Re: Tiny flea like black bugs are multiplying and spreading

Posted by Isabella on June 13, 2002 at 08:46:43:

In Reply to: Tiny flea like black bugs are multiplying and spreading posted by Virginia on March 31, 2002 at 05:00:14:

: I found one or two little black bugs that could jump like a flea...but I know what normal fleas look like and these were quite tiny by comparison. I killed them and dismissed it...then found some in the tub and sink...within a week, it seemed my bathroom was infested and soon I started to see them elsewhere and found large numbers of dead ones floating in the toilet (obvious water lovers)...but now I find them in bed, on the desk, on the window sill, and on me. I have had many itchy bumps that have not been healing properly and now I am suspicious it is these bugs and they are having a population explosion. Yikes... I am spraying everything and going nuts. Anyone know what these miniature jumping bugs are...are they are miniature form of flea or something and why start in the bathroom and why have they explored to be everywhere????? Help.

Try searching for Tunga penetrans
Context.-Tunga penetrans is a flea that burrows into human skin, causing the disease tungiasis. Although the parasite is not endemic in the United States, patients may present with this disease upon returning from tropical locales. Histologic sections contain a variety of flea parts that may present a diagnostic dilemma for pathologists unfamiliar with this disease. Objective.-To determine the typical histologic features of T penetrans in biopsies from patients with tungiasis. Methods.-We reviewed biopsy specimens from 7 patients with tungiasis and sought 8 distinct structures: the exoskeleton, hypodermal layer, respiratory tract (tracheae), digestive tract, striated muscle, head, posterior end, and developing eggs. Results.-The exoskeleton, hypodermal layer, tracheae, digestive tract, and developing eggs were present in all biopsy specimens reviewed. Striated muscle, the posterior end, and head, however, were present in 57%, 43%, and 0% of the biopsies, respectively. In addition, we noted a unique, pale-staining layer in the exoskeleton at the posterior end of the organism that, to the best of our knowledge, has not previously been described and that may be of diagnostic value. Conclusions.-Despite the absence of 3 key morphologic features in many (posterior end and striated muscle) or all (head) of our biopsies, the exoskeleton with a hypodermal layer, tracheae, and developing eggs were uniformly present, and together these features are sufficient for a diagnosis of tungiasis.

PMID: 12033962 [PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12033962&dopt=Abstract
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Follow Ups:

• Re: Tiny flea like black bugs are multiplying and spreading dee 23:46:43 6/28/2002 (0)
• Re: Tiny flea like black bugs are multiplying and spreading dee 23:43:48 6/28/2002 (1)
  • Re: Tiny flea like black bugs are multiplying and spreading Diane Ruhala 23:38:51 8/16/2002 (0)