Lack of evidence that bedbugs transmit pathogens to humans

Abstract

To the Editor: The global population of bedbugs that feed on humans (Cimex lectularius, Cimex hemipterus, and Leptocimex boueti) has undergone a significant resurgence since the late 1990s. Due to increased international travel and pesticide resistance, bedbugs once thought to be native to certain geographic locations have been found in other parts of the world. Bedbugs present a socioeconomic burden because they are costly to eradicate and infestations often recur. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, bedbugs are ‘‘a pest of significant health importance,’’ and upwards of 45 disease pathogens have been reported in bedbugs. It stands to reason to ask if bedbugs might transmit human pathogens. We performed a literature review on August 6, 2015, and searched the computerizedmedical bibliographic databases PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science with the search terms: ‘‘bedbug’’ OR ‘‘cimex lectularius.’’ A total of 1790 articles were returned, and 12 articles were suitable for inclusion (clinical and laboratory published studies [1990 to 2015] investigating bedbugs as potential vectors of infectious disease) after screening of titles, abstracts, and/or full-text articles. These articles demonstrated that although bedbugs may carry pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, and hepatitis B virus, and may be competent vectors of Bartonella quintana and Trypanosoma cruzi, there were no confirmed cases of human disease transmission. Previous reports suggest that, although a number of different disease pathogen species have been detected in or on bedbugs, there is a lack of definitive evidence that bedbugs transmit human pathogens. An important challenge for scientists is to determine the reason for this interesting finding.