Current Work

Tungiasis is caused by the adult female of Tunga penetrans (Order Siphonaptera/fleas) which burrows into the skin mostly of the feet, and whose off-host stages (eggs, larvae and pupae) develop in dry dusty soils, including on house floors. Although Tungiasis has been reported from countries throughout the tropics of Africa, Central and South America there is no data on actual national prevalence or distribution. Lyne is currently partnering with nine County Departments of Health across Kenya to determine the prevalence, impact and risk factors for tungiasis among primary school children, which is the age group most affected. In partnership with icipe, Kenya, University of Berlin, Universite Charite Berlin, Makerere University, Kampala and Prof Amina Abubakar of KWTRP, She am also conducting an in-depth investigation into the ecology of tungiasis and its impact on cognitive development and Quality of Life in Kenya and Uganda. In collaboration with icipe, Kenya, KEMRI-ESACIPAC and LSTMH (BOVA network and SABABU Project) we are developing an affordable hard floor to reduce infection intensity and associated morbidity, as well as reduce the incidence of Soil Transmitted Helminths and diarrheal diseases. We are also piloting a floor spray produced from the leaves of the Neem tree (Azadirachta indica), a plant known to have insect growth regulatory properties, to reduce the population of off-host stages of T.penetrans to prevent disease. My main outputs in the field of tungiasis have been: • A Randomized Controlled Trial using a herbal medicine comprising neem and coconut oils to treat tungiasis.