title: Molecular survey of the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis in Thailand and its potential role for transmitting Acinetobacter spp.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Head louse infestation, which is caused by Pediculus humanus capitis, occurs throughout the world. With the advent of molecular techniques, head lice have been classified into three clades. Recent reports have demonstrated that pathogenic organisms could be found in head lice. Head lice and their pathogenic bacteria in Thailand have never been investigated. In this study, we determined the genetic diversity of head lice collected from various areas of Thailand and demonstrated the presence of Acinetobacter spp. in head lice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total DNA was extracted from 275 head louse samples that were collected from several geographic regions of Thailand. PCR was used to amplify the head louse COI gene and for detection of Bartonella spp. and Acinetobacter spp. The amplified PCR amplicons were cloned and sequenced. The DNA sequences were analyzed via the neighbor-joining method using Kimura's 2-parameter model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The phylogenetic tree based on the COI gene revealed that head lice in Thailand are clearly classified into two clades (A and C). Bartonella spp. was not detected in all the samples, whereas Acinetobacter spp. was detected in 10 samples (3.62%), which consisted of A. baumannii (1.45%), A. radioresistens (1.45%), and A. schindleri (0.72%). The relationship of Acinetobacter spp. and the head lice clades showed that Acinetobacter spp. was found in clade A and C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Head lice in Thailand are classified into clade A and B based on the COI gene sequences. Pathogenic Acinetobacter spp. was detected in both clades. The data obtained from the study might assist in the development of effective strategies for head lice control in the future. Detection of pathogenic bacteria in head lice could raise awareness of head lice as a source of nosocomial bacterial infections.
authors.affiliation: Medical Science Program, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. narmspace_open@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sakone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunantaraporn
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. vivornpun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vivornpun
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sanprasert
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Technology, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand. theerakamol.p@psu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Theerakamol
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pengsakul
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. amphumee@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Atchara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phumee
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. sky_rung123@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rungfar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boonserm
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand. atawatsin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Apiwat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tawatsin
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand. usavadee99@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Usavadee
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Thavara
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. padet.s@chula.ac.th.|Excellence Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand. padet.s@chula.ac.th.
authors.forename: Padet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siriyasatien
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003428:Cross Infection; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D010374:Pediculus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology