Australian
Journal
of Medical Science |
 |
|
May 2003
Vol. 24 No. 2 |
Head lice and body lice:
shared traits invalidate
assumptions about evolutionary and medical distinctions.
A.M. Bailey, P. Prociv 1
and H.P. Peterson 2
1.
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Queensland
St Lucia, Queensland
2. Microbiology Department, Queensland Medical Laboratory, West End
Queensland and Microbiology Department, Queensland University of
Technology, Brisbane, Queensland
Abstract
Human louse-borne
diseases are reemerging overseas and biological study of their arthropod
vector, Pediculus,
is needed. In an observational study on head lice, morphological
features on the surface of the human host and on closely associated
personal objects, such as clothing, influenced location of lice. Given
optimal conditions, head lice readily transferred to the body and
clothing, fed on the 'naked' body, retreated into, and laid eggs in,
clothing or body hair, from which viable nymphs hatched and in turn
continued the life cycle. Both wild and colonised head lice developed and
reproduced without scalp contact or hairs and withstood periodic
separation from the host. Further, head lice elicited the same dermatopathological effects as are reported for body lice. The belief that
only established body lice infestations are a public health threat is
challenged; an alternative disease process is proposed; and further basic
research into this parasite is strongly indicated.
Key Words: ectoparasite,
transmission, vector competence, louse-borne pathogen, head lice,
Rickettsia prowasekii, Borrelia recurrentis,
Bartonella (Rochalimaea) quintana
|
