Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
08:53
Tick Artificial Membrane Feeding for Ixodes scapularis
Published on: November 30, 2022
Bartonella quintana in head louse nits
Emmanouil Angelakis1, Jean-Marc Rolain, Didier Raoult
1Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université de la Méditerranée, URMITE UMR 6236, CNRS-IRD, Marseille, France.
FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
|April 12, 2011
Summary
Head lice nits collected from a homeless individual tested positive for Bartonella quintana DNA. This finding suggests head lice may play a role in transmitting trench fever, though further research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Medical entomology
- Infectious diseases
- Molecular biology
Background:
- The body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) is the primary vector for Bartonella quintana, the bacterium causing trench fever.
- Bartonella quintana DNA has been previously detected in adult head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis).
- Distinguishing between body and head lice morphologically is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of Bartonella quintana DNA in head louse nits.
- To determine if head lice can harbor Bartonella quintana, potentially acting as vectors.
Main Methods:
- Head louse nits were collected from a homeless individual.
- Real-time PCR was employed to detect Bartonella quintana DNA.
- Intergenic spacer region (ITS) gene sequencing was performed for confirmation.
Main Results:
- All sampled head louse nits tested positive for Bartonella quintana DNA.
- The ITS gene sequences from the nits showed 100% similarity to the Bartonella quintana genome.
- This indicates a high likelihood of infection within the sampled nit population.
Conclusions:
- Head lice nits can harbor Bartonella quintana DNA.
- The head louse may be a potential vector for Bartonella quintana, contributing to trench fever transmission.
- Further studies are required to elucidate the exact role of head lice in the maintenance and transmission cycles of Bartonella quintana.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
01:30Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
Spirochetes, unique bacteria in the phylum Spirochaetes, are gram-negative, motile, tightly coiled, slender, and flexible. They inhabit aquatic sediments and animals, with some causing diseases like syphilis. Spirochetes are classified into eight genera based on habitat, pathogenicity, phylogeny, and characteristics.Their distinctive motility arises from endoflagella, located within the cell’s periplasm. These endoflagella anchor at the cell poles and extend along the cell length, encased by a...
01:30Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease caused by species of the genus Leishmania and transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies. The parasite exists in two principal morphological forms during its life cycle. A sandfly acquires intracellular amastigotes from an infected reservoir host, such as a dog. Within the sandfly, these forms differentiate into motile, flagellated promastigotes. During a subsequent blood meal, promastigotes are injected into the human host, where they...