Human pathogens in body and head lice.
Using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, we investigated the prevalence of Rickettsia prowazekii, Bartonella quintana, and Borrelia recurrentis in 841 body lice collected from various countries. We detected R. prowazekii in body lice from Burundi in 1997 and in lice from Burundi and Rwanda in 2001; B. quintana infections of body lice were widespread. We did not detect B. recurrentis in any lice.
Fournier
Pierre-Edouard
PE
Université des la Méditerranée, Marseille Cedex, France.
Ndihokubwayo
Jean-Bosco
JB
Guidran
Jo
J
Kelly
Patrick J
PJ
Raoult
Didier
D
D000818:Animals; D018413:Bartonella quintana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003441:Crowding; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D010374:Pediculus / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012036:Refugees; D012283:Rickettsia prowazekii / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014205:Trench Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014438:Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne / Q000453:epidemiology*