• Michael Dialynas, Polyxeni Karakosta, Vrettos Haniotis, Antonios Fanouriakis, Evangelia Panagiotaki, and Sofia Maraki.
• Department of Clinical Microbiology, Parasitology, Zoonoses and Geographical Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, P.O. Box 1352, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
• Travel Med Infect Dis. 2009 Nov 1; 7 (6): 375-7.

BackgroundTungiasis is a parasitic skin disease caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans. It is widespread in poor urban and rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Imported cases of tungiasis are increasingly being reported due to the increased numbers of travelers visiting the affected areas.Case ReportA 28-year-old woman presented with a lesion on the subungual area of the right fourth toe, covered with a central dark crust. The lesion appeared two weeks after returning from Tanzania. The flea Tunga penetrans was identified by histopathological examination of a biopsy material. This is the first case of tungiasis in Greece.ConclusionsTungiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of parasitic infections in travelers returning from endemic geographical areas.

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