans differ among endemic areas and
their role in the epidemiology of tungiasis had never been investigated in
Uganda. To identify the major animal reservoirs of Tunga penetrans and their
relative importance in the transmission of tungiasis in Uganda, a cross
sectional study was conducted in animal rearing households in 10 endemic
villages in Bugiri District. T. penetrans infections were detected in pigs,
dogs, goats and a cat. The prevalences of households with tungiasis ranged
from 0% to 71.4% (median 22.2) for animals and from 5 to 71.4% (median 27.8%)
for humans. The prevalence of human tungiasis also varied among the population
of the villages (median 7%, range 1.3-37.3%). Pig infections had the widest
distribution (nine out of 10 villages) and highest prevalence (median 16.2%,
range 0-64.1%). Pigs also had a higher number of embedded sand fleas than all
other species combined (p<0.0001). Dog tungiasis occurred in five out of 10
villages with low prevalences (median of 2%, range 0-26.9%). Only two goats
and a single cat had tungiasis. Prevalences of animal and human tungiasis
correlated at both village (rho = 0.89, p = 0.0005) and household (rho = 0.4,
p<0.0001) levels. The median number of lesions in household animals correlated
with the median intensity of infection in children three to eight years of age
(rho = 0.47, p<0.0001). Animal tungiasis increased the odds of occurrence of
human cases in households six fold (OR = 6.1, 95% CI 3.3-11.4, p<0.0001).
Animal and human tungiasis were closely associated and pigs were identified as
the most important animal hosts of T. penetrans. Effective tungiasis control
should follow One Health principles and integrate ectoparasites control in
animals