Abstract
BackgroundPediculus humanus, which includes two ecotypes (body and head lice), is an obligate bloodsucking parasite that co-evolved with their human hosts over thousands of years, thus providing a valuable source of information to reconstruct the human migration. Pediculosis due to head lice occurred each year throughout the world and several pathogenic bacteria, which are usually associated with body lice, are increasingly detected in them. In Gabon, where this pediculosis is still widespread, there is a lack of data on genetic diversity of head lice and their associated bacteria.MethodsThis study aimed to investigate the phylogeny of head lice collected in Gabon and their associated bacteria, using molecular tools. Between 26 March and 11 April 2018, 691 head lice were collected from 86 women in Franceville. We studied the genetic diversity of these lice based on the cytochrome b gene, then we screened them for DNA of Bartonella quintana, Borrelia spp., Acinetobacter spp., Yersinia pestis, Rickettsia spp., R. prowazekii, Anaplasma spp. and C. burnetii, using real time or standard PCR and sequencing.ResultsOverall 74.6% of studied lice belonged to Clade A, 25.3% to Clade C and 0.1% to Clade E. The phylogenetic analysis of 344 head lice yielded 45 variable positions defining 13 different haplotypes from which 8 were novel. Bacterial screening revealed the presence of Borrelia spp. DNA in 3 (0.4%) of 691 head lice belonging to Clade A and infesting one individual. This Borrelia is close to B. theileri (GenBank: MN621894). Acinetobacter spp. DNA has been detected in 39 (25%) of the 156 screened lice; of these 13 (8.3%) corresponded to A. baumannii. Acinetobacter nosocomialis (n = 2) and A. pittii (n = 1) were also recorded.ConclusionsTo of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the genetic diversity of head lice from Gabon. It appears that Clade C is the second most important clade in Gabon, after Clade A which is known to have a global distribution. The detection of Borrelia spp. DNA in these lice highlight the potential circulation of these bacteria in Gabon.
Highlights
Pediculus humanus, which includes two ecotypes, is an obligate bloodsucking parasite that co-evolved with their human hosts over thousands of years, providing a valuable source of informa‐ tion to reconstruct the human migration
Lice are host specific; only two genera of lice infest humans: the genus Pthirus with a unique representative Pthirus pubis and the genus Pediculus [5]. The latter is of concern and contains two ecotypes: Pediculus humanus capitis which lives and thrive on scalp and hair and P. h. humanus which lives and thrive on skin and clothes [6]
Of the remaining 26 head lice that were positive for the Acinetobacter spp. quantitative PCR (qPCR) and negative for A. baumannii, only 3 were successfully sequenced
Summary
Pediculus humanus, which includes two ecotypes (body and head lice), is an obligate bloodsucking parasite that co-evolved with their human hosts over thousands of years, providing a valuable source of informa‐ tion to reconstruct the human migration. Lice and louse nits had been found in Hatzeva in the Judean desert, in Moa, and around the Dead Sea (Arava), on combs dating back 2000 years [3] These findings provide ample evidence that lice have parasitized humans for a very long time and have probably completed their migration “Out of Africa” through the migration of their human host [1]. Lice are host specific; only two genera of lice infest humans: the genus Pthirus with a unique representative Pthirus pubis (crab lice) and the genus Pediculus [5] The latter is of concern and contains two ecotypes: Pediculus humanus capitis (head lice) which lives and thrive on scalp and hair and P. h. The latter is of concern and contains two ecotypes: Pediculus humanus capitis (head lice) which lives and thrive on scalp and hair and P. h. humanus (body lice) which lives and thrive on skin and clothes [6]
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