@mastersthesis {96374, title = {Pediculus humanus capitis as a potential vector for Acinetobacter baumannii}, volume = {MSc}, year = {2022}, month = {2022}, pages = {70 pp}, school = {Brock University}, type = {Master of Science in Applied Health Science}, address = {St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada}, abstract = {

Abstract Introduction: The presence of bacterial pathogens in the human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, has been subject to intense research in the last decade. Of particular interest, investigations from several countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa coincide in reporting Acinetobacter baumannii, a known opportunistic bacterium causing frequent health-care associated outbreaks. No reports from countries in South America have been published and is important to confirm whether this pathogen is also present in head lice in this continent.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine whether Acinetobacter baumannii was present in head lice specimens collected from three countries in Latin America.

Methods: 123 vials containing 368 head lice collected from Argentina, Colombia, and two locations in Honduras (La Hicaca and San Buenaventura), were analyzed in pools using PCR to determine the presence of A. baumannii DNA.

Results: Two vials containing 3 insects halves each from La Hicaca, Honduras were positive for A. baumannii. Since lice were analyzed in pools, it is not possible to calculate an exact frequency of infection in lice. However, based on whether per each vial one, two or all three lice were positive for A. baumannii, a range can be determined between 1.83 - 5.50\%. positivity. Genetic sequencing was used to verify our positive results. The remaining lice from Argentina, Colombia, and San Buenaventura; Honduras were identified as negative for the DNA of A. baumannii under the test conditions described.

Conclusion: This study is the first to report the presence of Acinetobacter DNA in human head lice from Latin America. Further investigations are required to elucidate the significance of this finding.

}, keywords = {bacteria, ectoparasite, lice, Pathogen, vector}, url = {https://dr.library.brocku.ca/handle/10464/16519}, author = {Kelsey Larkin} } @mastersthesis {96037, title = {Effectiveness of Neem Oil Upon Pediculosis}, volume = {MSc}, year = {2011}, month = {March 2011}, pages = {144 pp}, school = {TAMILNADU DR.M.G.R.MEDICAL UNIVERSITY}, type = {DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING}, address = {Chennai}, abstract = {

SYNOPSIS

An experimental study to assess the effectiveness of neem oil upon pediculosis among school children at selected orphanages, Chennai.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To assess the prevalence of pediculosis among children.

2. To determine the effectiveness of neem oil upon pediculosis among children.

3. To compare the pre intervention and post\  intervention status of pediculosis in control and experimental group of children.

4. To find out the association between selected demographic variables with the pre and post intervention status of pediculosis in control and experimental groups of children.

5. To assess the knowledge of control and experimental group of children regarding pediculosis.

6. To identify the level of satisfaction after neem oil application in the experimental group of children.

The conceptual frame work of the study was developed based on King\’s goal attainment theory. The study variables were neem oil application and Pediculosis. Hypotheses were formulated.

An extensive review of literature and guidance by experts formed the foundation to the development of the study instruments. An experimental research approach with true experimental design was used. The present study was conducted in the Don Bosco Beatitudes Orphanage, Vyasarpady, for control group and Dazzling Stone Orphanage for experimental group, Kundrathur. The\  sample size was 60 and was selected through simple random sampling method, 30 were assigned to control group and 30 were assigned to experimental group.

The investigator used a demographic variable proforma, degree of pediculosis, observational checklist on signs and symptoms of pediculosis, and interview schedule on knowledge regarding prevention of pediculosis and a rating scale on the level of satisfaction on application of neem oil. The tools were translated into Tamil. The data collection tools were validated and reliability was established .After the pilot study, the data for the main study was collected for a period of one month. The collected data was tabulated and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Major findings of the study

The prevalence of pediculosis revealed that about 86\% of the school children residing in the orphanage had pediculosis, which\  presented as mild and moderate pediculosis (25.25\%, 60.90\%) respectively.

A significant percentage of the children in the control group were between 12 and 13 years of age (43.3\%) and class of study 7th -8 th (43.3\%).Most of the children in the experimental group were between 10 and 11 years of age (60\%) and class of study 5th -6 th (60\%). Most of the children in both control and experimental groups were in the orphanage for more than 3 years (53.3\%, 56.7\%) and length of hair \>15cm (83.3\%, 36.7\%) respectively. Only a significant percentage of children were staying in the orphanage for 1-3 years (40\%, 36.7\%) both in the control and experimental groups.

Most of the children both in the control and experimental group had 3rd degree of pediculosis (70\%, 73.34\%) (Children with mobile lice) before neem oil application. After neem oil application most of the children in the control group had 3 rd degree of pediculosis (73.3\%) as where in the experimental group had 1st degree (70\%) of pediculosis.

Majority of the children had moderate signs and symptoms (96.7\%, 93.3) before neem oil application both in the control and experimental groups. Most of the children in the experimental group had mild signs and symptoms (83.3\%) after neem oil application where as in the control group signs and symptoms (93.3\%) persist in the same level.

Most of the children had inadequate knowledge (76.66\%, 63.33\%) and significant percentage of the children had moderately\  adequate knowledge (23.33\%, 36.66\%) both in control and experimental group respectively.

In control group, there was no significant difference in the degree of pediculosis before neem oil application (M=2.70, SD=0.450) and after neem oil application (M=2.73, SD=0.450).In contrast, in the experimental group, degree of pediculosis was decreased (M=0.70, SD=0.466) when compared to the degree of pediculosis before neem oil application (M=2.73, SD=0.450). The difference was found to be statistically significant at p\< 0.001 degree of pediculosis and it can be attributed to the effectiveness of neem oil application.

There was no significant association between the selected demographic variables like age, class of study, length of stay in the orphanage and length of hair and signs and symptoms of pediculosis of school children before and after neem oil application both in the control and experimental groups. Hence the null hypothesis Ho2 was not accepted.

There was no significant association between the selected demographic variables like age, class of study, length of stay in the orphanage and length of hair and level of knowledge both in the control and experimental groups. Hence, the null hypothesis Ho3 was rejected.

Most of the children (73.3\%) were highly satisfied and only a significant percentage of children (26.7\%) were satisfied with the neem oil application in the experimental group.

Recommendations

A similar study could be undertaken on a large scale for a more valid generalization.

The study could be replicated in different settings and in the different population.

A comparative study could be conducted to test the effectiveness of neem oil and combing the hair upon pediculosis.

A similar study can be conducted with coconut oil

The published paper see: https://phthiraptera.myspecies.info/node/96036

}, url = {http://repository-tnmgrmu.ac.in/4586/1/3004128lincyissac.pdf}, author = {Lincy Issac} } @mastersthesis {95348, title = {Hygi{\`e}ne et consid{\'e}rations hygi{\'e}niques des Inughuits du nord-ouest du Groenland {\'E}tude arch{\'e}oentomologique des sites d{\textquoteright}Iita, Cap Grinnell et Qaqaitsut au Groenland}, volume = {Master of Arts}, year = {2011}, month = {2011}, pages = {117 pp}, school = {UNIVERSIT{\'E} LAVAL QU{\'E}BEC}, type = {Thesis presented to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of Universit{\'e} Laval as part of the master{\textquoteright}s program in archeology}, address = {QU{\'E}BEC}, abstract = {

Thesis in French

Au cours du XIXe si\ècle et au d\ébut du XXe si\ècle, de nombreux explorateurs se sont rendus dans le nord-ouest du Groenland. Les Inughuits vivant dans cette r\égion de l\&$\#$39;Arctique se sont retrouv\és au coeur m\ême, durant cette p\ériode, d\&$\#$39;une s\érie de rencontres et de relations : dans un premier temps, les explorateurs ont \établi un premier contact et, par la suite, les anthropologues et les ethnologues se sont int\éress\és \à eux. Au cours de ces t\êtes \à t\êtes, une grande quantit\é d\&$\#$39;\écrits ont \ét\é produits. Toutefois, ces documents peignent un portrait fort contradictoire de ce peuple : d\&$\#$39;une part, les r\écits des explorateurs sont souvent tr\ès peu flatteurs, surtout sur le plan des pratiques hygi\éniques des habitants de cette r\égion, tandis que les ouvrages des anthropologues apportent une vision plus nuanc\ée de l\&$\#$39;hygi\ène des Inughuits. Cette contradiction que l\&$\#$39;on rel\ève dans la litt\érature, en ce qui touche \à la perception des pratiques hygi\éniques des Inughuits, n\&$\#$39;a jamais \ét\é \étudi\ée. Afin d\&$\#$39;\éclaircir la situation et apporter une r\éponse \à cette contradiction, il est propos\é d\&$\#$39;adopter une approche multidisciplinaire visant l\&$\#$39;\étude des ectoparasites d\&$\#$39;humains sur les sites d\&$\#$39;Iita, Cap Grinnell et Qaqaitsut. En combinant les r\ésultats arch\éoentomologiques \à l\&$\#$39;analyse de la tradition orale des Inughuits, il est possible d\&$\#$39;apporter un \éclairage nouveau sur les conditions de vie des humains du pass\é de ces sites.

}, url = {https://corpus.ulaval.ca/jspui/handle/20.500.11794/22861}, author = {Fr{\'e}d{\'e}ric Dussault} } @mastersthesis {94612, title = {Susceptibility aspects to Pediculosis}, volume = {PhD}, year = {2017}, month = {30-11-2017}, pages = {109}, school = {Federal University of Parana}, type = {Douto no Curso de P{\'o}s-Gradua{\c c}{\~a}o em Ciencias Biol{\'o}gicas (Microbiologia, Parasitologia e Patologia B{\'a}sica).}, address = {Curitiba, Paran{\'a}, Brazil.}, abstract = {

Title:\ Aspectos de susceptibilidade \à pediculose

Resumo: A pediculose, doen\ça causada pelo artr\ópode Pediculus humanus capitis \é considerada um problema de sa\úde p\ública, pois afeta milh\ões de pessoas em todo o mundo, no entanto, crian\ças em idade escolar s\ão as mais acometidas. \É de conhecimento popular que alguns indiv\íduos s\ão mais suscet\íveis \à parasitose que outros, por\ém, fatores inerentes ao hospedeiro, que podem influenciar na suscetibilidade \à essa doen\ça n\ão est\ão totalmente esclarecidos. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi isolar e identificar a microbiota do couro cabeludo e analisar se determinadas caracter\íscas da morfologia do cabelo (tipo, cor, comprimento, escamas e di\âmetro) podem interferir na predisposi\ç\ão \à doen\ça. Para a an\álise da microbiota do couro cabeludo, 10 crian\ças com pediculose (grupo A) e 10 crian\ças sem pediculose (grupo B) foram analisadas. As amostras da microbiota do couro cabeludo foram coletadas atrav\és de swabs que foram friccionados na cabe\ça e acondicionados em meios de transporte Stuart. O isolamento da microbiota f\úngica foi feito em \Ágar Sabouraud (SBA) com tetraciclina e o isolamento bacteriano foi feito em \ágar sangue. A identifica\ç\ão molecular foi realizada atrav\és de sequenciamento da regi\ão 16S e ITS do DNA ribossomal bacteriano e f\úngico, respectivamente. Um total de 186 isolados foram obtidos sendo 35 bact\érias e 40 fungos (grupo A) e 47 bact\érias e 64 fungos (grupo B). Os resultados sugerem que a microbiota isolada pode estar envolvida na suscetibilidade \à pediculose. Em rela\ç\ão \à microbiota bacteriana, no grupo A, Staphylococcus captis foi significativamente diferente (P\<0.01) em rela\ç\ão Sthaphylococcus epidermidis presente no grupo B. Dentre os fungos isolados, foi observado que Debaryomyces sp. foi o fungo mais frequente (15,6\%) no grupo B e (2,5\%) no grupo A (P\<0.01). No grupo B, ocorreu uma maior diversidade em rela\ç\ão ao grupo A. Essa diversidade foi demonstrada pela presen\ça de bact\érias como Staphylococcus hominis (2,1\%), Klebsiella oxytoca (4,2\%), Pseudomonas stutzeri (4,2\%), Acinetobacter nosocomialis (2,1\%), e Bacillus muralis (4,2\%), enquanto que no grupo A, apenas Pseudomonas sp. (5,7\%) e Phychrobacter sp. (2,8\%) foram encontrados. Desta forma, acredita-se que a diversidade da microbiota do couro cabeludo pode interferir na prefer\ência do piolho. Em rela\ç\ão \às an\álises das caracter\ísticas dos fios de cabelo, das 154 crian\ças analisadas, atrav\és da regress\ão log\ística multivariada, O cabelo encaracolado \é aquele que apresenta o maior risco de pediculose, quando comparado com o g\ênero, idade e cabelos longos. O cabelo escuro tamb\ém est\á associado ao risco de pediculose. Acredita-se que que a cor escura facilitaria a camuflagem de piolhos em cabelos escuros. Assim, meninas de cabelo comprido, escuro, encaracolado, escamas estreitas e di\âmetro do fio de cabelo menor apresentaram maior risco para a pediculose. Referente a preval\ência de piolhos, das 658 crian\ças (338 meninas e 320 meninos) analisadas, as meninas estavam mais infestadas (54,1\%) que meninos (36,8\%) (P\> 0,05). No entanto, quando comparado os grupos et\ários, meninos com idades de 2-3 anos estavam mais infestados que as meninas. Palavras-chave: Piolho; cabelo; bact\érias; fungos e preval\ência.

Abstract:Pediculosis, a disease caused by the arthropod Pediculus humanus capitis is considered a public health problem as it affects millions of people around the world. However, school children are the most affected. It is popular knowledge that some individuals are more susceptible to parasitosis than others, but factors inherent to the host that may influence the susceptibility to this disease are not well understood. In this context, the objective of the present study was to isolate and identify the scalp microbiota and to analyze if certain characteristics of hair morphology (scales, type, color, length and diameter) may interfere with predisposition to the disease. For analysis of the scalp microbiota, 10 children with pediculosis (group A) with 10 children without pediculosis (group B) were analyzed. Samples of the scalp microbiota were collected through swabs that were rubbed on the children\&$\#$39;s heads and packed into Stuart transport medium. Isolation of the fungal microbiota was done in Sabouraud Agar (SBA) with tetracycline and bacterial isolation was done on blood agar. Sequencing was done for the 16S and 18S region of the bacterial and fungal ribosomal DNA, respectively. A total of 186 isolates were obtained from group A, from these 35 bacteria and 40 fungi and for group B, 47 bacteria and 64 fungi were isolated. The results suggest that the isolated microbiota may be involved in pediculosis susceptibility. In relation to the bacterial microbiota, in group A, Staphylococcus capitis was significantly different (p \<0.01) in relation to Staphylococcus epidermidis present in group B. Among the isolated fungi, it was observed that Debaryomyces sp. was the most frequent fungus (15.6\%) in group B and (2.5\%) in group A (p \<0.01). In group B occurred in a higher diversity in relation to group A, demonstrated by the presence of bacteria such as Staphylococcus hominis (2.1\%), Klebsiella oxytoca (4.2\%), Pseudomonas stutzeri (4.2\%), Acinetobacter nosocomialis (2.1\%), and Bacillus muralis (4,2\%), while in group A only Pseudomonas sp. (5.7\%) and Phychrobacter sp. (2.8\%) were found. Thus, it is believed that the diversity of the scalp microbiota may interfere with the preference of the lice. Regarding the analyzes of hair characteristics by multivariate logistic regression, of the 154 children analyzed, the curly hair is the one that presents the highest pediculosis risk, even exceeding the gender and age. In this study, it was observed that dark hair is also associated with the risk of pediculosis. It is believed that a higher percentage of dark-colored lice would facilitate the camouflage of dark-colored lice. So, girls with long, dark, curly hair, narrow scales and smaller hair diameter presented greater risk for pediculosis. Regard to the prevalence of lice, of the 658 children (338 girls and 320 boys) analyzed, the girls were more infested (54.1\%) than boys (36.8\%) (P\> 0.05). However, when compared to age groups, boys aged 2-3 years were more infested than girls. Keywords: Head lice; hair; bacterium; fungi and prevalence

}, keywords = {Fungos, Microbiologia, Parasitologia, Pediculose, Piolho}, url = {https://acervodigital.ufpr.br/handle/1884/53147}, author = {Juciliane Haidamak} } @mastersthesis {47200, title = {Biology and control of the head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae) in a semi-aridurban area }, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {1975}, month = {1975}, school = {University of Arizona}, address = {Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A.}, author = {James D. Lang} }