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Deng YP, Fu YT, Yao C, Shao R, Zhang XL, Duan DY, Liu GH. Emerging bacterial infectious diseases/pathogens vectored by human lice. Travel Med Infect Dis 2023; 55:102630. [PMID: 37567429 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Human lice have always been a major public health concern due to their vector capacity for louse-borne infectious diseases, like trench fever, louse-borne relapsing fever, and epidemic fever, which are caused by Bartonella quintana, Borrelia recurrentis, and Rickettsia prowazekii, respectively. Those diseases are currently re-emerging in the regions of poor hygiene, social poverty, or wars with life-threatening consequences. These louse-borne diseases have also caused outbreaks among populations in jails and refugee camps. In addition, antibodies and DNAs to those pathogens have been steadily detected in homeless populations. Importantly, more bacterial pathogens have been detected in human lice, and some have been transmitted by human lice in laboratories. Here, we provide a comprehensive review and update on louse-borne infectious diseases/bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Ping Deng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yi-Tian Fu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chaoqun Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
| | - Renfu Shao
- Centre for Bioinnovation, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
| | - Xue-Ling Zhang
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - De-Yong Duan
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guo-Hua Liu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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Jakab Á, Kahlig P, Kuenzli E, Neumayr A. Tick borne relapsing fever - a systematic review and analysis of the literature. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010212. [PMID: 35171908 PMCID: PMC8887751 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a zoonosis caused by various Borrelia species transmitted to humans by both soft-bodied and (more recently recognized) hard-bodied ticks. In recent years, molecular diagnostic techniques have allowed to extend our knowledge on the global epidemiological picture of this neglected disease. Nevertheless, due to the patchy occurrence of the disease and the lack of large clinical studies, the knowledge on several clinical aspects of the disease remains limited. In order to shed light on some of these aspects, we have systematically reviewed the literature on TBRF and summarized the existing data on epidemiology and clinical aspects of the disease. Publications were identified by using a predefined search strategy on electronic databases and a subsequent review of the reference lists of the obtained publications. All publications reporting patients with a confirmed diagnosis of TBRF published in English, French, Italian, German, and Hungarian were included. Maps showing the epidemiogeographic mosaic of the different TBRF Borrelia species were compiled and data on clinical aspects of TBRF were analysed. The epidemiogeographic mosaic of TBRF is complex and still continues to evolve. Ticks harbouring TBRF Borrelia have been reported worldwide, with the exception of Antarctica and Australia. Although only molecular diagnostic methods allow for species identification, microscopy remains the diagnostic gold standard in most clinical settings. The most suggestive symptom in TBRF is the eponymous relapsing fever (present in 100% of the cases). Thrombocytopenia is the most suggestive laboratory finding in TBRF. Neurological complications are frequent in TBRF. Treatment is with beta-lactams, tetracyclines or macrolids. The risk of Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) appears to be lower in TBRF (19.3%) compared to louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) (55.8%). The overall case fatality rate of TBRF (6.5%) and LBRF (4-10.2%) appears to not differ. Unlike LBRF, where perinatal fatalities are primarily attributable to abortion, TBRF-related perinatal fatalities appear to primarily affect newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ákos Jakab
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Kahlig
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Esther Kuenzli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Neumayr
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
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Kahlig P, Neumayr A, Paris DH. Louse-borne relapsing fever-A systematic review and analysis of the literature: Part 2-Mortality, Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, impact on pregnancy. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0008656. [PMID: 33705387 PMCID: PMC7951929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) is a classical epidemic disease, which in the past was associated with war, famine, poverty, forced migration, and crowding under poor hygienic conditions around the world. The disease's causative pathogen, the spirochete bacterium Borrelia recurrentis, is confined to humans and transmitted by a single vector, the human body louse Pediculus humanus corporis. Since the disease was at its peak before the days of modern medicine, many of its aspects have never been formally studied and to date remain incompletely understood. In order to shed light on some of these aspects, we have systematically reviewed the accessible literature on LBRF since the recognition of its mode of transmission in 1907, and summarized the existing data on mortality, Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR), and impact on pregnancy. Publications were identified by using a predefined search strategy of electronic databases and a subsequent review of the reference lists of the obtained publications. All publications reporting patients with a confirmed diagnosis of LBRF published in English, French, German, and Spanish since 1907 were included. Data extraction followed a predefined protocol and included a grading system to judge the certainty of the diagnosis of reported cases. The high mortality rates often found in literature are confined to extreme scenarios. The case fatality rate (CFR) of untreated cases is on average significantly lower than frequently assumed. In recent years, a rise in the overall CFRs is documented, for which reasons remain unknown. Lacking standardized criteria, a clear diagnostic threshold defining antibiotic treatment-induced JHR does not exist. This explains the wide range of occurrence rates found in literature. Pre-antibiotic era data suggest the existence of a JHR-like reaction also in cases treated with arsenicals and even in untreated cases. LBRF-related adverse outcomes are observed in 3 out of 4 pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Kahlig
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Neumayr
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daniel H. Paris
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Dörge DD, Kuhn T, Klimpel S. Flammability testing of 22 conventional European pediculicides. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:1189-1196. [PMID: 28155106 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5396-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lice have been parasitizing humans for at least 10,000 years. Since then, humans have tried to rid themselves of these unpleasant and potentially disease-carrying insects. Despite various plant extracts and chemical compounds being used to combat recurring infestations to this date, several lice populations have developed resistance to some of the abundantly used compounds. This resulted in the development of anti-louse products that physically kill the different lice stages. Today, a widely used group of delousing agents are dimethicones (polydimethylsiloxane PDMS) which function by suffocating the lice. However, many dimethicones and related products are highly flammable which makes them potentially dangerous for treatment. In the present study, we tested the flammability of 22 delousing agents in order to shed some light onto this currently unresolved problem in the product design of pediculicides. Thirteen products were easily ignitable, some even by distant contact with a sparkler.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorian D Dörge
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, D-60438, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. .,Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
| | - Thomas Kuhn
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, D-60438, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.,Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Sven Klimpel
- Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, D-60438, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.,Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
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Antinori S, Mediannikov O, Corbellino M, Raoult D. Louse-borne relapsing fever among East African refugees in Europe. Travel Med Infect Dis 2016; 14:110-4. [PMID: 26872415 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Louse-borne relapsing fever a neglected and forgotten disease by western physicians has recently re-emerged among East African migrants seeking asylum in Europe. We review here the cases observed so far together with a critical reappraisal of several issues regarding clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spinello Antinori
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milano, Italy; III Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy.
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Aix-Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm U1095, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Mario Corbellino
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milano, Italy; III Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy.
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix-Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm U1095, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France.
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Boutellis A, Abi-Rached L, Raoult D. The origin and distribution of human lice in the world. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 23:209-17. [PMID: 24524985 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Revised: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/06/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Two genera of lice parasitize humans: Pthirus and Pediculus. The latter is of significant public health importance and comprises two ecotypes: the body louse and the head louse. These ecotypes are morphologically and genetically notably similar; the body louse is responsible for three infectious diseases: Louse-borne epidemic typhus, relapsing fever, and trench fever. Mitochondrial DNA studies have shown that there are three obviously divergent clades of head lice (A, B and C), and only one clade of body lice is shared with head lice (clade A). Each clade has a unique geographic distribution. Lice have been parasitizing humans for millions of years and likely dispersed throughout the World with the human migrations out of Africa, so they can be good markers for studying human evolution. Here, we present an overview of the origin of human lice and their role in vector pathogenic bacteria that caused epidemics, and we review the association between lice clades and human migrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Boutellis
- Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes: URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Laurent Abi-Rached
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire d'Analyse, Topologie, Probabilités - Unité Mixte de Recherche 7353, Equipe ATIP, Aix-Marseille Université, 13331 Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes: URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Faculté de Médecine, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France.
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Brouqui P. Arthropod-borne diseases associated with political and social disorder. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2011; 56:357-374. [PMID: 20822446 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-120709-144739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The living conditions and the crowded situations of the homeless, war refugees, or victims of a natural disaster provide ideal conditions for the spread of lice, fleas, ticks, flies and mites. The consequence of arthropod infestation in these situations is underestimated. Along with louse-borne infections such as typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever, the relationship between Acinetobacter spp.-infected lice and bacteremia in the homeless is not clear. Murine typhus, tungiasis, and myiasis are likely underestimated, and there has been a reemergence of bed bugs. Attempted eradication of the body louse, despite specific measures, has been disappointing, and infections with Bartonella quintana continue to be reported. The efficacy of ivermectin in eradicating the human body louse, although the effect is not sustained, might provide new therapeutic approaches. Arthropod-borne diseases continue to emerge within the deprived population. Public health programs should be engaged rapidly to control these pests and reduce the incidence of these transmissible diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Brouqui
- Faculté de Médecine, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes, CNRS-IRD UMR 6236/198, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France.
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Autoimmune Disease and the Human Metagenome. METAGENOMICS OF THE HUMAN BODY 2011. [PMCID: PMC7121718 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-7089-3_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Ramos JM, Malmierca E, Reyes F, Tesfamariam A. Louse-borne relapsing fever in Ethiopian children: experience of a rural hospital. Trop Doct 2009; 39:34-6. [DOI: 10.1258/td.2008.080157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) in a series of children attending in a rural hospital in Ethiopia during 1997–2007. From a total of 249 cases of LBRF, 154 (61.4%) were children (> 15 years). The most frequent symptoms were: fever, headache, dizziness and musculoskeletal pains. The overall case fatality rate was 2.4 (10% for patients < 1.1 years; 3.4% for 1.1 to 4.0 years; and 0% >4.0 years [ P = 0.05]). The mortality in children was less than in adults (13.2%) ( P = 0.003).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Manuel Ramos
- Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Hospital General de Elche, Alicante
| | - Eduardo Malmierca
- Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
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Ramos JM, Malmierca E, Reyes F, Wolde W, Galata A, Tesfamariam A, Gorgolas M. Characteristics of louse-borne relapsing fever in Ethiopian children and adults. ANNALS OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PARASITOLOGY 2004; 98:191-6. [PMID: 15035729 DOI: 10.1179/000349804225003136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) is endemic in Ethiopia. The epidemiological and clinical aspects of LBRF and the differences between the infection in children and that in adults were investigated in a rural hospital in Ethiopia. During the 5-year study (1997-2002), 197 patients had a confirmed diagnosis of LBRF. Most (62.1%) of the cases were children under 15 years of age. The adult cases (i.e. those aged > or =15 years) were far more likely to present with headache (76.9% v. 40%; P <0.001), musculo-skeletal pains (61.5% v. 30.5%; P <0.001), dizziness (64% v. 39%; P =0.002) and bleeding (16.9% v. 3.8%; P =0.005) than the paediatric. The overall level of case fatality was 6.4%. Death appeared to be significantly associated with adulthood (P =0.01), delay in consultation (P =0.026) and the presence of vomiting (P =0.023). LBRF is clearly still a public-health problem in Ethiopia, where the clinical manifestations of the disease differ according to the age of the case.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Ramos
- Unit of Infectious Diseases (Internal Medicine Service), Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Camíde l'Almazara, 11, 03203 Elche, Alicante, Spain.
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