Parasitology: Tunga penetrans: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Microbiology · Parasitology: Tunga penetrans

Sample item

A barefoot child in a coastal village has a painful white nodule with a central black dot between the toes. Extraction reveals an enlarged gravid female arthropod burrowed head-first into the skin. Which organism is responsible?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Tunga penetrans

Tungiasis is caused by the female sand flea, Tunga penetrans, which burrows into the skin of the feet and swells as it fills with eggs. Lesions are on the toes and soles, and removal under aseptic conditions with tetanus prophylaxis is needed.

Option by option

  • A. Sarcoptes scabiei

    Sarcoptes scabiei causes itchy burrows with tiny mites and no large embedded female.

  • B. Pthirus pubis

    Pthirus pubis is the pubic louse and lives on hair, not embedded in the foot.

  • C. Cordylobia anthropophaga

    Cordylobia anthropophaga causes furuncular myiasis from fly larvae, not an embedded flea.

  • D. Tunga penetrans (correct)

    Correct. A gravid female flea embedded in the toes causes tungiasis.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Microbiology questions

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is D, Tunga penetrans. Tungiasis is caused by the female sand flea, Tunga penetrans, which burrows into the skin of the feet and swells as it fills with eggs.

Why is "Sarcoptes scabiei" not the answer?

Sarcoptes scabiei causes itchy burrows with tiny mites and no large embedded female.

Why is "Pthirus pubis" not the answer?

Pthirus pubis is the pubic louse and lives on hair, not embedded in the foot.

Why is "Cordylobia anthropophaga" not the answer?

Cordylobia anthropophaga causes furuncular myiasis from fly larvae, not an embedded flea.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Parasitology: Tunga penetrans in Microbiology. Lesions are on the toes and soles, and removal under aseptic conditions with tetanus prophylaxis is needed.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Parasitology: Tunga penetrans?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.