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Arthropod-borne diseases in homeless
Philippe Brouqui1, Didier Raoult
1Unité des rickettsies, CNRS UMR 6020, IFR 48, Faculté de médecine, 27 bd, J Moulin, 13385 Marseille, cedex 5, France. philippe.brouqui@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
Homeless individuals are highly susceptible to ectoparasites like lice and fleas, which can transmit serious infectious diseases. This review covers the epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of these parasites and their associated illnesses in the homeless population.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Homeless populations face heightened exposure to ectoparasites due to living conditions.
- Common ectoparasites include body lice, fleas, ticks, mites (e.g., Sarcoptes scabiei), and bedbugs.
- These ectoparasites serve as vectors for numerous infectious agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of ectoparasites and transmitted diseases in homeless individuals.
- To highlight the public health threat posed by ectoparasite-borne infections in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on ectoparasite infestations and associated infectious diseases in homeless populations.
- Synthesis of information on disease transmission, clinical presentation, and management strategies.
Main Results:
- Lice transmit trench fever (Bartonella quintana), epidemic typhus (Rickettsia prowazekii), and relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis).
- Fleas transmit plague, murine typhus, flea-borne spotted rickettsiosis, and potentially Bartonella quintana.
- Mites transmit rickettsialpox (Rickettsia akari); tick-borne diseases in this population are understudied.
Conclusions:
- Ectoparasites pose a significant health risk to the homeless, primarily through the transmission of infectious diseases.
- Integrated strategies for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment are crucial for managing ectoparasite-borne illnesses in this demographic.
- Further research is needed on tick-borne diseases within the homeless population.
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