New data on the chewing lice (Psocodea: Phthiraptera) of domestic and wild birds in Türkiye.

This study was carried out to detect the chewing lice species of domestic and wild birds in Türkiye, between the years of 2014-2021, and whether there is a correlation between the number of bird species and individuals and the prevalence, mean intensity and species of chewing lice. For this purpose, 206 bird samples as injured, or found dead on roads and gardens between these dates, in seventeen orders were examined for chewing lice. Of the 206 wild birds examined, 135 (65.53%) were infested with lice. A total of 73, of which 34 were Amblyceran and 39 were Ischnoceran chewing lice species, were identified. The genera Acidoproctus, Aegypoecus, Bonomiella, Esthiopterum, Gruimenopon, Heleonomus, Neopsittaconirmus, and the species Acidoproctus moschatae, Aegypoecus spp. (nymph), Amyrsidea minuta, Ardeicola maculatus, Ardeicola stellaris, Bonomiella columbae, Brueelia tasniemae, Colpocephalum nigrae, Colpocephalum percnopteri, Colpocephalum zerafae, Ciconiphilus pectiniventris, Esthiopterum gruis, Goniodes pavonis, Gruimenopon longum, Guimaraesiella amsel, Heleonomus macilentus, Kurodaia cryptostigmata, Kurodaia subpachygaster, Menacanthus kaddoui, Myrsidea isostoma, Neophilopterus tricolor, Neopsittaconirmus spp. (nymph), Pseudomenopon dolium, and Rallicola minutus are reported here for the first time. Based on statistical analysis, the host species and individual numbers are correlated with lice species numbers. It was also found that the host individual number is correlated with the mean intensity of the lice. Our results indicate that a large number of samples belonging to different host species are important in terms of data reliabilty.

Investigation of Head Lice and Intestinal Parasites in Primary and Secondary School in Sivas.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites and head lice in primary school-aged children and to determine a possible relationship between the co-occurrence of ecto-endoparasites. Methods: The study were conducted in three schools in the center of Sivas: Sivas Karsiyaka Primary School, Kilavuz IMKB Primary School, and Karsiyaka 27 June Middle School. The presence of head lice and intestinal parasites was investigated in a total of 563 children aged 6 to 17, with 294 girls and 269 boys. Classroom teachers and students were provided with information about intestinal parasites, head lice, and methods of transmission and prevention, and a questionnaire was administered. During the head lice examination, students were inspected with a comb, and samples with nits were examined under a microscope in the laboratory. Cellophane tape and stool samples obtained from the participants were examined on the same day using the native-lugol, flotation, and trichrome staining methods under a light microscope (x10, x40, x100). Results: Five hundred sixty-three children were evaluated for head lice and 15 (2.6%) were found to be positive. During the examination, only nits were found in 11 students (1.9%), and both adult lice and nymphs were seen in 4 students (0.7%). Head lice were found positive in 2 out of 269 boys (0.7%), while 13 out of 294 girls (4.2%) positive (p<0.05). As a result of stool examination in children, Entamoeba coli was found in 11 (1.95%), Giardia intestinalis in 4 (0.71%), Blastocystis sp. in 14 (2.48%), Enterobius vermicularis in 8 (1.42%) and Taenia spp. in 2 (0.35%). Head lice infestation and Taenia spp. were found to coexist in 2 (0.35%) children. Conclusion: In conclusion, although there has been a noticeable decrease in head lice and intestinal parasites among primary school-aged children in Sivas province, these conditions are still present, as evidenced by previous studies conducted in our region.

Chewing lice of Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) and diversity of louse-host associations of birds in reed beds in Slovakia.

A total of 1,621 wild birds representing 34 species were examined for chewing lice in reed beds in southwestern Slovakia during the pre-breeding migration 2008-2009 and 2016-2019. A total of 377 (23.3%) birds representing 15 species were parasitized by 26 species of chewing lice of 12 genera. Dominant genera were Penenirmus (with dominance 32.6%) and Menacanthus (29.4%), followed by Brueelia (12.6%), Acronirmus (10.8%), Philopterus (7.7%), and Myrsidea (4.2%). We evaluated 33 host-louse associations including both 1) host-generalist, parasitizing more than one host species and host-specific lice, occurring only on a single host species, and 2) lice species with large range geographic distribution, reported across the range of the distribution of their hosts and lice species with only occasional records from a limited area within the range of their hosts. The Bearded Reedling, Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus, 1758), was parasitized by two species of chewing lice, Menacanthus brelihi Balát, 1981 and Penenirmus visendus (Zlotorzycka, 1964), with conspicuously different prevalences (5.6% vs. 58.2%, respectively; n = 251). New material enabled us to redescribe both species of lice: the first one is resurrected from previous synonymy as a valid species. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene was sequenced from these two species in order to assess their relative phylogenetic position within their genera. Our study demonstrates the importance of an adequate identification of parasites, especially on rarely examined and endangered hosts.

Title: Mallophages de la Panure à moustaches (Panurus biarmicus) et diversité des associations mallophages-hôtes des oiseaux dans les roselières en Slovaquie. Abstract: Au total, 1 621 oiseaux sauvages représentant 34 espèces ont été examinés à la recherche de mallophages dans les roselières du sud-ouest de la Slovaquie au cours de la migration de pré-reproduction 2008­2009 et 2016­2019. Parmi ceux-ci, 377 oiseaux (23,3 %), représentant 15 espèces, étaient parasités par 26 espèces de mallophages de 12 genres. Les genres dominants étaient Penenirmus (avec une dominance de 32,6 %) et Menacanthus (29,4 %), suivis de Brueelia (12,6 %), Acronirmus (10,8 %), Philopterus (7,7 %) et Myrsidea (4,2 %). Nous avons évalué 33 associations mallophage-hôte comprenant à la fois 1) des espèces de mallophages généralistes, parasitant plus d'une espèce hôte, et des mallophages spécifiques, présents uniquement sur une seule espèce hôte et 2) des espèces de mallophages ayant une large répartition géographique, signalées à travers l'étendue de la répartition de leurs hôtes, et des espèces de mallophages avec seulement des observations occasionnelles dans une zone limitée à l'intérieur de l'aire de répartition de leurs hôtes. La Panure à moustaches, Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus, 1758), était parasitée par deux espèces de mallophages, Menacanthus brelihi Balát, 1981 et Penenirmus visendus (Zlotorzycka, 1964), avec des prévalences nettement différentes (respectivement 5,6 % et 58,2 %, n = 251). Du nouveau matériel nous a permis de redécrire les deux espèces de mallophages, la première étant ressuscitée de la synonymie précédente en tant qu'espèce valide. Un fragment du gène mitochondrial de la cytochrome oxydase I a été séquencé à partir de ces deux espèces afin d'évaluer leur position phylogénétique relative au sein de leurs genres. Notre étude démontre l'importance d'une identification adéquate des parasites, en particulier sur les hôtes rarement examinés et menacés.

Body lice: a vector for re-emerging disease outbreak in a rehabilitation camp in Northwestern Iran.

OBJECTIVE: The report of the outbreak of body louse in northwestern Iran after three decades reminds us again of the danger of the re-emerging of previous epidemics. RESULTS: The results of the study that nearly 70% of the patients in a rehabilitation Centre were infected with body louse. In this study, scientific measures were taken to prevent the spread of body lice to healthy people, including isolation of the patients, washing the clothes of those infected at high temperatures, and spraying the rest area, beddings, and blankets. This is a more recent report on an outbreak of body louse in Iran in 2023.

Pediculicide regulations and usage trends in Türkiye in 2015-2022.

BACKGROUND: Over the years, the increasing prevalence of head lice infestation has led to an increase in treatment-related costs and the development of resistance to pediculicides. This study aimed to evaluate pediculicide sales over an 8-year period (2015-2022), including the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data on products registered in the Turkish Pharmaceutical Index Dataview, Intercontinental Medical Statistics (IMS) database, sold on prescription and approved by the Ministry of Health in Türkiye were formally requested from the research organization IQVIA for pharmacologically active pediculicides (PAP) such as permethrin, pyrethrin, and sumithrin. Data for physically active products containing dimethicone (DMT) were obtained from the relevant pharmaceutical companies. Sale revenues were determined based on sale prices in the aforementioned year. RESULTS: Total sales of pediculicides decreased from 2,452,846 units in 2015 to 2,028,840 units in 2022. While PAP consumption decreased over the years, from 1,832,006 to 518,460 units, DMT consumption increased from 620,840 to 1,510,380 units, from 2015 to 2022. The total price of pediculicides for the consumer increased more than threefold in Turkish currency. In terms of USD, an almost similar amount of money was spent over the years, with the exception of 2022 when the expenditure almost halved mainly due to the high inflation rate in the country. CONCLUSION: The decrease in PAP and the increase in DMT indicate that local lice have developed resistance to the former. Further studies are needed to determine the possible development of resistance in the country.

Molecular detection of Bartonella quintana, Acinetobacter baumannii and Acinetobacter haemolyticus in Pediculus humanus lice in Nigeria, West Africa.

The human lice Pediculus humanus is distributed worldwide but, it thrives and flourishes under conflict situations where people are forced to live in crowded unhygienic conditions. Molecular methods were used to identify and screen human lice for the DNA of pathogens of public health importance in an area that has been under insurgency related to religious and political conflicts with tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDP). DNA of Bartonella quintana, Acinetobacter baumannii and Acinetobacter haemolyticus was detected in 18.3%, 40.0% and 1.7%, respectively, of human lice collected from children in Maiduguri, Nigeria. More body lice than head lice were positive for pathogen's DNA (64.3% vs. 44.4%; χ2 = 1.3, p = 0.33), but the difference was not significant. Two lice samples were found to harbour mixed DNA of B. quintana and A. baumannii. Phylogenetic analysis of the cytochrome b (cytb) gene sequences of the positive lice specimens placed them into clades A and E. This is the first report on the molecular identification of human lice and the detection of the DNA of pathogens of public health importance in lice in Nigeria, West Africa. The findings of this study will assist policy makers and medical practitioners in formulating a holistic healthcare delivery to IDPs.

Pediculosis capitis risk factors in schoolchildren: hair thickness and hair length.

The human head lice is a cosmopolitan ectoparasite that causes pediculosis. The main way of spreading lice is through direct head-to-head contact. It is popular knowledge that some individuals are more susceptible to contracting head lice than others. Reports of individuals who have never been affected by the disease are common, even living in the same environment and under the same conditions as people who regularly have lice infestations. Previous research has been carried out on the risk of this infection associated with different human factors like gender or age. However, studies on the influence of the individual hair characteristics are scarce. The objective of the study was to analyze the pediculosis risk using geographical location, gender, age and individual hair characteristics as variables. Pediculosis was diagnosed through the detection of living lice in the hair. This cross-sectional school-based epidemiological study was conducted in 310 schoolchildren aged 1 to 13 years of schools in 4 municipalities situated in the State of Paraná, Brazil. The prevalence of head louse infection in primary school students was 49.35 %. The Odds Ratio of presence of pediculosis (OR) was estimated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results obtained indicate that hair length and thickness increase the risk of infection. Furthermore, the inclusion of hair color, hair shape, kind of hair-scale as covariates increases the risk of pediculosis, indicating that these variables partly explain this susceptibility and that pediculosis is independent of gender. A smaller hair diameter may favor insect fixation to the hair in the nymphal phases. These results may explain why girls are a greater risk as they let their hair grow for cultural reasons, i.e., being of female gender is an agglutinating variable. The conclusions drawn may explain the discrepancies obtained in previous analyses.

POPULATION STRUCTURE AND BARTONELLA QUINTANA IN HEAD AND BODY LICE IN POKHARA, NEPAL (ANOPLURA: PEDICULIDAE).

This study examined the population structure of head and body lice infesting a random sample of people in Pokhara, Nepal during 2003, 2004, and 2005. A total of 106 participants (6 to 72 yr old, median = 12) volunteered to have lice collected from their heads and clothing. Most participants (70%) harbored only head lice, some (15%) had only body lice, and some (15%) had concurrent infestations of head and body lice (dual infestations). A total of 1,472 lice was collected. Significantly more nymphs were collected than adult lice. Louse populations were generally small (geometric mean = 8.8 lice per person) but a few participants harbored larger louse populations (maximum = 65 lice). People with dual infestations harbored significantly more lice than people with single infestations; however, there was no difference in the infestation intensities between people infested with head lice only vs. those infested with body lice only. Male participants harbored significantly more lice than did females. There were no significant differences in infestation intensity due to participant age or their socioeconomic level. The sex ratio of adult lice was increasingly female biased with increasing adult louse density. Infection of lice with Bartonella quintana was low (ca. 1.5%). Pediculosis is a common problem in urban Nepal.

Prevalence of permethrin-resistant kdr mutation in head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) from elementary school students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are a major global concern, and there is growing evidence of an increase in head lice prevalence among Saudi schoolchildren. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of an insecticidal resistance mutation in head lice collected from schoolchildren. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a segment of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene subunit to assess the prevalence and distribution of the kdr T917I mutation in head lice. Subsequently, the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns revealed two genotypic forms: homozygous-susceptible (SS) and homozygous-resistant (RR). The results showed that 17 (37.80%) of the 45 samples were SS, whereas 28 (62.2%) were RR and T917I and L920F point mutations were found in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of RR. Compared to other nations, the frequency of permethrin resistance mutation in the head louse population in Saudi Arabia was low. This study provides the first evidence of permethrin resistance mutation in human head lice in Saudi Arabia. The findings of this study will highlight the rising incidence of the kdr mutation in head lice in Saudi Arabia.

Phylogenetic and network analysis of Pediculus humanus in Nigeria reveal the presences of clade E body lice and novel haplotypes.

An investigation was conducted for the first time to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of human lice, for the first time in Nigeria, using conventional PCR and sequencing methods. Three mitochondrial genes, cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), cytochrome b (cytb), and 12S rRNA of Nigerian human lice, were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed. Overall, high prevalence (72.5%; 103/142) of lice infestation was recorded among the examined volunteers. Head lice infestation was more common 63 (61.2%) than body lice infestation 34 (33.0%). Co-infestation with both head and body lice was recorded in six humans (5.8%). The Nigerian human lice specimens were placed mostly into clade A with few in clade E, including body lice for the first time. Six, three, and eight haplotypes of Nigerian human lice were obtained for the cytb, cox1, and 12S rRNA genes, respectively. Additionally, one (E51), three (A31, A32, and E5), and six (A20, A21, A23, A24, A30, and E1) novel haplotypes were recorded for cox1, cytb, and 12S rRNA, respectively, from the Nigerian specimens which were corroborated by the ML phylogenetic trees and MJ network analyses. Genetic diversity indices indicate minimal variation in the parameters analyzed among the clades of the three genes. However, a statistically significant Snn test, negative Tajima's D test for clade A (cox1 and 12S rRNA genes), and negative Fu and Li's D test in clade A for cox1 gene indicate a geographical structure and the signature of population expansion of the Nigerian human lice. The findings from this study provide additional data on the human lice structure in Africa.

Head lice: impact of COVID-19 and slow recovery of prevalence in Cambridgeshire, UK.

Following school closures and changes in contact behavior of children and adults a reduced head louse prevalence has been reported from across the globe. In parallel, sales of treatments were observed to fall, partly because of supply problems of some products following the pandemic, but this did not appear to result in more cases of infestation. Surveys of schools in and around Cambridge, UK, found that infestation rates were significantly reduced particularly in city schools compared with similar surveys conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to expectation the number of cases in schools has only risen slowly since schools returned to normal full time working in 2022-2023.

HEAD LOUSE PALEOEPIDEMIOLOGY IN THE OSMORE RIVER VALLEY, SOUTHERN PERU.

Recent studies of louse ectoparasites from mummies have developed robust data sets that allow a true epidemiological approach to the prehistory of louse parasitism. One epidemiological principle is that the binomial of overdispersion is normally negative, meaning that in a host population, parasites are aggregated in a few individuals. We demonstrate the overdispersion of lice in 3 different prehistoric communities that differ along 3 axes or variables: environmental setting, socioeconomic status, and cultural affiliation. Distinct cultural practices could have been involved in different patterns of louse infestation. Prevalence, intensity, and abundance of infestations exhibit statistically significant differences between the communities. We also find differences in prevalence between subadults and adults that contrasted by cultural affiliation and suggest conditions different from those seen today. We show that overall prevalence was affected primarily by ecological setting, not socioeconomic status nor cultural affiliation. These findings demonstrate that statistical analysis of archaeological data can reveal the states of infestation in past populations with lifestyles not seen in modern people. Our approach paves the way for future comparisons of subpopulations within archaeological communities.

Pediculosis humanus capitis in 6-7 years old schoolchildren in Valencia, Spain.

OBJECTIVES: Pediculosis humanus capitis is a worldwide public health concern that affects mostly school-aged children. The aim of this study is to determine the rate of pediculosis and to determine possible risk factors in a group of primary school children in Valencia, Spain; 227 children, 6-7 years old, were selected from 7 schools. METHODS: A self-reported questionnaire completed by the parents/guardians about the presence of pediculosis in their children and their knowledge about pediculosis. The results recorded in the questionnaire were analysed by SPSS® software. RESULTS: 30.4% of the children had pediculosis. The results showed significant variation (p < 0.05) in prevalence depending on the following factors: sex, hair length, level of parental education, family size, presence of affected family member in the home, and frequency of hair washing. Less than half of parents/guardians showed an appropriate level of knowledge on pediculosis. Pediculosis remains a health problem in Valencian schoolchildren. The family size and existence of another member with pediculosis were shown to be the main potentiating factors. CONCLUSIONS: Parents are not sufficiently informed about pediculosis and adopt inappropriate practices. There is a need to promote studies with the objective of determining risk factors for pediculosis as well as the need for actions to increase the knowledge of parents and healthcare professionals on this parasitosis to prevent outbreaks in the community, assure correct treatment and maintain effective epidemiological surveillance.

Pediculosis capitis and scabies in nurses from Eastern Poland - occupational risk and environmental determinants.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Nurses are a group of healthcare professionals particularly vulnerable to infestations by Pediculus humanus capitis and Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis contracted from patients under their medical care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 322 professionally active nurses within public healthcare units in eastern Poland. The research tool was a questionnaire collecting anonymized data on the occurrence of pediculosis capitis and scabies in nurses, and their patients, concerning the environmental determinants in the period 2001-2013. The study was retrospective and participation of nurses was voluntary. RESULTS: The obtained results indicated that 24.8% and 9.9% of the 322 respondents were infested by head lice and scabies mites, respectively. During their professional work, most nurses contracted head lice once (76.2%) while others (23.8%) were infested twice or more. The respondents did not declare repeated occupational scabies. The risk of contracting pediculosis capitis and scabies was not related to the length of service, but increased with the rise in the number of patients provided with nursing care. In the head lice-infested patients, the majority were aged 6-10 years (31.3%), while in the case of scabietic patients, children aged 0-5 years prevailed (26.4%). CONCLUSIONS: In medical care facilities, regular hygienic checks of both patients and medical staff, covering the condition of the skin and scalp, should be mandatory. The spread of pediculosis capitis and scabies among nurses can be reduced by the implementation not only of protective procedures mitigating occupational risk, but also the improvement of working conditions in medical facilities.

Prevalence of head louse infestation among primary schoolchildren in the Republic of Korea: nationwide observation of trends in 2011-2019.

Head louse infestation is a significant public health problem across the world, particularly among preschool and primary schoolchildren. This study investigated the trends of head louse infestation in the Republic of Korea over a 9-year period (2011-2019), targeting primary schoolchildren in 3 areas of Seoul, 4 other large cities, and 9 provinces. A survey was administered annually by the health staff of each regional office (n= 16) of the Korea Association of Health Promotion (KAHP). The branch offices of KAHP examined a total of 51,508 primary schoolchildren, comprising 26,532 boys and 24,976 girls. Over the 9-year survey, a total of 1,107 (2.1%) schoolchildren tested positive for adults and/or nits of Pediculus humanus capitis. The prevalence was 2.8% (133/4,727) in 2011-2012 and gradually decreased to 0.8% (49/6,461) in 2019 (P< 0.05). Head lice were found more frequently in girls (3.0%; 746/24,976) than in boys (1.4%; 361/26,532) (P< 0.05). In terms of geographic localities, the highest infestation rate, 4.7% (average prevalence over 9 years), was observed in southern Seoul (Gangnam branch of KAHP), whereas the lowest infestation rate, 0.7%, was seen in Gyeongsang (north and south provinces) and western Seoul. Although the prevalence decreased significantly during the 9-year period, head louse infestation remains a health and hygiene issue among primary schoolchildren in the Republic of Korea. Regular surveys along with health education are needed to further improve children's hair hygiene.

DOES PREENING BEHAVIOR REDUCE THE PREVALENCE OF AVIAN FEATHER LICE (PHTHIRAPTERA: ISCHNOCERA)?

Animals defend themselves against parasites in many ways. Defenses, such as physiological immune responses, are capable of clearing some infections. External parasites that do not feed on blood, however, are not controlled by the physiological immune system. Instead, ectoparasites like feather-feeding lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) are primarily controlled by behavioral defenses such as preening. Here we test the hypothesis that birds able to preen are capable of clearing infestations of feather lice. We experimentally manipulated preening ability in a captive population of rock pigeons (Columba livia) that were infested with identical numbers of feather lice (Columbicola columbae or Campanulotes compar or both). We then monitored the feather louse infestations for 42 wk. Birds with impaired preening remained infested throughout the experiment; in contrast, the prevalence of lice on birds that could preen normally decreased by 50%. These data indicate that it is indeed possible for birds to clear themselves of feather lice, and perhaps other ectoparasites, by preening. We note, however, that captive birds spend more time preening than wild birds, and that they are less likely to be reinfested than wild birds. Thus, additional studies are necessary to determine under what circumstances wild birds can clear themselves of ectoparasites by preening.

Assessment of the Prevalence of Head Lice Infestation and Parents' Attitudes Towards Its Management: A School-based Epidemiological Study in Istanbul, Türkiye

OBJECTIVE: Head lice infestation (HLI), caused by Pediculus humanus capitis, is an important public health problem worldwide, especially in primary school children. The aim of this study is to investigate HLI level, related factors, and families' knowledge levels and attitudes about HLI in two primary schools in a relatively low socio-economic region in Istanbul. METHODS: A questionnaire on HLI was developed initially and delivered to all children and parents in the school. A total of 340 primary school students, aged between 6-12, were enrolled in the study after the consent of their parents. Their hair were examined for HLI with special combs at their schools, and free anti-lice shampoos were given to parents of positive children. A total of 951 completed questionnaires were received and evaluated with chi-square test using the SPSS® 17.0 program, and the differences of p<0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Number of boys in the study was slightly higher than the girls (176 vs. 164). HLI was detected in 32 (9.4%) of 340 children; seven had live adult lice on their hair while 25 had only the nits. HLI was obviously more common in girls (16.4%), compared to boys (2.8%). Analysis of 951 questionnaires revealed a statistically significant difference between HLI and infrequent bathing (p<0.05). The differences between HLI and the education levels of parents, income, the number of siblings and in contact with animals were not found to be significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: HLI is still a common health problem, especially in girls in primary schools. Parents are aware of the relationship between the hygiene and prevention against HLI, but low socio-economic resources seem to be important determinants. Regular combing and training activities in primary schools, in coordination with the local authorities and parents are no doubt useful in reducing the incidence of HLI among the children.

Do some families act as a reservoir of head lice in the community? Surveys for prevalence and insecticide resistance suggest this is the case.

In response to increasing complaints of head louse infestation in the area of Cambridge, UK, in the mid-1990s, a series of prevalence surveys in selected schools coupled with collection of lice were commissioned by the local health authority. Carers of infested children were provided with advice on treatment by school nurses. Lice collected during these surveys were tested in the laboratory for evidence of resistance to insecticides. These data were used by the health authority to make decisions about recommended insecticide use for control of head infestations. Surveys over 3 years 1995-1997 found increasing prevalence of lice and increasing resistance to pyrethroids and malathion insecticides across the city. In two selected linked schools, the school nurse initiated a series of workshops and demonstrations to encourage families to treat by wet combing with conditioner in line with government recommendations and local general practitioner advice. Surveys conducted before and after the combing initiative found that prevalence increased in one school and was effectively unchanged in the other. Data collected in 1996 and 1997 from two schools showed that some families were continuously infested across 2 years and would act as a reservoir of infestation for the rest of the community.

Detection of Bartonella quintana (Hyphomicrobiales: Bartonellaceae) Among Day Laborers in Osaka, Japan, 2009-2010.

Bartonella quintana is a gram-negative bacterium causing trench fever, an illness historically acquired by soldiers during World War I. More recently, outbreaks of trench fever have been reported in those experiencing homelessness in the United States, France, Russia, and Tokyo, as well as in children in Nepal and persons in Ethiopia. Reports of B. quintana infection outside of Tokyo are rare in Japan. The aim of this study was to examine body lice and blood obtained from people staying in shelters in Osaka (2009-2010) for B. quintana via polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Day laborers were defined as homeless individuals and shelter residents in this study. We detected genes of B. quintana in body lice by PCR and antibodies against B. quintana. The positive rate of B. quintana genes was 6/10 (60%) in body lice and the seroprevalence (IgG) of B. quintana was 4/10 (40%). This demonstrates that trench fever was endemic in people staying in shelters in Osaka in 2009-2010.

Internet searching on the head louse in the UK since the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Wide-ranging restrictions on social and educational activities were imposed in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These likely influenced the population dynamics of the head louse. Close physical contact between human hosts is required for transmission of this ectoparasite. METHOD: Pre- and post-pandemic internet interest in the head louse in the UK was compared using Google Trends data from March 2017 to March 2022 and modeling using the Meta Prophet package. The influence of school holidays and school attendance was also investigated. RESULTS: There was a sharp decline in internet searching of the term "head louse" from March 2020 onwards coinciding with COVID-19 restrictions, and a large difference between pre- and post-pandemic search volumes. No influence of school holidays or attendance on internet searching on the head louse was found. CONCLUSION: The results suggest pandemic restrictions have had a large effect on head louse incidence.