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Published on: March 15, 2017
Body lice and bed bug co-infestation in an emergency department patient, Ohio, USA
Jose E Pietri1, Justin A Yax2, Diing D M Agany3
1University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vermillion, SD, United States.
Abstract:
Body lice and bed bugs are hematophagous insects that parasitize humans. Body lice are established vectors of several bacterial pathogens (e.g. Bartonella quintana, Borrelia recurrentis). Bed bugs are biologically competent vectors of some of the same agents, but their vectorial capacity for these in nature is unclear. In particular, a lack of exposure to louse-borne pathogens in bed bugs in the field could be a factor that limits their contribution to transmission. Here, we describe a case of a patient seen in an urban emergency department who was suffering from infestation with both body lice and bed bugs. Insects were collected from the patient and tested for the presence of louse-borne bacterial pathogens using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Although no Bartonella, Borrelia, or Rickettsia were detected, this case provides evidence of ecological overlap between body lice and bed bugs and highlights several potential risk factors for co-infestation. The ecological relationships between bed bugs, body lice, and louse-borne bacteria should be further investigated in the field to determine the frequency of co-infestations and identify possible instances of pathogen infection in bed bugs.
Insights
This study found body lice and bed bugs co-infesting a patient, but detected no louse-borne bacterial pathogens in the insects. Further research is needed to understand these co-infestations and pathogen transmission risks.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Bacteriology
- Public Health
Background:
- Body lice transmit bacterial pathogens, while bed bugs' role as natural vectors is uncertain.
- Co-infestation by both body lice and bed bugs in humans is possible.
- Understanding pathogen transmission requires investigating the ecological overlap between these insects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of human co-infestation with body lice and bed bugs.
- To investigate the presence of louse-borne bacterial pathogens in collected insects.
- To highlight risks and ecological relationships relevant to co-infestation.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a patient with co-infestation.
- Insect collection from the patient.
- 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing for bacterial pathogen detection.
Main Results:
- No Bartonella, Borrelia, or Rickettsia species were detected in the collected body lice or bed bugs.
- The case demonstrates the potential for ecological overlap and co-infestation.
- Several risk factors for co-infestation were identified.
Conclusions:
- This case highlights the coexistence of body lice and bed bugs on a single host.
- While no pathogens were found, the ecological overlap warrants further investigation.
- Field studies are needed to determine co-infestation frequency and bed bug vectorial capacity for louse-borne diseases.
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