Lice induced immuno-oxidative wreckage of goats.

The present study aimed to evaluate the immuno-oxidative patho-biology of lice infestation in goats. Sixty goats were divided into five groups; sucking lice (Linognathus africanus) infested (Group 1, n=12), chewing lice (Bovicola caprae) infested-mild (Group 2, n=12), chewing lice (B. caprae) infested-moderate (Group 3, n=12), chewing lice (B. caprae) infested-severe (Group 4, n=12) and healthy control (Group 5, n=12). To assess the pathological changes, markers of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation-LPO, reduced glutathione-GSH, superoxide dismutase-SOD, Catalase-CAT and total antioxidant capacity-TAC), the markers of immune status (Tumour necrosis factor alpha- TNF-α, Interleukin-10- IL-10, Transforming growth factor beta 1- TGF-ß1, ratios of TNF-α/IL-10 and TNF-α/TGF-ß1) and hemato-biochemical status were evaluated. Significant anemia, hypoglycemia, hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia were observed in caprine pediculosis irrespective of the type of lice infested. Remarkably increased oxidative stress was observed in chewing lice infested goats and no significant changes in oxidative stress markers were observed in sucking lice infested goats. TGF-ß mediated suppression of Th1 and Th2 immune responses was observed in sucking lice infested goats; whereas, a Th2 cytokine dominant inflammatory response was observed in chewing lice infested goats. From the present study, it may be concluded that sucking lice infestation produces remarkable immunosuppression and chewing lice infestation produces significant oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in goats.

Trichoscopy: an update.

Hair and scalp disorders represent a substantial complaint in most dermatologists' daily practice. Trichoscopy is a simple and easy-to-perform technique that has been utilized for diagnosis and management of these patients. The interest for this technique had increased in the last years, and knowledge had expanded. This article reviews the most important dermoscopic patterns in normal Caucasian and African scalp, as well as in the most common trichological conditions.

First report of family infestation with pubic louse (Pthirus pubis; Insecta: Anoplura: Pthiridae) in Iran--a case report.

The sucking lice including the head, body and pubic louse infest humans and so they are of high hygienic importance. Pubic lice are transmitted during sexual contact in adults. Thus, infestation of children with pubis louse is very rare. A case of infestation with pubic louse (Pthirus pubis) in a family in Kashan was seen. On examination of family members, the parasites were collected and observed under the light microscope. Infestation of eyelashes with P. pubis lice was confirmed. Since this parasite can be observed on the skin, infestation with this louse has always been one of the concerns of human communities. Pthiriasis has frequently been reported in many parts of the world; however, there are few reports on this infestation in Iran, especially familial infestation with this louse. Hence, this article could be the first report on the familial infestation with P. pubis in Iran and it can be suggested that infestation with pubic lice occurs in sporadic form in all over the country.

Pediculosis Capitis: un problema de salud desatendido en Honduras / Pediculosis capitis: a neglected health problem in Honduras

Antecedentes: La pediculosis por Pediculus humanus capitis es una infestación de distribución cosmopolita prevalente en escolares. Objetivo: Describir la prevalencia de pediculosis capitis en niños de 1 a 6 años que asistían a una guardería para familias de bajos recursos. Pacientes y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal, realizado durante los meses de julio-agosto de 2012 en la guardería Virgen de Suyapa, Ciudad España, Francisco Morazán, Honduras, previo consentimiento informado de los tutores, se incluyeron en el estudio 40 de los 70 niños(as) que asisten a la guardería y sus respectivas familias. Se consignó datos generales, síntomas y signos, ingresos económico mensuales y escolaridad de los padres, además se recobró algunos ejemplares de adultos y huevos de Pediculus humanus capitis para confirmación microscópica. Resultados: Treinta niños y 17 de sus familias (45 personas) tenían pediculosis, total 75 afectados. El 60% de los pacientes infestados presentaban síntomas que incluían eritema, escoriaciones o ambas; el prurito nocturno fue el síntoma más importante, unido al sentimiento de vergüenza que les ocasionaba el hecho de estar parasitados. Conclusión. La pediculosis capitis es un problema importante de salud pública, y podría ser integrado con otros programas de prevención y control de enfermedades desatendidas...

Case of Phthiriasis palpebrarum with blepheroconjunctivitis.

A 70-year-old woman came to ophthalmology outpatient department with complaints of repeated episodes of itching, redness and watering in both eyes of 3 months duration. She was treated with antibiotics elsewhere but had no improvement. Slit lamp examination showed lice and nits anchored to the eyelashes. Light microscopic examination of the matted eye lashes and crusts further helped in identification of the ectoparasites as Phthirus pubis (Pubic louse or Crab louse) with typical morphology.

Insecticide resistance in head lice: clinical, parasitological and genetic aspects.

Insecticide treatment resistance is considered to be a major factor in the increasing number of infestations by head lice. The large insecticide selection pressure induced by conventional topical pediculicides has led to the emergence and spread of resistance in many parts of the world. Possible mechanisms of resistance include accelerated detoxification of insecticides by enzyme-mediated reduction, esterification, oxidation that may be overcome by synergistic agents such as piperonyl butoxide, alteration of the binding site, e.g. altered acetylcholinesterase or altered nerve voltage-gated sodium channel, and knockdown resistance (kdr). Clinical, parasitological and molecular data on resistance to conventional topical pediculicides show that treatments with neurotoxic insecticides have suffered considerable loss of activity worldwide. In particular, resistance to synthetic pyrethroids has become prominent, probably because of their extensive use. As other treatment options, including non-insecticidal pediculicides such as dimeticone, are now available, the use of older insecticides, such as lindane and carbaryl, should be minimized, owing to their loss of efficacy and safety concerns. The organophosphorus insecticide malathion remains effective, except in the UK, mostly in formulations that include terpineol.

Circumscribed alopecia: an unusual manifestation of pediculosis capitis.

A healthy 10-year-old girl was referred for evaluation of patchy hair loss on the scalp of longer than 6 months duration. She had been diagnosed and treated for head lice approximately 1 month before onset of the hair loss. Examination of the scalp showed discrete ovoid patches of hair loss at the vertex scalp. A scrape of the area of hair loss was performed, and a nit was visible on microscopic examination. Focal hair loss may represent an atypical manifestation of ongoing pediculosis capitis.

Experimental evidence for costs due to chewing lice in the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster).

Animals frequently host organisms on their surface which can be beneficial, have no effect or a negative effect on their host. Ectoparasites, by definition, are those which incur costs to their host, but these costs may vary. Examples of avian ectoparasites are chewing lice which feed exclusively on dead feather or skin material; therefore, costs to their bird hosts are generally considered small. Theoretically, many possible proximate effects exist, like loss of tissue or food, infected bites, transmission of microparasitic diseases or reduced body insulation due to loss of feathers, which may ultimately also have fitness consequences. Here, we experimentally examined a possible negative impact of 2 feather-eating louse species (Meropoecus meropis and Brueelia apiastri) on male and female European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) by removing or increasing louse loads and comparing their impact to a control group (lice removed and immediately returned) after 1 month. A negative effect of chewing lice was found on body mass and sedimentation rate and to a lesser extent on haematocrit levels. Males and females lost more weight when bearing heavy louse loads, and were more susceptible to infestations as indicated by the higher sedimentation rate. Our results further suggest differences in sex-specific susceptibility.

Pediculosis in two research ponies (Equus caballus).

Horses and ponies are used infrequently in research but may be valuable animal models for studying both equine-specific diseases and biomedical applications. We report here 2 cases of pediculosis in random-source ponies. Infestation and clinical signs were not present during a 4-wk quarantine period or for 3 to 9 mo thereafter but became apparent coincident with the ponies' movement from pasture to indoor housing. These 2 geldings presented with pruritus associated with excoriating lesions on the neck, and infestation with Bovicola (Werneckiella) equi Denny, 1842 was diagnosed. Ponies were treated successfully with standard wound care and a spray containing 2.0% permethrin and 0.05% pyriproxyfen. These cases highlight the importance of recognizing the possibility of louse infestation, even in healthy, well-cared-for animals, and the need for personnel to be aware of early behavioral signs of infestation, such as rubbing and agitation.

Conjunctivitis due to Phthirus pubis: a trap for the unwary.

It is not uncommon for patients to present to eye casualties with a red eye and where treatment has already been started by the general practitioner, usually in the form of antibiotic drops or ointment for presumed bacterial/viral conjunctivitis. Occasionally, the diagnosis is not simply a bacterial conjunctivitis and this can only be clarified by close ocular inspection.

The feather holes on the barn swallow Hirundo rustica and other small passerines are probably caused by Brueelia spp. lice.

Barn swallows Hirundo rustica often have characteristic feather holes on wing and tail feathers. During the past 15 yr, several influential papers have been based on the assumption that these holes were chewed by the louse Machaerilaemus malleus. We gathered feather-hole data from barn swallows and other passerines at 2 sites in Hungary and correlated the presence of holes with louse infestations and, more specifically, with the occurrence of M. malleus versus other species of avian lice. The shape of frequency distribution of holes was left-biased, and this bias was more pronounced in large swallow colonies that in a random sample, in accordance with the view that the causative agent of the 'feather hole symptom' is a contagious macroparasite. However, both intra- and interspecific comparisons suggest that the causative agent of the symptom had probably been misidentified. The occurrence of Brueelia spp. 'wing lice' provides the best fit to the distribution and abundance of feather holes, both in barn swallows and across some other small passerines. This identification error does not challenge the results of the former evolutionary-ecological studies based on this model system, although it has important implications from the viewpoint of louse biology.