Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025
07:20
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
Published on: February 4, 2018
18.1K
Emerging bacterial infectious diseases/pathogens vectored by human lice
Yuan-Ping Deng1, Yi-Tian Fu2, Chaoqun Yao3
1Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
|August 11, 2023
Summary
Human lice transmit dangerous infectious diseases like trench fever and epidemic typhus. These louse-borne diseases are re-emerging globally, posing significant public health risks, especially in vulnerable populations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Human lice are significant vectors for serious bacterial pathogens.
- Louse-borne diseases such as trench fever, relapsing fever, and epidemic typhus are re-emerging.
- Outbreaks occur in areas with poor hygiene, poverty, and conflict, affecting vulnerable groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review and update on louse-borne infectious diseases.
- To highlight the role of human lice as vectors for bacterial pathogens.
- To discuss the re-emergence and public health implications of these diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific publications.
- Analysis of data on louse-borne diseases and their vectors.
- Synthesis of information on bacterial pathogens transmitted by lice.
Main Results:
- Human lice transmit Bartonella quintana, Borrelia recurrentis, and Rickettsia prowazekii.
- These diseases cause outbreaks in crowded, low-hygiene settings like jails and refugee camps.
- Pathogen DNA and antibodies are frequently found in homeless populations, indicating transmission.
Conclusions:
- Louse-borne infectious diseases remain a critical public health concern.
- Human lice act as important vectors for re-emerging bacterial pathogens.
- Continued surveillance and control measures are necessary to mitigate disease spread.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Viral Recombination
23.5K
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
23.5K
01:30Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
40
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...
40
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
349
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
349
01:10Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria
2.9K
Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a...
2.9K
01:20Infection
8.1K
When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
8.1K
00:43Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages
62.3K
In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
62.3K