title: Quantitative analysis of proliferation and excretion of Bartonella quintana in body lice, Pediculus humanus L.
abstract: Although body louse is a well-known vector of trench fever, the growth kinetics of Bartonella quintana in body lice has not been fully understood. We performed a quantitative analysis of bacterial multiplication rate. B. quintana started proliferation in body lice 4 days after ingestion and was constantly excreted in the feces for at least 3 weeks. The number of bacteria in feces reached the maximum 10(7)/louse per day on Day 15. The doubling time of B. quintana estimated from logistic regression formula was 21.3 hours. Scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of bacterial masses in feces. Immunofluorescent study using specific monoclonal antibody confirmed identification of B. quintana. Such an explosive multiplication rate and active excretion of B. quintana from the body lice could be related to epidemics of trench fever in developed countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Komagata
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.forename: Toshinori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Tsuguo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Mutsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018413:Bartonella quintana / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D010374:Pediculus / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors