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Acinetobacter baumannii in human body louse.
Bernard La Scola1, Didier Raoult
1Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Marseille, France. bernard.lascola@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|October 23, 2004
Summary
Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria were found in human body lice worldwide, indicating a widespread epidemic. This discovery highlights a new public health concern associated with body lice and bacterial transmission.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Bartonella quintana is known to infect human body lice.
- The prevalence and genetic diversity of other bacteria within body lice are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and genetic characteristics of Acinetobacter baumannii in body lice.
- To determine the global prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii in human body lice.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and genotyping of Acinetobacter baumannii strains from body lice.
- DNA detection of Acinetobacter baumannii in a global collection of body lice.
Main Results:
- Forty Acinetobacter baumannii strains were isolated, with one unique clone and one ampicillin-susceptible strain identified.
- Acinetobacter baumannii DNA was detected in 21% of 622 lice samples collected globally.
Conclusions:
- The findings indicate a significant epidemic of Acinetobacter baumannii within human body louse populations.
- Human body lice may serve as a reservoir and vector for Acinetobacter baumannii, posing a potential public health risk.