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Didier Raoult - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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molecular identification of head Lice collected in franceville gabon and their associated bacteria
Parasites & Vectors, 2020Co-Authors: Celia Scherelle Boumbandakoyo, Nadia Amanzougaghene, Sandrine Lydie Oyegueliabagui, Jean Bernard Lekanadouki, Oleg Mediannikov, Romeo Karl Imboumilimoukou, Didier Raoult, Florence FenollarAbstract: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, 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. This 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. Overall 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. To 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.
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Molecular identification of head Lice collected in Franceville (Gabon) and their associated bacteria
PARASITES & VECTORS, 2020Co-Authors: Celia Scherelle Boumbanda-koyo, Nadia Amanzougaghene, Oleg Mediannikov, Didier Raoult, Sandrine Lydie Oyegue-liabagui, Romeo Karl Imboumi-limoukou, Jean Bernard Lekana-douki, Florence FenollarAbstract:Background: 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, 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. Methods: This 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 cytochromebgene, then we screened them for DNA of Bartonella quintana, Borreliaspp., Acinetobacterspp.,Yersinia pestis, Rickettsiaspp., R. prowazekii, Anaplasmaspp. and C. burnetii, using real time or standard PCR and sequencing. Results: Overall 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 Borreliaspp. DNA in 3 (0.4%) of 691 head Lice belonging to Clade A and infesting one individual. This Borreliais close to B. theileri(GenBank: MN621894).Acinetobacterspp. DNA has been detected in 39 (25%) of the 156 screened Lice; of these 13 (8.3%) corresponded toA. baumannii. Acinetobacter nosocomialis(n = 2) andA. pittii(n = 1) were also recorded. Conclusions: To 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 ofBorreliaspp. DNA in these Lice highlight the potential circulation of these bacteria in Gabon.
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detection of bacterial pathogens in clade e head Lice collected from niger s refugees in algeria
Parasites & Vectors, 2018Co-Authors: Nadia Amanzougaghene, Florence Fenollar, Didier Raoult, Idir Bitam, Meriem Louni, Nassima Mana, Oleg MediannikovAbstract:Head Lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, are obligate blood-sucking parasites. Phylogenetically, they occur in five divergent mitochondrial clades (A, D, B, C and E), each having a particular geographical distribution. Recent studies have revealed that head Lice, as is the case of body Lice, can act as a vector for louse-borne diseases. Here, we aimed to study the genetic diversity of head Lice collected from Niger’s refugees (migrant population) arriving in Algeria, northern Africa, and to look for louse-borne pathogens. Comparative head Lice samples collected from indigenous population of schoolchildren (non-immigrant) were also analyzed to frame the study. In this study, 37 head Lice samples were collected from 31 Nigerien refugees, as well as 45 head Lice from 27 schoolchildren. The collection was established in three localities of eastern Algiers, north Algeria. Quantitative real-time PCR screening of pathogens bacteria and the genetic characterisation of the head Lice satut were performed. Through amplification and sequencing of the cytb gene, results showed that all head Lice of Nigerien refugees 37/82 (45.12%) belonged to clade E with the presence of four new haplotypes, while, of the 45 head Lice of schoolchildren, 34/82 Lice (41.46%) belonged to clade A and 11/82 (13.41%) belonged to clade B. Our study is the first to report the existence of clade E haplogroup in Nigerien head Lice. DNA of Coxiella burnetii was detected in 3/37 (8.10%) of the head Lice collected from 3 of the 31 (9.67%) migrant population. We also revealed the presence of Acinetobacter DNA in 20/37 (54.05%) of head Lice collected from 25/31 (80.64%) of the Nigerien refugees, and in 25/45 (55.55%) head Lice collected from 15/27 (55.55%) schoolchildren. All positive Nigerien-head Lice for Acinetobacter spp. were identified as A. baumannii, while positive schoolchildren-head Lice were identified as A. johnsonii 15/25 (60%), A. variabilis 8/25 (32%) and A. baumannii 2/25 (8%). Based on these findings from head Lice collected on migrant and non-migrant population, our results show, for the first time, that head Lice from Niger belong to haplogroup E, and confirm that the clade E had a west African distribution. We also detected, for the first time, the presence of C. burnetii and A. baumannii in these Nigerien head Lice. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to determine whether the head Lice can transmit these pathogenic bacteria from one person to another.
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Detection of bacterial pathogens in clade E head Lice collected from Niger’s refugees in Algeria
Parasites & Vectors, 2018Co-Authors: Meriem Louni, Nadia Amanzougaghene, Florence Fenollar, Didier Raoult, Idir Bitam, Nassima Mana, Oleg MediannikovAbstract:Background Head Lice, Pediculus humanus capitis , are obligate blood-sucking parasites. Phylogenetically, they occur in five divergent mitochondrial clades (A, D, B, C and E), each having a particular geographical distribution. Recent studies have revealed that head Lice, as is the case of body Lice, can act as a vector for louse-borne diseases. Here, we aimed to study the genetic diversity of head Lice collected from Niger’s refugees (migrant population) arriving in Algeria, northern Africa, and to look for louse-borne pathogens. Comparative head Lice samples collected from indigenous population of schoolchildren (non-immigrant) were also analyzed to frame the study. Results In this study, 37 head Lice samples were collected from 31 Nigerien refugees, as well as 45 head Lice from 27 schoolchildren. The collection was established in three localities of eastern Algiers, north Algeria. Quantitative real-time PCR screening of pathogens bacteria and the genetic characterisation of the head Lice satut were performed. Through amplification and sequencing of the cytb gene, results showed that all head Lice of Nigerien refugees 37/82 (45.12%) belonged to clade E with the presence of four new haplotypes, while, of the 45 head Lice of schoolchildren, 34/82 Lice (41.46%) belonged to clade A and 11/82 (13.41%) belonged to clade B. Our study is the first to report the existence of clade E haplogroup in Nigerien head Lice. DNA of Coxiella burnetii was detected in 3/37 (8.10%) of the head Lice collected from 3 of the 31 (9.67%) migrant population. We also revealed the presence of Acinetobacter DNA in 20/37 (54.05%) of head Lice collected from 25/31 (80.64%) of the Nigerien refugees, and in 25/45 (55.55%) head Lice collected from 15/27 (55.55%) schoolchildren. All positive Nigerien-head Lice for Acinetobacter spp. were identified as A. baumannii , while positive schoolchildren-head Lice were identified as A. johnsonii 15/25 (60%), A. variabilis 8/25 (32%) and A. baumannii 2/25 (8%). Conclusions Based on these findings from head Lice collected on migrant and non-migrant population, our results show, for the first time, that head Lice from Niger belong to haplogroup E, and confirm that the clade E had a west African distribution. We also detected, for the first time, the presence of C. burnetii and A. baumannii in these Nigerien head Lice. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to determine whether the head Lice can transmit these pathogenic bacteria from one person to another.
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Detection of bacterial pathogens in clade E head Lice collected from Niger's refugees in Algeria
Parasites and Vectors, 2018Co-Authors: Meriem Louni, Nadia Amanzougaghene, Florence Fenollar, Didier Raoult, Idir Bitam, Nassima Mana, Oleg MediannikovAbstract:Background: Head Lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, are obligate blood-sucking parasites. Phylogenetically, they occur in five divergent mitochondrial clades (A, D, B, C and E), each having a particular geographical distribution. Recent studies have revealed that head Lice, as is the case of body Lice, can act as a vector for louse-borne diseases. Here, we aimed to study the genetic diversity of head Lice collected from Niger's refugees (migrant population) arriving in Algeria, northern Africa, and to look for louse-borne pathogens. Comparative head Lice samples collected from indigenous population of schoolchildren (non-immigrant) were also analyzed to frame the study. Results: In this study, 37 head Lice samples were collected from 31 Nigerien refugees, as well as 45 head Lice from 27 schoolchildren. The collection was established in three localities of eastern Algiers, north Algeria. Quantitative real-time PCR screening of pathogens bacteria and the genetic characterisation of the head Lice satut were performed. Through amplification and sequencing of the cytb gene, results showed that all head Lice of Nigerien refugees 37/82 (45.12%) belonged to clade E with the presence of four new haplotypes, while, of the 45 head Lice of schoolchildren, 34/82 Lice (41.46%) belonged to clade A and 11/82 (13.41%) belonged to clade B. Our study is the first to report the existence of clade E haplogroup in Nigerien head Lice. DNA of Coxiella burnetii was detected in 3/37 (8.10%) of the head Lice collected from 3 of the 31 (9.67%) migrant population. We also revealed the presence of Acinetobacter DNA in 20/37 (54.05%) of head Lice collected from 25/31 (80.64%) of the Nigerien refugees, and in 25/45 (55.55%) head Lice collected from 15/27 (55.55%) schoolchildren. All positive Nigerien-head Lice for Acinetobacter spp. were identified as A. baumannii, while positive schoolchildren-head Lice were identified as A. johnsonii 15/25 (60%), A. variabilis 8/25 (32%) and A. baumannii 2/25 (8%). Conclusions: Based on these findings from head Lice collected on migrant and non-migrant population, our results show, for the first time, that head Lice from Niger belong to haplogroup E, and confirm that the clade E had a west African distribution. We also detected, for the first time, the presence of C. burnetii and A. baumannii in these Nigerien head Lice. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to determine whether the head Lice can transmit these pathogenic bacteria from one person to another.
Bengt Finstad - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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salmon Lice lepeophtheirus salmonis kroyer infestation in sympatric populations of arctic char salvelinus alpinus l and sea trout salmo trutta l in areas near and distant from salmon farms
Journal of Materials Science, 2002Co-Authors: Pal Arne Bjorn, Bengt FinstadAbstract:Bjorn, P. A., and Finstad, B. 2002. Salmon Lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Kroyer), infestation in sympatric populations of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), and sea trout, Salmo trutta (L.), in areas near and distant from salmon farms. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 59: 131–139. The abundance of salmon Lice was examined in two stocks of sympatric anadromous Arctic char and sea trout in sub-Arctic regions in northern Norway in June, July, and August 1992 and 1993. One stock feeds in a coastal area exposed to moderate salmon farming activity (exposed area), while the other feed in a region without salmon farms (unexposed area). The salmon Lice infestation on both species differed significantly between the exposed and unexposed area as well as between years and also between weeks within the same year. We did not detect, however, any clear significant differences in salmon Lice abundance between sympatric populations of Arctic char and sea trout, or between different size groups of the species. The 1992 and 1993 infestation pattern in the exposed area showed an epidemic tendency in both Arctic char and sea trout, characterised by a sudden increase in both prevalence and abundance of Lice larvae in July 1992 (23.625.7 Lice/fish) and August 1993 (19.920.8 Lice/fish). We therefore suggest that salmon Lice epidemics, previously only observed on sea trout, may also occur in populations of Arctic char, and that fish farming contributes to the elevated Lice level in wild fish. The fish in the unexposed area were also infested, although at significantly lower levels than fish from the exposed area. The infestation peaked in August 1992 at 13.018.1 Lice/fish and August 1993 at 3.94.5 Lice/fish, suggested that Lice originating on ascending wild Atlantic salmon, or Lice larvae drifting from farming areas, may infest Arctic char and sea trout also in unexposed localities in Subarctic areas. 2002 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Rezak Drali - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Paleomicrobiology of Humans - Human Lice in Paleoentomology and Paleomicrobiology.
Microbiology spectrum, 2016Co-Authors: Rezak Drali, Kosta Y Mumcuoglu, Didier RaoultAbstract:Lice are a classic example of cospeciation. Human Lice confirm this cospeciation with Lice specialized in hominids which differ from those of gorillas and chimpanzees. Head Lice and body Lice seem to belong to closely related species with different ecotypes and a different geographical distribution which may reflect population movements. Paleo-entomology allows us in some cases to trace the migrations of archaic human populations. The analysis of Lice found on mummies in Egypt and South America has clarified a certain number of these migrations, also the study of Lice and the diseases they transmit has shed a new light on the epidemics of the past.
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Human Lice in Paleoentomology and Paleomicrobiology
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM, 2016Co-Authors: Rezak Drali, Kosta Y MumcuogluAbstract:Lice are a classic example of cospeciation. Human Lice confirm this cospeciation with Lice specialized in hominids which differ from those of gorillas and chimpanzees. Head Lice and body Lice seem to belong to closely related species with different ecotypes and a different geographical distribution which may reflect population movements. Paleo-entomology allows us in some cases to trace the migrations of archaic human populations. The analysis of Lice found on mummies in Egypt and South America has clarified a certain number of these migrations, also the study of Lice and the diseases they transmit has shed a new light on the epidemics of the past.
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Host switching of human Lice to new world monkeys in South America
Infection Genetics and Evolution, 2016Co-Authors: Rezak Drali, Stephen C Barker, Amina Boutellis, Laurent Abi-rached, Félix Djossou, Didier RaoultAbstract:The coevolution between a host and its obligate parasite is exemplified in the sucking Lice that infest primates. In the context of close Lice-host partnerships and cospeciation, Pediculus mjobergi, the louse of New World primates, has long been puzzling because its morphology resembles that of human Lice. To investigate the possibility that P. mjobergi was transmitted to monkeys from the first humans who set foot on the American continent thousands of years ago, we obtained and compared P. mjobergi Lice collected from howler monkeys from Argentina to human Lice gathered from a remote and isolated village in Amazonia that has escaped globalization. Morphological examinations were first conducted and verified the similarity between the monkey and human Lice. The molecular characterization of several nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers in the two types of Lice revealed that one of the P. mjobergi specimens had a unique haplotype that clustered with the haplotypes of Amazonian head Lice that are prevalent in tropical regions in the Americas, a natural habitat of New World monkeys. Because this phylogenetic group forms a separate branch within the clade of Lice from humans that were of American origin, this finding indicates that human Lice have transferred to New World monkeys. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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detection of bartonella quintana in african body and head Lice
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2014Co-Authors: Abdoul Karim Sangaré, Rezak Drali, Stephen C Barker, Cristina Socolovschi, Georges Diatta, Amina Boutellis, Christophe Rogier, Mariemarie Olive, Ogobara K Doumbo, Didier RaoultAbstract:Currently, the body louse is the only recognized vector of Bartonella quintana, an organism that causes trench fever. In this work, we investigated the prevalence of this bacterium in human Lice in different African countries. We tested 616 head Lice and 424 body Lice from nine African countries using real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting intergenic spacer region 2 and specific B. quintana genes. Overall, B. quintana DNA was found in 54% and 2% of body and head Lice, respectively. Our results also show that there are more body Lice positive for B. quintana in poor countries, which was determined by the gross domestic product, than in wealthy areas (228/403 versus 0/21, P < 0.001). A similar finding was obtained for head Lice (8/226 versus 2/390, P = 0.007). Our findings suggest that head Lice in Africa may be infected by B. quintana when patients live in poor economic conditions and are also exposed to body Lice.
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Bartonella quintana in Body Lice from Scalp Hair of Homeless Persons, France
Emerging infectious diseases, 2014Co-Authors: Rezak Drali, Aurelie Veracx, Cristina Socolovschi, Emmanouil Angelakis, Abdoul Karim Sangaré, Amina Boutellis, Didier RaoultAbstract:To the Editor: Bartonella quintana is a body louse–borne human pathogen that can cause trench fever, bacillary angiomatosis, endocarditis, chronic bacteremia, and chronic lymphadenopathy (1). Recently, B. quintana DNA was detected in Lice collected from the heads of poor and homeless persons from the United States, Nepal, Senegal, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in nits in France (2,3). The head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, and the body louse, Pediculus humanus humanus, are obligatory ectoparasites that feed exclusively on human blood (4). Outside of their habitats, the 2 ecotypes are morphologically indistinguishable (1). Sequence variation in the PHUM540560 gene discriminates between head and body Lice by determining the genotype of the Lice (5). While surveying for trench fever among homeless persons in shelters in Marseille, France during October 2012–March 2013, we investigated the presence of B. quintana DNA in nits, larvae, and adult Lice collected from mono-infested and dually infested persons and determined the genotypes of the specimens. The persons included in this study received long-lasting insecticide-treated underwear; Lice were collected by removing them from clothing, including underwear, pants, and shirts. Because body Lice reside in the clothing of infested persons except when feeding, they are sometimes called clothing Lice. A total of 989 specimens were tested, including 149 (83 from clothing and 66 from hair) first–instar larvae hatched in the laboratory from eggs collected from 7 dually infested persons, and 840 adult body Lice collected from the clothing of 80 mono-infested patients. We included DNA isolated from 3 nits collected from the hair of a mono-infested person who had previously been confirmed as positive for B. quintana (6) (Table). Table Distribution of Bartonella quintana DNA in nits, larvae, and adult body Lice collected from hair and clothing of homeless persons in shelters, Marseille, France, October 2012– March 2013* Total DNA was extracted by using an EZ1 automated extractor (QIAGEN, Courtaboeuf, France) and subjected twice to real-time PCR specific for B. quintana. The first PCR targeted the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region. Positive samples were confirmed by using a second real-time PCR targeting the yopP gene (6). Samples that tested positive for B. quintana DNA were analyzed by multiplex real-time PCR that targeted the PHUM540560 gene (5). We used head and body Lice that had known genotypes positive controls. Negative controls were included in each assay. Of the hatched larvae, 5 (6%) of the 83 recovered from clothing and 7 (11%) of 66 from the hair (Table) of 4 of the 7 dually infested persons were positive for B. quintana DNA (Technical Appendix). Of the 840 adult body Lice, 174 (21%) collected from 42 (53%) of 80 of the mono-infested persons contained B. quintana DNA (Table, Technical Appendix). The multiplex real-time PCR that targeted the PHUM540560 gene clearly identified all nits, larvae, and adult Lice as belonging to the body Lice lineage. Negative controls remained negative in all PCR-based experiments. For 2 decades, B. quintana DNA has been regularly detected in Lice collected from the heads of persons living in poverty, but it had not been detected in head Lice that infest schoolchildren (7,8). All of the Lice collected during this study that tested positive for B. quintana from homeless persons were body Lice, including some that were recovered from hair. This observation supports our assertion that body Lice are not confined to the body. The 3 eggs that were removed from the hair of a mono-infested homeless person whose samples tested positive for B. quintana were also body Lice. During the clinical examination, no adult head Lice or adult body Lice were found on that person, confirming that the patient had been heavily infested with body Lice in the past, not head Lice. The nits were most likely laid by body Lice that migrated toward the patient’s head. When a member of this research team (DR) collected the eggs from the hair shaft, they were found ≈3–3.5 cm from the hair follicle. Because hair grows ≈1.25 cm per month, the louse infestation occurred ≈3 months before egg collection (6). Homeless persons that we have monitored for many years are often heavily infested by body Lice but are also occasionally infested with head Lice. Before genetic tools that differentiate the head and body louse lineages were available (5), it was speculated that body Lice may have originated from head Lice (9). From our study, it is clear that under conditions of massive infestation, body Lice can migrate and colonize hair; the opposite may also be true. However, there is no evidence that body Lice are capable of causing an outbreak of Lice living on the head, as happens among schoolchildren that have been found to be infested only by head Lice. This suggests that body Lice cannot thrive in the environment of head Lice, which infest millions of children worldwide (10), further suggesting that outbreaks of trench fever are most likely not linked to head Lice in industrialized countries. In conclusion, by analyzing Lice harvested from the heads and clothing of homeless persons, we have shown that the 2 ecotypes belong to the same body Lice population. Technical Appendix: Detailed distribution of B. quintana DNA among Lice from mono-infested and dually infested homeless persons, France Click here to view.(33K, pdf)
Stephen C Barker - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the mitochondrial genome of the guanaco louse microthoracius praelongiceps insights into the ancestral mitochondrial karyotype of sucking Lice anoplura insecta
Genome Biology and Evolution, 2017Co-Authors: Renfu Shao, Stephen C Barker, Simon SongAbstract:Fragmented mitochondrial (mt) genomes have been reported in 11 species of sucking Lice (suborder Anoplura) that infest humans, chimpanzees, pigs, horses, and rodents. There is substantial variation among these Lice in mt karyotype: the number of minichromosomes of a species ranges from 9 to 20; the number of genes in a minichromosome ranges from 1 to 8; gene arrangement in a minichromosome differs between species, even in the same genus. We sequenced the mt genome of the guanaco louse, Microthoracius praelongiceps, to help establish the ancestral mt karyotype for sucking Lice and understand how fragmented mt genomes evolved. The guanaco louse has 12 mt minichromosomes; each minichromosome has 2-5 genes and a non-coding region. The guanaco louse shares many features with rodent Lice in mt karyotype, more than with other sucking Lice. The guanaco louse, however, is more closely related phylogenetically to human Lice, chimpanzee Lice, pig Lice, and horse Lice than to rodent Lice. By parsimony analysis of shared features in mt karyotype, we infer that the most recent common ancestor of sucking Lice, which lived ∼75 Ma, had 11 minichromosomes; each minichromosome had 1-6 genes and a non-coding region. As sucking Lice diverged, split of mt minichromosomes occurred many times in the lineages leading to the Lice of humans, chimpanzees, and rodents whereas merger of minichromosomes occurred in the lineage leading to the Lice of pigs and horses. Together, splits and mergers of minichromosomes created a very complex and dynamic mt genome organization in the sucking Lice.
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Host switching of human Lice to new world monkeys in South America
Infection Genetics and Evolution, 2016Co-Authors: Rezak Drali, Stephen C Barker, Amina Boutellis, Laurent Abi-rached, Félix Djossou, Didier RaoultAbstract:The coevolution between a host and its obligate parasite is exemplified in the sucking Lice that infest primates. In the context of close Lice-host partnerships and cospeciation, Pediculus mjobergi, the louse of New World primates, has long been puzzling because its morphology resembles that of human Lice. To investigate the possibility that P. mjobergi was transmitted to monkeys from the first humans who set foot on the American continent thousands of years ago, we obtained and compared P. mjobergi Lice collected from howler monkeys from Argentina to human Lice gathered from a remote and isolated village in Amazonia that has escaped globalization. Morphological examinations were first conducted and verified the similarity between the monkey and human Lice. The molecular characterization of several nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers in the two types of Lice revealed that one of the P. mjobergi specimens had a unique haplotype that clustered with the haplotypes of Amazonian head Lice that are prevalent in tropical regions in the Americas, a natural habitat of New World monkeys. Because this phylogenetic group forms a separate branch within the clade of Lice from humans that were of American origin, this finding indicates that human Lice have transferred to New World monkeys. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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detection of bartonella quintana in african body and head Lice
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2014Co-Authors: Abdoul Karim Sangaré, Rezak Drali, Stephen C Barker, Cristina Socolovschi, Georges Diatta, Amina Boutellis, Christophe Rogier, Mariemarie Olive, Ogobara K Doumbo, Didier RaoultAbstract:Currently, the body louse is the only recognized vector of Bartonella quintana, an organism that causes trench fever. In this work, we investigated the prevalence of this bacterium in human Lice in different African countries. We tested 616 head Lice and 424 body Lice from nine African countries using real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting intergenic spacer region 2 and specific B. quintana genes. Overall, B. quintana DNA was found in 54% and 2% of body and head Lice, respectively. Our results also show that there are more body Lice positive for B. quintana in poor countries, which was determined by the gross domestic product, than in wealthy areas (228/403 versus 0/21, P < 0.001). A similar finding was obtained for head Lice (8/226 versus 2/390, P = 0.007). Our findings suggest that head Lice in Africa may be infected by B. quintana when patients live in poor economic conditions and are also exposed to body Lice.
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phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships in ixodes holocyclus and ixodes cornuatus acari ixodidae inferred from cox1 and its2 sequences
International Journal for Parasitology, 2011Co-Authors: Simon Song, Stephen C Barker, Renfu Shao, R B Atwell, D M VankanAbstract:Some people host Lice on the clothing as well as the head. Whether body Lice and head Lice are distinct species or merely variants of the same species remains contentious. We sought to ascertain the extent to which Lice from these different habitats might interbreed on doubly infected people by comparing their entire mitochondrial genome sequences. Toward this end, we analyzed two sets of published genetic data from double-infections of body Lice and head Lice: 1) entire mitochondrial coding regions (≈15.4 kb) from body Lice and head Lice from seven doubly infected people from Ethiopia, China, and France; and 2) part of the cox1 gene (≈486 bp) from body Lice and head Lice from a further nine doubly infected people from China, Nepal, and Iran. These mitochondrial data, from 65 Lice, revealed extraordinary variation in the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms between the individual body Lice and individual head Lice of double-infections: from 1.096 kb of 15.4 kb (7.6%) to 2 bps of 15.4 kb (0.01%). We detected coinfections of Lice of Clades A and C on the scalp hair of three of the eight people from Nepal: one person of the two people from Kathmandu and two of the six people from Pokhara. Lice of Clades A and B coinfected the scalp hair of one person from Atherton, Far North Queensland, Australia. These findings argue for additional large-scale studies of the body Lice and head Lice of double-infected people.
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Supergroup F Wolbachia bacteria parasitise Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera)
Parasitology Research, 2006Co-Authors: Catherine Covacin, Stephen C BarkerAbstract:We studied six species of Lice from three of the four suborders of Lice. These Lice were infected with Wolbachia bacteria from supergroups A and F. This is the first report of an infection of supergroup F Wolbachia in Lice. To date, Wolbachia from supergroup F have been found in filarial nematodes, Mansonella spp., and, rarely, in insects. We inferred the phylogeny of the Wolbachia from Lice and representatives of all Wolbachia supergroups, with nucleotide sequences from the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rRNA). There was no evidence of congruence between the taxon of louse and the Wolbachia bacteria that infect Lice. There is no evidence that Wolbachia and their louse hosts co-evolved at least at the level of Wolbachia supergroups. We propose a novel mechanism for the horizontal transfer of Wolbachia between different species of Lice from birds: transfer of Wolbachia during phoresis by hippoboscid flies.
Oleg Mediannikov - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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molecular identification of head Lice collected in franceville gabon and their associated bacteria
Parasites & Vectors, 2020Co-Authors: Celia Scherelle Boumbandakoyo, Nadia Amanzougaghene, Sandrine Lydie Oyegueliabagui, Jean Bernard Lekanadouki, Oleg Mediannikov, Romeo Karl Imboumilimoukou, Didier Raoult, Florence FenollarAbstract: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, 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. This 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. Overall 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. To 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.
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Molecular investigation and genetic diversity of Pediculus and Pthirus Lice in France
Parasites & Vectors, 2020Co-Authors: Nadia Amanzougaghene, Oleg Mediannikov, Florence Fenollar, Philippe Gautret, Bernard Davoust, Arezki IzriAbstract:Background Humans are parasitized by three types of Lice: body, head and pubic Lice. As their common names imply, each type colonizes a specific region of the body. The body louse is the only recognized disease vector. However, an increasing awareness of head Lice as a vector has emerged recently whereas the status of pubic Lice as a vector is not known since it has received little attention. Methods Here, we assessed the occurrence of bacterial pathogens in 107 body Lice, 33 head Lice and 63 pubic Lice from Marseille and Bobigny (France) using molecular methods. Results Results show that all body Lice samples belonged to the cytb Clade A whereas head Lice samples belonged to Clades A and B. DNA of Bartonella quintana was detected in 7.5% of body Lice samples and, for the first time to our knowledge, in 3.1% of pubic Lice samples. Coxiella burnetii , which is not usually associated with transmission by louse, was detected in 3.7% of body Lice samples and 3% of head Lice samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. burnetii in Pediculus Lice infesting humans in France. Acinetobacter DNA was detected in 21.5% of body Lice samples, 6% of head Lice samples and 9.5% of pubic Lice samples. Five species were identified with A. baumannii being the most prevalent. Conclusions Our study is the first to report the presence of B. quintana in pubic Lice. This is also the first report of the presence of DNA of C. burnetii in body Lice and head Lice in France. Further efforts on the vectorial role of human Lice are needed, most importantly the role of pubic Lice as a disease vector should be further investigated.
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Molecular investigation and genetic diversity of Pediculus and Pthirus Lice in France
Parasites & vectors, 2020Co-Authors: Nadia Amanzougaghene, Oleg Mediannikov, Florence Fenollar, Philippe Gautret, Bernard Davoust, Arezki IzriAbstract:Humans are parasitized by three types of Lice: body, head and pubic Lice. As their common names imply, each type colonizes a specific region of the body. The body louse is the only recognized disease vector. However, an increasing awareness of head Lice as a vector has emerged recently whereas the status of pubic Lice as a vector is not known since it has received little attention. Here, we assessed the occurrence of bacterial pathogens in 107 body Lice, 33 head Lice and 63 pubic Lice from Marseille and Bobigny (France) using molecular methods. Results show that all body Lice samples belonged to the cytb Clade A whereas head Lice samples belonged to Clades A and B. DNA of Bartonella quintana was detected in 7.5% of body Lice samples and, for the first time to our knowledge, in 3.1% of pubic Lice samples. Coxiella burnetii, which is not usually associated with transmission by louse, was detected in 3.7% of body Lice samples and 3% of head Lice samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. burnetii in Pediculus Lice infesting humans in France. Acinetobacter DNA was detected in 21.5% of body Lice samples, 6% of head Lice samples and 9.5% of pubic Lice samples. Five species were identified with A. baumannii being the most prevalent. Our study is the first to report the presence of B. quintana in pubic Lice. This is also the first report of the presence of DNA of C. burnetii in body Lice and head Lice in France. Further efforts on the vectorial role of human Lice are needed, most importantly the role of pubic Lice as a disease vector should be further investigated.
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Molecular identification of head Lice collected in Franceville (Gabon) and their associated bacteria
PARASITES & VECTORS, 2020Co-Authors: Celia Scherelle Boumbanda-koyo, Nadia Amanzougaghene, Oleg Mediannikov, Didier Raoult, Sandrine Lydie Oyegue-liabagui, Romeo Karl Imboumi-limoukou, Jean Bernard Lekana-douki, Florence FenollarAbstract:Background: 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, 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. Methods: This 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 cytochromebgene, then we screened them for DNA of Bartonella quintana, Borreliaspp., Acinetobacterspp.,Yersinia pestis, Rickettsiaspp., R. prowazekii, Anaplasmaspp. and C. burnetii, using real time or standard PCR and sequencing. Results: Overall 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 Borreliaspp. DNA in 3 (0.4%) of 691 head Lice belonging to Clade A and infesting one individual. This Borreliais close to B. theileri(GenBank: MN621894).Acinetobacterspp. DNA has been detected in 39 (25%) of the 156 screened Lice; of these 13 (8.3%) corresponded toA. baumannii. Acinetobacter nosocomialis(n = 2) andA. pittii(n = 1) were also recorded. Conclusions: To 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 ofBorreliaspp. DNA in these Lice highlight the potential circulation of these bacteria in Gabon.
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detection of bacterial pathogens in clade e head Lice collected from niger s refugees in algeria
Parasites & Vectors, 2018Co-Authors: Nadia Amanzougaghene, Florence Fenollar, Didier Raoult, Idir Bitam, Meriem Louni, Nassima Mana, Oleg MediannikovAbstract:Head Lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, are obligate blood-sucking parasites. Phylogenetically, they occur in five divergent mitochondrial clades (A, D, B, C and E), each having a particular geographical distribution. Recent studies have revealed that head Lice, as is the case of body Lice, can act as a vector for louse-borne diseases. Here, we aimed to study the genetic diversity of head Lice collected from Niger’s refugees (migrant population) arriving in Algeria, northern Africa, and to look for louse-borne pathogens. Comparative head Lice samples collected from indigenous population of schoolchildren (non-immigrant) were also analyzed to frame the study. In this study, 37 head Lice samples were collected from 31 Nigerien refugees, as well as 45 head Lice from 27 schoolchildren. The collection was established in three localities of eastern Algiers, north Algeria. Quantitative real-time PCR screening of pathogens bacteria and the genetic characterisation of the head Lice satut were performed. Through amplification and sequencing of the cytb gene, results showed that all head Lice of Nigerien refugees 37/82 (45.12%) belonged to clade E with the presence of four new haplotypes, while, of the 45 head Lice of schoolchildren, 34/82 Lice (41.46%) belonged to clade A and 11/82 (13.41%) belonged to clade B. Our study is the first to report the existence of clade E haplogroup in Nigerien head Lice. DNA of Coxiella burnetii was detected in 3/37 (8.10%) of the head Lice collected from 3 of the 31 (9.67%) migrant population. We also revealed the presence of Acinetobacter DNA in 20/37 (54.05%) of head Lice collected from 25/31 (80.64%) of the Nigerien refugees, and in 25/45 (55.55%) head Lice collected from 15/27 (55.55%) schoolchildren. All positive Nigerien-head Lice for Acinetobacter spp. were identified as A. baumannii, while positive schoolchildren-head Lice were identified as A. johnsonii 15/25 (60%), A. variabilis 8/25 (32%) and A. baumannii 2/25 (8%). Based on these findings from head Lice collected on migrant and non-migrant population, our results show, for the first time, that head Lice from Niger belong to haplogroup E, and confirm that the clade E had a west African distribution. We also detected, for the first time, the presence of C. burnetii and A. baumannii in these Nigerien head Lice. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to determine whether the head Lice can transmit these pathogenic bacteria from one person to another.
