@article {96447, title = {Expression of Concern: Distinguishing Body Lice from Head Lice by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Analysis of the Phum_PHUM540560 Gene}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {17}, year = {2022}, month = {Dec-13-2022}, pages = {e0278004}, type = {Expression of concern}, abstract = {

This article [1] has been identified as one of a series of submissions for which we have concerns about the reported research ethics approval information and the article\’s adherence to PLOS research ethics policies.

PLOS will be investigating these concerns in accordance with COPE guidance and journal policies. Meanwhile, the PLOS ONE Editors issue this Expression of Concern.

1)Drali R, Boutellis A, Raoult D, Rolain JM, Brouqui P (2013) Distinguishing Body Lice from Head Lice by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Analysis of the Phum_PHUM540560 Gene. PLoS ONE 8(2): e58088. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058088 pmid:23469145 see http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058088 or https://phthiraptera.myspecies.info/node/94246

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0278004}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0278004}, author = {PLOS, ONE Editors} } @article {96446, title = {Expression of Concern: Evidence That Head and Body Lice on Homeless Persons Have the Same Genotype}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {17}, year = {2022}, month = {Dec-13-2022}, pages = {e0278000}, type = {Expression of concern}, abstract = {

This article [1] has been identified as one of a series of submissions for which we have concerns about the reported research ethics approval information and the article\’s adherence to PLOS research ethics policies.

PLOS will be investigating these concerns in accordance with COPE guidance and journal policies. Meanwhile, the PLOS ONE Editors issue this Expression of Concern

1)Veracx A, Rivet R, McCoy KD, Brouqui P, Raoult D (2012) Evidence That Head and Body Lice on Homeless Persons Have the Same Genotype. PLoS ONE 7(9): e45903. pmid:23049889 see https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0045903 or https://phthiraptera.myspecies.info/node/94803

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0278000}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0278000}, author = {PLOS, ONE Editors} } @article {96445, title = {Expression of Concern: Evidence for an African Cluster of Human Head and Body Lice with Variable Colors and Interbreeding of Lice between Continents}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {17}, year = {2022}, month = {Dec-13-2022}, pages = {e0277634}, type = {Expression of concern}, abstract = {

This article [1] has been identified as one of a series of submissions for which we have concerns about the reported research ethics approval information and the article\’s adherence to PLOS research ethics policies.

PLOS will be investigating these concerns in accordance with COPE guidance and journal policies. Meanwhile, the PLOS ONE Editors issue this Expression of Concern.

1)Veracx A, Boutellis A, Merhej V, Diatta G, Raoult D (2012) Evidence for an African Cluster of Human Head and Body Lice with Variable Colors and Interbreeding of Lice between Continents. PLoS ONE 7(5): e37804. pmid:22662229 see https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0037804 or https://phthiraptera.myspecies.info/node/96444

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0277634}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0277634}, author = {PLOS, ONE Editors} } @article {96444, title = {Evidence for an African Cluster of Human Head and Body Lice with Variable Colors and Interbreeding of Lice between Continents}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {7}, year = {2012}, month = {May-25-2012}, pages = {7 pp}, type = {Open Access}, abstract = {

Background: Human head lice and body lice have been classified based on phenotypic characteristics, including
geographical source, ecotype (preferred egg laying site hair or clothes), shape and color. More recently, genotypic studies
have been based on mitochondrial genes, nuclear genes and intergenic spacers. Mitochondrial genetic analysis reclassified
lice into three genotypes (A, B and C). However, no previous study has attempted to correlate both genotypic and
phenotypic data.

Materials and Methods: Lice were collected in four African countries: Senegal, Burundi, Rwanda and Ethiopia and were photographed to compare their colors. The Multi-Spacer-Typing (MST) method was used to genotype lice belonging to the worldwide Clade A, allowing a comparison of phenotypic and genotypic data.

Results: No congruence between louse color and genotype has been identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the spacer PM2,
performed including lice from other sources, showed the existence of an African cluster of human lice. However, the analysis
of other spacers suggested that lice from different areas are interbreeding.

Conclusions: We identified two geotypes of Clade A head and body lice including one that is specifically African, that can be either black or grey and can live on the head or in\  clothing. We also hypothesized that lice from different areas are interbreeding

Dec 2022- This article has been identified as one of a series of submissions for which we have concerns about the reported research ethics approval information and the article\’s adherence to PLOS research ethics policies.

PLOS will be investigating these concerns in accordance with COPE guidance and journal policies. Meanwhile, the PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases Editors issue this Expression of Concern. See https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0277634 or https://phthiraptera.myspecies.info/node/96445

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0037804}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0037804}, author = {Veracx, Aur{\'e}lie and BOUTELLIS, A. and Vicky Merhej and Georges Diatta and Didier Raoult} } @article {96431, title = {Nuclear genetic diversity of head lice sheds light on human dispersal around the world}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {18}, year = {2023}, month = {Nov-08-2023}, pages = {30 pp}, abstract = {

The human louse, Pediculus humanus, is an obligate blood-sucking ectoparasite that has coevolved with humans for millennia. Given the intimate relationship between this parasite and the human host, the study of human lice has the potential to shed light on aspects of human evolution that are difficult to interpret using other biological evidence. In this study, we analyzed the genetic variation in 274 human lice from 25 geographic sites around the world by using nuclear microsatellite loci and female-inherited mitochondrial DNA sequences. Nuclear genetic diversity analysis revealed the presence of two distinct genetic clusters I and II, which are subdivided into subclusters: Ia-Ib and IIa-IIb, respectively. Among these samples, we observed the presence of the two most common louse mitochondrial haplogroups: A and B that were found in both nuclear Clusters I and II. Evidence of nuclear admixture was uncommon (12\%) and was predominate in the New World potentially mirroring the history of colonization in the Americas. These findings were supported by novel DIYABC simulations that were built using both host and parasite data to define parameters and models suggesting that admixture between cI and cII was very recent. This pattern could also be the result of a reproductive barrier between these two nuclear genetic clusters. In addition to providing new evolutionary knowledge about this human parasite, our study could guide the development of new analyses in other host-parasite systems.

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0293409}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0293409}, author = {Ascunce, Marina S. and Toloza,Ariel Ceferino and Ang{\'e}lica Gonz{\'a}lez-Oliver and David L. Reed} } @article {96430, title = {Assessing the Effects of Climate on Host-Parasite Interactions: A Comparative Study of European Birds and Their Parasites}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {8}, year = {2013}, month = {Dec-31-2013}, pages = {11 pp}, abstract = {

Background

Climate change potentially has important effects on distribution, abundance, transmission and virulence of parasites in wild populations of animals.

Methodology/Principal Finding

Here we analyzed paired information on 89 parasite populations for 24 species of bird hosts some years ago and again in 2010 with an average interval of 10 years. The parasite taxa included protozoa, feather parasites, diptera, ticks, mites and fleas. We investigated whether change in abundance and prevalence of parasites was related to change in body condition, reproduction and population size of hosts. We conducted analyses based on the entire dataset, but also on a restricted dataset with intervals between study years being 5\–15 years. Parasite abundance increased over time when restricting the analyses to datasets with an interval of 5\–15 years, with no significant effect of changes in temperature at the time of breeding among study sites. Changes in host body condition and clutch size were related to change in temperature between first and second study year. In addition, changes in clutch size, brood size and body condition of hosts were correlated with change in abundance of parasites. Finally, changes in population size of hosts were not significantly related to changes in abundance of parasites or their prevalence.

Conclusions/Significance

Climate change is associated with a general increase in parasite abundance. Variation in laying date depended on locality and was associated with latitude while body condition of hosts was associated with a change in temperature. Because clutch size, brood size and body condition were associated with change in parasitism, these results suggest that parasites, perhaps mediated through the indirect effects of temperature, may affect fecundity and condition of their hosts. The conclusions were particularly in accordance with predictions when the restricted dataset with intervals of 5\–15 years was used, suggesting that short intervals may bias findings

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0082886}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0082886}, author = {Anders Pape M{\o}ller and Merino,S. and Juan Jos{\'e} Soler and Anton Antonov and Elisa P. Bad{\'a}s and Miguel A. Calero-Torralbo and de Lope, Florentino and Tapio Eeva and Figuerola, Jordi and Einar Flensted-Jensen and Garamszegi,Z. and Sonia Gonz{\'a}lez-Braojos and Gwinner,H. and Sveinn Are Hanssen and Dieter Heylen and Petteri Ilmonen and Kurt Klarborg and Erkki Korpim{\"a}ki and Francisco Javier Mart{\'\i}nez and Mart{\'\i}nez-de la Puente, Josue and Alfonso Marzal and Erik Matthysen and Piotr Matyjasiak and Mercedes Molina-Morales and Juan Moreno and Timothy A. Mousseau and Jan T{\o}ttrup Nielsen and Pap,P{\'e}ter L{\'a}szl{\'o} and Rivero-de Aguilar, Juan and Peter Shurulinkov and Tore Slagsvold and Sz{\'e}p,Tibor and Eszter Sz{\"o}ll{\H o}si and Janos T{\"o}r{\"o}k and Radovan Vaclav and Valera,Francisco and Nadia Ziane} } @article {96256, title = {Epistaxis and thrombocytopenia as major presentations of louse borne relapsing fever: Hospital-based study}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {17}, year = {2022}, month = {Dec-30-2022}, pages = {10 pp}, type = {Open Access - Review}, abstract = {

Background Louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) remains a cause of sporadic illness and occasional outbreaks in Ethiopia and other east African countries in overcrowded and unhygienic settings. In this article, we present clinical profiles and treatment outcome of patients treated as confirmed or probable cases of LBRF at Jimma Medical Center (JMC) in southwest Ethiopia.

Methods Patients treated as confirmed or probable cases of LBRF at JMC during a period of May\–July 2022 were prospectively followed during their course of hospital stay. All patients were evaluated with blood film for hemoparasites, complete blood count, and liver enzymes on hospital presentation. They were followed with daily clinical evaluation during their hospital stay.

Result Thirty-six patients were treated as cases of LBRF. All patients except one were from Jimma Main Prison in Jimma Town, Ethiopia. All the patients were male with mean age of 28.7 years (SD = 12.7). The diagnosis of LBRF was confirmed by detection of B. recurrentis in blood film of 14 (38.9\%) of the patients; the rest were treated as presumptive case of LBRF. Fever, reported by all patients, and an acute onset epistaxis, 30 (83.3\%), were the major reasons for healthcare visits. Twenty-two (61.1\%) patients were having thrombocytopenia with a platelet count \< 150,000/\μL; nine (25\%) of which had severe forms (\<50,000/\μL). All patients were treated with oral doxycycline and discharged with improvement after a mean length of hospital stay of 4.25 days (SD = 0.77), range 2\–6 days. Public health emergency was activated within two days of the first cases and helped in delousing all the cases and their contacts.

Conclusion LBRF remains a public health problem in Ethiopia in settings with poor personal hygiene. Patients with LBRF may present with severe thrombocytopenia and life-threatening bleeding. Early detection and treatment initiation prevents outbreak propagation and improves treatment outcome.

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0279721}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0279721}, author = {Eyob Girma Abera and Kedir Negesso Tukeni and Gelaw Hailemariam Didu and Temesgen Kabeta Chala and Daniel Yilma and Esayas Kebede Gudina}, editor = {Brian Stevenson} } @article {96177, title = {Mitochondrial genome of Geomydoecus aurei, a pocket-gopher louse}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {16}, year = {2021}, month = {Jul-27-2021}, pages = {13 pp}, type = {Open Access - Research article}, abstract = {

Parasitic lice demonstrate an unusual array of mitochondrial genome architectures and gene arrangements. We characterized the mitochondrial genome of Geomydoecus aurei, a chewing louse (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae) found on pocket gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) using reads from both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing coupled with PCR, cloning, and Sanger sequencing to verify structure and arrangement for each chromosome. The genome consisted of 12 circular mitochondrial chromosomes ranging in size from 1,318 to 2,088 nucleotides (nt). Total genome size was 19,015 nt. All 37 genes typical of metazoans (2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 13 protein-coding genes) were present. An average of 26\% of each chromosome was composed of non-gene sequences. Within the non-gene region of each chromosome, there was a 79-nt nucleotide sequence that was identical among chromosomes and a conserved sequence with secondary structure that was always followed by a poly-T region. We hypothesize that these regions may be important in the initiation of transcription and DNA replication, respectively. The G. aurei genome shares 8 derived gene clusters with other chewing lice of mammals, but in G. aurei, genes on several chromosomes are not contiguous.

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0254138}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0254138}, author = {Theresa A. Spradling and Alexandra C. Place and Ashley L. Campbell and James W. Demastes} } @article {96145, title = {Molecular analysis of mitochrondrial cytb of Pediculus humanus capitis in Thailand revealed potential historical connection with South Asia}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {16}, year = {2021}, month = {Sep-07-2021}, pages = {19 pp}, type = {Open Access}, abstract = {

Background Pediculus humanus capitis or head louse is an obligate ectoparasite and its infestation remains a major public health issue worldwide. Molecular analysis divides head lice into six clades and intra-clade genetic differences have been identified. Several hypotheses have been formulated to elucidate the discrepancies of the variety of head lice among different regions of the world. It is currently concluded that head lice distribution might be associated with human migration history. This study aims to investigate genetic data of human head lice in Thailand. We believe that the analysis could help establish the correlation between local and global head lice populations.

Method We investigated mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene of the collected 214 head lice to evaluate genetic diversity from 15 provinces among 6 regions of Thailand. The head lice genes were added to the global pool for the phylogenetic tree, Bayesian tree, Skyline plot, and median joining network construction. The biodiversity, neutrality tests, and population genetic differentiation among the 6 Thailand geographic regions were analyzed by DNAsp version 6.

Results The phylogenetic tree analysis of 214 collected head lice are of clade A and clade C accounting for roughly 65\% and 35\% respectively. The Bayesian tree revealed a correlation of clade diversification and ancient human dispersal timeline. In Thailand, clade A is widespread in the country. Clade C is confined to only the Central, Southern, and Northeastern regions. We identified 50 novel haplotypes. Statistical analysis showed congruent results between genetic differentiation and population migration especially with South Asia.

Conclusions Pediculosis remains problematic among children in the rural areas in Thailand. Cytb gene analysis of human head lice illustrated clade distribution and intra-clade diversity of different areas. Our study reported novel haplotypes of head lice in Thailand. Moreover, the statistic calculation provided a better understanding of their relationship with human, as an obligate human parasite and might help provide a better insight into the history of human population migration. Determination of the correlation between phylogenetic data and pediculicide resistance gene as well as residing bacteria are of interest for future studies.

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0257024}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0257024}, author = {Kobpat Phadungsaksawasdi and Sakone Sunantaraporn and Nirin Seatamanoch and Switt Kongdachalert and Atchara Phumee and Kanyarat Kraivichian and Vorthon Sawaswong and Sunchai Payungporn and Narisa Brownell and Padet Siriyasatien} } @article {95762, title = {The Distribution and Diversity of Bartonella Species in Rodents and Their Ectoparasites across Thailand}, journal = {PLoS ONE }, volume = {10}, year = {2015}, month = {Oct-20-2015}, pages = {16 pp}, abstract = {

Our study highlights the surveillance of Bartonella species among rodents and their associated ectoparasites (ticks, fleas, lice, and mites) in several regions across Thailand. A total of 619 rodents and 554 pooled ectoparasites (287 mite pools, 62 flea pools, 35 louse pools, and 170 tick pools) were collected from 8 provinces within 4 regions of Thailand. Bandicota indica (279), Rattus rattus (163), and R. exulans (96) were the most prevalent species of rats collected in this study. Real-time PCR assay targeting Bartonella-specific ssrA gene was used for screening and each positive sample was confirmed by PCR using nuoG gene. The prevalence of Bartonella DNA in rodent (around 17\%) was recorded in all regions. The highest prevalence of Bartonella species was found in B. savilei and R. rattus with the rate of 35.7\% (5/14) and 32.5\% (53/163), respectively. High prevalence of Bartonella-positive rodent was also found in B. indica (15.1\%, 42/279), and R. norvegicus (12.5\%, 5/40). In contrast, the prevalence of Bartonella species in ectoparasites collected from the rats varied significantly according to types of ectoparasites. A high prevalence of Bartonella DNA was found in louse pools (Polyplax spp. and Hoplopleura spp., 57.1\%) and flea pools (Xenopsylla cheopis, 25.8\%), while a low prevalence was found in pools of mites (Leptotrombidium spp. and Ascoschoengastia spp., 1.7\%) and ticks (Haemaphysalis spp., 3.5\%). Prevalence of Bartonella DNA in ectoparasites collected from Bartonella-positive rodents (19.4\%) was significantly higher comparing to ectoparasites from Bartonella-negative rodents (8.7\%). The phylogenetic analysis of 41 gltA sequences of 16 Bartonella isolates from rodent blood and 25 Bartonella-positive ectoparasites revealed a wide range of diversity among Bartonella species with a majority of sequences (61.0\%) belonging to Bartonella elizabethae complex (11 rodents, 1 mite pool, and 5 louse pools), while the remaining sequences were identical to B. phoceensis (17.1\%, 1 mite pool, 5 louse pools, and 1 tick pool), B. coopersplainensis (19.5\%, 5 rodents, 1 louse pool, and 2 tick pools), and one previously unidentified Bartonella species (2.4\%, 1 louse pool).

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0140856}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140856}, author = {Kewalin Klangthong and Sommai Promsathaporn and Surachai Leepitakrat and Anthony L. Schuster and Patrick W. McCardle and Michael Kosoy and Ratree Takhampunya} } @article {95370, title = {Impacts of Parasites in Early Life: Contrasting Effects on Juvenile Growth for Different Family Members}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {7}, year = {2012}, month = {02-2012}, pages = {8 pp}, type = { e32236 Open Access}, abstract = {

Parasitism experienced early in ontogeny can have a major impact on host growth, development and future fitness, but whether siblings are affected equally by parasitism is poorly understood. In birds, hatching asynchrony induced by hormonal or behavioural mechanisms largely under parental control might predispose young to respond to infection in different ways. Here we show that parasites can have different consequences for offspring depending on their position in the family hierarchy. We experimentally treated European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristoteli) nestlings with the broad-spectrum anti-parasite drug ivermectin and compared their growth rates with nestlings from control broods. Average growth rates measured over the period of linear growth (10 days to 30 days of age) and survival did not differ for nestlings from treated and control broods. However, when considering individuals within broods, parasite treatment reversed the patterns of growth for individual family members: last-hatched nestlings grew significantly slower than their siblings in control nests but grew faster in treated nests. This was at the expense of their earlier-hatched brood-mates, who showed an overall growth rate reduction relative to last-hatched nestlings in treated nests. These results highlight the importance of exploring individual variation in the costs of infection and suggest that parasites could be a key factor modulating within-family dynamics, sibling competition and developmental trajectories from an early age.

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0032236}, url = {https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032236}, author = {Thomas E. Reed and Francis Daunt and Adam J. Kiploks and Sarah J. Burthe and Hanna M. V. Granroth-Wilding and Emi A. Takahashi and Mark Newell and Sarah Wanless and Emma J. A. Cunningham} } @article {95284, title = {Correction 2: Efficacy of Peer Education for Adopting Preventive Behaviors against Head Lice Infestation in Female Elementary School Students: A Randomised Controlled Trial}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {14}, year = {2019}, month = {02-2019}, pages = {e0212625}, abstract = {

There is some overlap between work reported in this article [1] and a previous publication by the same research group [2] that is not cited or discussed in the PLOS ONE article. The Journal of Health and Development article [2] presents the development and validation of the questionnaire which involved a cross-sectional approach, and the PLOS ONE article [1] reports a randomized interventional study that used this tool. While the overall aims of the articles differ, the development and validation of the questionnaire are reported in both articles. Compared to the earlier article, the PLOS ONE article provides additional validation information including the following: detailed question items, scoring protocols, and an explanation of the interpretation method.

Both articles report use of the same study sites, sampling method, and number of participants in describing validation and intervention aspects of this work. The authors confirm that they used an independent cohort of participants for questionnaire development and validation [1,2]; the participants for these phases of the work resided in the same city but were at different schools. However, the study reported in PLOS ONE uses the same participants as the earlier study reported previously.

The authors apologize for not citing the earlier article in the PLOS ONE publication.

This is a correction for article: Efficacy of Peer Education for Adopting Preventive Behaviors against Head Lice Infestation in Female Elementary School Students: A Randomised Controlled Trial, http://phthiraptera.info/node/94484

}, doi = { https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212625}, url = {https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212625}, author = {Mahdi Moshki and Fereshteh Zamani-Alavijeh and Mehdi Mojadam} } @article {95283, title = {Correction 1: Efficacy of Peer Education for Adopting Preventive Behaviors against Head Lice Infestation in Female Elementary School Students: A Randomised Controlled Trial}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {12}, year = {2017}, month = {09-2017}, pages = {e0185299}, abstract = {

There is an error in affiliation 3 for the author Mehdi Mojadam. Affiliation 3 should be: Public Health Department, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

This is the corrcetion to Journal article: Efficacy of Peer Education for Adopting Preventive Behaviors against Head Lice Infestation in Female Elementary School Students: A Randomised Controlled Trial

http://phthiraptera.info/node/94484

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0185299}, url = {https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185299}, author = {Mahdi Moshki and Fereshteh Zamani-Alavijeh and Mehdi Mojadam} } @article {95184, title = {Molecular Detection of Acinetobacter Species in Lice and Keds of Domestic Animals in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {7}, year = {2012}, month = {12-2012}, pages = {10 pp}, type = {e52377 Open Access}, abstract = {

This study was conducted to determine the presence of Acinetobacter and Rickettsia species DNA in lice and Melophagus ovinus (sheep ked) of animals from Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia. From September through November 2011, a total of 207 cattle, 85 sheep, 47 dogs and 16 cats were examined for ectoparasites. Results of morphological identification revealed several species of ectoparasites: Linognathus vituli (L. vituli), Bovicola bovis (B. bovis) and Solenopotes capillatus (S. capillatus) on cattle; B. ovis and Melophagus ovinus (M. ovinus) on sheep; and Heterodoxus spiniger (H. spiniger) on dogs. There was a significantly (p\≤0.0001) higher prevalence of L. vituli observed in cattle than both S. capillatus and B. bovis. Molecular identification of lice using an 18S rRNA gene analysis confirms the identified lice species by morphological methods. We detected different Acinetobacter species among lice (11.1\%) and keds (86.4\%) including A. soli in L. vituli of cattle, A. lowffii in M. ovinus of sheep, A. pittii in H. spiniger of dogs, 1 new Acinetobacter spp. in M. ovinus and 2 new Acinetobacter spp. in H. spiniger of dogs using partial rpoB gene sequence analysis. There was a significantly higher prevalence of Acinetobacter spp. in keds than in lice (p\≤0.00001). Higher percentage of Acinetobacter spp. DNA was detected in H. spiniger than in both B. ovis and L. vituli (p\≤0.00001). Carbapenemase resistance encoding genes for blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-58, blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-51 were not found in any lice and keds. These findings suggest that synanthropic animals and their ectoparasites might increase the risk of human exposure to zoonotic pathogens and could be a source for Acinetobacter spp. infections in humans. However, additional epidemiological data are required to determine whether ectoparasites of animals can act as environmental reservoirs and play a role in spreading these bacteria to both animal and human hosts.

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052377}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0052377}, author = {Bersissa Kumsa and Cristina Socolovschi and Parola,Phillipe and Jean-Marc Rolain and Didier Raoult} } @article {95144, title = {Nestedness of Ectoparasite-Vertebrate Host Networks}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {4}, year = {2009}, month = {11-2009}, pages = {8 pp}, type = {e7873 Open Access}, abstract = {

Determining the structure of ectoparasite-host networks will enable disease ecologists to better understand and predict the spread of vector-borne diseases. If these networks have consistent properties, then studying the structure of well-understood networks could lead to extrapolation of these properties to others, including those that support emerging pathogens. Borrowing a quantitative measure of network structure from studies of mutualistic relationships between plants and their pollinators, we analyzed 29 ectoparasite-vertebrate host networks\—including three derived from molecular bloodmeal analysis of mosquito feeding patterns\—using measures of nestedness to identify non-random interactions among species. We found significant nestedness in ectoparasite-vertebrate host lists for habitats ranging from tropical rainforests to polar environments. These networks showed non-random patterns of nesting, and did not differ significantly from published estimates of nestedness from mutualistic networks. Mutualistic and antagonistic networks appear to be organized similarly, with generalized ectoparasites interacting with hosts that attract many ectoparasites and more specialized ectoparasites usually interacting with these same \“generalized\” hosts. This finding has implications for understanding the network dynamics of vector-born pathogens. We suggest that nestedness (rather than random ectoparasite-host associations) can allow rapid transfer of pathogens throughout a network, and expand upon such concepts as the dilution effect, bridge vectors, and host switching in the context of nested ectoparasite-vertebrate host networks.

}, doi = { https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0007873}, url = {https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0007873}, author = {Sean P. Graham and Hassan K. Hassan and Nathan D. Burkett-Cadena and Craig Guyer and Thomas R. Unnasch} } @article {94909, title = {Trophic Structure in a Seabird Host-Parasite Food Web: Insights from Stable Isotope Analyses}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {5}, year = {2010}, month = {Apr-05-2010}, pages = {7pp}, type = {Open access e10454}, abstract = {

Ecological\  studies\  on\  food\  webs\  rarely\  include\  parasites,\  partly\  due\  to\  the\  complexity\  and\  dimensionality\  of\  host-parasiteinteraction\  networks.\  Multiple\  co-occurring\  parasites\  can\  show\  different\  feeding\  strategies\  and\  thus\  lead\  to\  complex\  andcryptic\  trophic\  relationships,\  which\  are\  often\  difficult\  to\  disentangle\  by\  traditional\  methods.\  We\  analyzed\  stable\  isotoperatios\  of\  C\  (13C/12C,d13C)\  and\  N\  (15N/14N,d15N)\  of\  host\  and\  ectoparasite\  tissues\  to\  investigate\  trophic\  structure\  in\  4\  co-occurring\  ectoparasites:\  three\  lice\  and\  one\  flea\  species,\  on\  two\  closely\  related\  and\  spatially\  segregated\  seabird\  hosts(Calonectrisshearwaters).d13C\  isotopic\  signatures\  confirmed\  feathers\  as\  the\  main\  food\  resource\  for\  the\  three\  lice\  speciesand blood for the flea species. All ectoparasite species showed a significant enrichment ind15N relatively to the host tissueconsumed\  (discrimination\  factors\  ranged\  from\  2\  to\  5\%depending\  on\  the\  species).\  Isotopic\  differences\  were\  consistentacross\  multiple\  host-ectoparasite\  locations,\  despite\  of\  some\  geographic\  variability\  in\  baseline\  isotopic\  levels. Our\  findingsillustrate\ \  the\ \  influence\ \  of\ \  both\ \  ectoparasite\ \  and\ \  host\ \  trophic\ \  ecology\ \  in\ \  the\ \  isotopic\ \  structuring\ \  of\ \  theCalonectrisectoparasite\  community.\  This\  study\  highlights\  the\  potential\  of\  stable\  isotope\  analyses\  in\  disentangling\  the\  nature\  andcomplexity\  of\  trophic\  relationships\  in\  symbiotic\  systems.

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0010454}, url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010454}, author = {G{\'o}mez-D{\'\i}az,Elena and Gonz{\'a}lez-Sol{\'\i}s,J.} } @article {94807, title = {Evidence of Sympatry of Clade A and Clade B Head Lice in a Pre-Columbian Chilean Mummy from Camarones}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {8}, year = {2013}, month = {10-2015}, pages = {e76818}, type = {Open Access}, abstract = {

Three different lineages of head lice are known to parasitize humans. Clade A, which is currently worldwide in distribution, was previously demonstrated to be present in the Americas before the time of Columbus. The two other types of head lice are geographically restricted to America and Australia for clade B and to Africa and Asia for clade C. In this study, we tested two operculated nits from a 4,000-year-old Chilean mummy of Camarones for the presence of the partial Cytb mitochondrial gene (270 bp). Our finding shows that clade B head lice were present in America before the arrival of the European colonists.

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0076818}, url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076818}, author = {BOUTELLIS, A. and Rezak Drali and Rivera,Mario A. and Kosta Y. Mumcuoglu and Didier Raoult} } @article {94804, title = {Nuclear Genetic Diversity in Human Lice (Pediculus humanus) Reveals Continental Differences and High Inbreeding among Worldwide Populations}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {8}, year = {2013}, month = {02-2015}, pages = {e57619}, type = {Open Access}, abstract = {

Understanding the evolution of parasites is important to both basic and applied evolutionary biology. Knowledge of the genetic structure of parasite populations is critical for our ability to predict how an infection can spread through a host population and for the design of effective control methods. However, very little is known about the genetic structure of most human parasites, including the human louse (Pediculus humanus). This species is composed of two ecotypes: the head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer), and the clothing (body) louse (Pediculus humanus humanus Linnaeus). Hundreds of millions of head louse infestations affect children every year, and this number is on the rise, in part because of increased resistance to insecticides. Clothing lice affect mostly homeless and refugee-camp populations and although they are less prevalent than head lice, the medical consequences are more severe because they vector deadly bacterial pathogens. In this study we present the first assessment of the genetic structure of human louse populations by analyzing the nuclear genetic variation at 15 newly developed microsatellite loci in 93 human lice from 11 sites in four world regions. Both ecotypes showed heterozygote deficits relative to Hardy\–Weinberg equilibrium and high inbreeding values, an expected pattern given their parasitic life history. Bayesian clustering analyses assigned lice to four distinct genetic clusters that were geographically structured. The low levels of gene flow among louse populations suggested that the evolution of insecticide resistance in lice would most likely be affected by local selection pressures, underscoring the importance of tailoring control strategies to population-specific genetic makeup and evolutionary history. Our panel of microsatellite markers provides powerful data to investigate not only ecological and evolutionary processes in lice, but also those in their human hosts because of the long-term coevolutionary association between lice and humans.

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0057619}, url = {https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057619}, author = {Ascunce, Marina S. and Toups,M. A. and G. Kassu and J. Fane and Scholl, Katlyn and David L. Reed} } @article {94803, title = {Evidence That Head and Body Lice on Homeless Persons Have the Same Genotype}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {7}, year = {2012}, month = {09-2014}, pages = {e45903}, type = {Open Access}, abstract = {

Human head lice and body lice are morphologically and biologically similar but have distinct ecologies. They were shown to have almost the same basic genetic content (one gene is absent in head lice), but differentially express certain genes, presumably responsible for the vector competence. They are now believed to be ecotypes of the same species (Pediculus humanus) and based on mitochondrial studies, body lice have been included with head lice in one of three clades of human head lice (Clade A). Here, we tested whether head and body lice collected from the same host belong to the same population by examining highly polymorphic intergenic spacers. This study was performed on lice collected from five homeless persons living in the same shelter in which Clade A lice are prevalent. Lice were individually genotyped at four spacer loci. The genetic identity and diversity of lice from head and body populations were compared for each homeless person. Population genetic structure was tested between lice from the two body regions and between the lice from different host individuals.

We found two pairs of head and body lice on the same homeless person with identical multi locus genotypes. No difference in genetic diversity was found between head and body louse populations and no evidence of significant structure between the louse populations was found, even after controlling for a possible effect of the host individual. More surprisingly, no structure was obvious between lice of different homeless persons.

We believe that the head and body lice collected from our five subjects belong to the same population and are shared between people living in the same shelter. These findings confirm that head and body lice are two ecotypes of the same species and show the importance of implementing measures to prevent lice transmission between homeless people in shelters.

Dec 2022- This article has been identified as one of a series of submissions for which we have concerns about the reported research ethics approval information and the article\’s adherence to PLOS research ethics policies.

PLOS will be investigating these concerns in accordance with COPE guidance and journal policies. Meanwhile, the PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases Editors issue this Expression of Concern\  see https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0278000 or https://phthiraptera.myspecies.info/node/96446

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0045903}, url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0045903}, author = {Veracx, Aur{\'e}lie and Romain Rivet and McCoy,K. D. and Brouqui,Philippe and Didier Raoult} } @article {94645, title = {Effect of a health education program on reduction of pediculosis in school girls at Amphoe Muang, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {13}, year = {2018}, month = {06-2018}, pages = {e0198599}, abstract = {

Background:\ Pediculosis caused by head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) infestation is still an important health problem in schoolchildren, especially girls, worldwide, including in Thailand. Although pediculicidal agents effectively kill head lice, the re-infestation rate is still high. Thus, prevention is an important strategy for any sustainable control program. We aimed to develop and evaluate the efficacy of a health education program for increasing knowledge, changing attitudes and promoting preventive practices to reduce prevalence of pediculosis among school girls in Amphoe Muang, Khon Kaen, northeastern Thailand.

Methodology:\ Six schools were selected using multistage simple randomization and were allocated into intervention or control groups. A total of 267 girls was enrolled from these schools. A \“knowledge, attitude and practice\” (KAP) questionnaire, consent forms and health education materials were constructed and tested by experts and in one pilot school before the main investigation. Baseline prevalence of adult lice and nits was determined. The health education package was given only to the intervention group. The KAP questionnaire was re-evaluated at two months after intervention.

Results:\ At baseline, the prevalence and intensity of head lice infestation, and the KAP scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. After re-evaluation at two months, the KAP score was significantly greater in the intervention group. A significant decrease of the infestation rate from 59\% to 44\% was observed in the intervention group, whereas infestation increased in the control group (from 56\% to 65\%). The incidence of new cases in the intervention group (6.14\%) was lower than in the control group (12.62\%).

Conclusion:\ These findings indicated that the newly-established health education package is an effective tool for increasing KAP and reducing head lice infestation in school girls. Efforts to combat pediculosis in schoolchildren elsewhere may consider including this, or a similar, health education package in their programs.

}, keywords = {head lice, Pediculosis, Thailand}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0198599}, url = {https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198599}, author = {Manachai Yingklang and Chatchawan Sengthong and Ornuma Haonon and Rungtiwa Dangtakot and Porntip Pinlaor and Chulaporn Sota and Somchai Pinlaor}, editor = {David Joseph Diemert} } @article {94484, title = {Efficacy of Peer Education for Adopting Preventive Behaviors against Head Lice Infestation in Female Elementary School Students: A Randomised Controlled Trial}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {12}, year = {2017}, month = {Oct-01-2017}, pages = {e0169361}, abstract = {

Background
Pediculosis is a common parasitic infestation in students worldwide, including Iran. This condition is more prevalent in populous and deprived communities with poor personal hygiene. This study sought to assess the efficacy of peer education for adopting preventive behaviors against pediculosis in female elementary school students based on the Health Belief Model (HBM).
Methods
A total of 179 female fifth grade students were selected using multistage random sampling and were randomly allocated to control and intervention groups. A standard questionnaire was designed and administered to collect baseline information. An educational intervention was then designed based on the conducted needs assessment. The educational program consisted of three sessions, held by peers for the intervention group. The questionnaire was re-administered one month after the intervention. Independent and paired t-test, Pearson\’s correlation coefficient, and regression analysis were applied as appropriate.
Results
The two groups had no significant differences in the scores of knowledge, HBM constructs, or behavior before the intervention. After the intervention, however, the mean scores of all parameters significantly improved in the intervention group.
Conclusion
Peer education based on HBM is an effective strategy to promote preventive behaviors against pediculosis in among fifth grade female elementary school students in Iran.

First Correction (2017): Correction 1: Efficacy of Peer Education for Adopting Preventive Behaviors against Head Lice Infestation in Female Elementary School Students: A Randomised Controlled Trial, http://phthiraptera.info/node/95283

Second Correction (2019): Correction 2: Efficacy of Peer Education for Adopting Preventive Behaviors against Head Lice Infestation in Female Elementary School Students: A Randomised Controlled Trial, http://phthiraptera.info/node/95284

}, keywords = {head lice, Health Belief Model, Pediculosis}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0169361}, url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169361}, author = {Mahdi Moshki and Fereshteh Zamani-Alavijeh and Mehdi Mojadam}, editor = {van Wouwe, Jacobus P.} } @article {94420, title = {Detection of bacterial pathogens including potential new species in human head lice from Mali}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {12}, year = {2017}, month = {Aug-09-2018}, pages = {e0184621}, abstract = {

In poor African countries, where no medical and biological facilities are available, the identifi- cation of potential emerging pathogens of concern at an early stage is challenging. Head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, have a short life, feed only on human blood and do not transmit pathogens to their progeny. They are, therefore, a perfect tool for the xenodiagno- sis of current or recent human infection. This study assessed the occurrence of bacterial pathogens from head lice collected in two rural villages from Mali, where a high frequency of head lice infestation had previously been reported, using molecular methods. Results show that all 600 head lice, collected from 117 individuals, belonged to clade E, specific to West Africa. Bartonella quintana, the causative agent of trench fever, was identified in three of the 600 (0.5\%) head lice studied. Our study also shows, for the first time, the presence of the DNA of two pathogenic bacteria, namely Coxiella burnetii (5.1\%) and Rickettsia aeschliman- nii (0.6\%), detected in human head lice, as well as the DNA of potential new species from the Anaplasma and Ehrlichia genera of unknown pathogenicity. The finding of several Malian head lice infected with B. quintana, C. burnetii, R. aeschlimannii, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia is alarming and highlights the need for active survey programs to define the public health consequences of the detection of these emerging bacterial pathogens in human head lice.

}, keywords = {bacterial pathogens, head lice, Mali}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184621}, url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184621}, author = {Nadia Amanzougaghene and Florence Fenollar and Abdoul Karim Sangar{\'e} and Mahamadou S. Sissoko and Ogobara K. Doumbo and Didier Raoult and Oleg Mediannikov}, editor = {Feng Gao} } @article {94403, title = {Host-Parasite Interactions and Population Dynamics of Rock Ptarmigan}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {11}, year = {2016}, month = {Sep-11-2017}, pages = {e0165293}, abstract = {

Populations of rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in Iceland fluctuate in multiannual cycles with peak numbers c. every 10 years. We studied the ptarmigan-parasite community and how parasites relate to ptarmigan age, body condition, and population density. We collected 632 ptarmigan in northeast Iceland in early October from 2006 to 2012; 630 (99.7\%) were infected with at least one parasite species, 616 (98\%) with ectoparasites, and 536 (85\%) with endoparasites. We analysed indices for the combined parasite community (16 species) and known pathogenic parasites, two coccidian protozoans Eimeria muta and Eimeria rjupa, two nematodes Capillaria caudinflata and Trichostrongylus tenuis, one chewing louse Amyrsidea lagopi, and one skin mite Metamicrolichus islandicus. Juveniles overall had more ectoparasites than adults, but endoparasite levels were similar in both groups. Ptarmi- gan population density was associated with endoparasites, and in particular prevalence of the coccidian parasite Eimeria muta. Annual aggregation level of this eimerid fluctuated inversely with prevalence, with lows at prevalence peak and vice versa. Both prevalence and aggregation of E. muta tracked ptarmigan population density with a 1.5 year time lag. The time lag could be explained by the host specificity of this eimerid, host density depen- dent shedding of oocysts, and their persistence in the environment from one year to the next. Ptarmigan body condition was negatively associated with E. muta prevalence, an indi- cation of their pathogenicity, and this eimerid was also positively associated with ptarmigan mortality and marginally inversely with fecundity. There were also significant associations between fecundity and chewing louse Amyrsidea lagopi prevalence (negative), excess juve- nile mortality and nematode Capillaria caudinflata prevalence (positive), and adult mortality and skin mite Metamicrolichus islandicus prevalence (negative). Though this study is corre- lational, it provides strong evidence that E. muta through time-lag in prevalence with respect to host population size and by showing significant relations with host body condition, mortal- ity, and fecundity could destabilize ptarmigan population dynamics in Iceland.

}, keywords = {ectoparasite, Host-parasite interaction, Rock Ptarmigan}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0165293}, url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0165293}, author = {Stenkewitz, Ute and {\'O}lafur K. Nielsen and Karl Sk{\'\i}rnisson and Stef{\'a}nsson, Gunnar}, editor = {Mark S. Boyce} } @article {94334, title = {High Ancient Genetic Diversity of Human Lice, Pediculus humanus, from Israel Reveals New Insights into the Origin of Clade B Lice}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {11}, year = {2016}, month = {Feb-10-2017}, pages = {14 pp}, abstract = {

The human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, is subdivided into several significantly divergent mitochondrial haplogroups, each with particular geographical distributions. His- torically, they are among the oldest human parasites, representing an excellent marker for tracking older events in human evolutionary history. In this study, ancient DNA analysis using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), combined with conventional PCR, was applied to the remains of twenty-four ancient head lice and their eggs from the Roman period which were recovered from Israel. The lice and eggs were found in three combs, one of which was recovered from archaeological excavations in the Hatzeva area of the Judean desert, and two of which found in Moa, in the Arava region, close to the Dead Sea. Results show that the head lice remains dating approximately to 2,000 years old have a cytb hap- logroup A, which is worldwide in distribution, and haplogroup B, which has thus far only been found in contemporary lice from America, Europe, Australia and, most recently, Africa. More specifically, this haplogroup B has a B36 haplotype, the most common among B haplogroups, and has been present in America for at least 4,000 years. The present find- ings confirm that clade B lice existed, at least in the Middle East, prior to contacts between Native Americans and Europeans. These results support a Middle Eastern origin for clade B followed by its introduction into the New World with the early peoples. Lastly, the pres- ence of Acinetobacter baumannii DNA was demonstrated by qPCR and sequencing in four head lice remains belonging to clade A.

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0164659}, url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164659}, author = {Nadia Amanzougaghene and Kosta Y. Mumcuoglu and Florence Fenollar and Shir Alfi and Gonca Yesilyurt and Didier Raoult and Oleg Mediannikov}, editor = {Feng Gao} } @article {94262, title = {The Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I Gene Occurs on a Minichromosome with Extensive Heteroplasmy in Two Species of Chewing Lice, Geomydoecus aurei and Thomomydoecus minor}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {11}, year = {2016}, month = {Feb-09-2016}, pages = {e0162248}, abstract = {

In animals, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) typically occurs as a single circular chromosome with 13 protein-coding genes and 22 tRNA genes. The various species of lice examined previously, however, have shown mitochondrial genome rearrangements with a range

of chromosome sizes and numbers. Our research demonstrates that the mitochondrial genomes of two species of chewing lice found on pocket gophers, Geomydoecus aurei and Thomomydoecus minor, are fragmented with the 1,536 base-pair (bp) cytochrome-oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene occurring as the only protein-coding gene on a 1,916\–1,964 bp mini- circular chromosome in the two species, respectively. The cox1 gene of T. minor begins with an atypical start codon, while that of G. aurei does not. Components of the non-protein coding sequence of G. aurei and T. minor include a tRNA (isoleucine) gene, inverted repeat sequences consistent with origins of replication, and an additional non-coding region that is smaller than the non-coding sequence of other lice with such fragmented mitochondrial genomes. Sequences of cox1 minichromosome clones for each species reveal extensive length and sequence heteroplasmy in both coding and noncoding regions. The highly vari- able non-gene regions of G. aurei and T. minor have little sequence similarity with one another except for a 19-bp region of phylogenetically conserved sequence with unknown function.

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0162248}, url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162248}, author = {Pietan, Lucas L. and Theresa A. Spradling and James W. Demastes}, editor = {Renfu Shao} } @article {94246, title = {Distinguishing Body Lice from Head Lice by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Analysis of the Phum_PHUM540560 Gene}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {8}, year = {2013}, month = {Apr-02-2015}, pages = {e58088}, abstract = {

Abstract
Background: Body louse or head louse? Once removed from their environment, body and head lice are indistinguishable. Neither the morphological criteria used since the mid-18th century nor the various genetic studies conducted since the advent of molecular biology tools have allowed body lice and head lice to be differentiated. In this work, using a portion of the Phum_PHUM540560 gene from the body louse, we aimed to develop a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to differentiate between body and head lice in a single reaction.


Materials and Methods: A total of 142 human lice were collected from mono-infested hosts from 13 countries on five continents. We first identified the louse clade using a cytochrome b (CYTB) PCR sequence alignment. We then aligned a fragment of the Phum_PHUM540560 gene amplified from head and body lice to design-specific TaqMan\ß FAM- and VIC- labeled probes.


Results: All the analyzed lice were Clade A lice. A total of 22 polymorphisms between the body and head lice were characterized. The multiplex real-time PCR analysis enabled the body and head lice to be distinguished in two hours. This method is simple, with 100\% specificity and sensitivity.


Conclusions: We confirmed that the Phum_PHUM540560 gene is a useful genetic marker for the study of lice.

Dec 2022- This article has been identified as one of a series of submissions for which we have concerns about the reported research ethics approval information and the article\’s adherence to PLOS research ethics policies.

PLOS will be investigating these concerns in accordance with COPE guidance and journal policies. Meanwhile, the PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases Editors issue this Expression of Concern see https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0278004 or https://phthiraptera.myspecies.info/node/96447

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0058088}, url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058088}, author = {Rezak Drali and BOUTELLIS, A. and Didier Raoult and Jean-Marc Rolain and Brouqui,Philippe}, editor = {Aziz, Ramy K.} } @article {61591, title = {Phylogenetic Relationships in Pterodroma Petrels Are Obscured by Recent Secondary Contact and Hybridization}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {6}, year = {2011}, month = {5/2011}, pages = {e20350}, abstract = {The classification of petrels (Pterodroma spp.) from Round Island, near Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, has confounded researchers since their discovery in 1948. In this study we investigate the relationships between Round Island petrels and their closest relatives using evidence from mitochondrial DNA sequence data and ectoparasites. Far from providing clear delimitation of species boundaries, our results reveal that hybridization among species on Round Island has led to genetic leakage between populations from different ocean basins. The most common species on the island, Pterodroma arminjoniana, appears to be hybridizing with two rarer species (P. heraldica and P. neglecta), subverting the reproductive isolation of all three and allowing gene flow. P. heraldica and P. neglecta breed sympatrically in the Pacific Ocean, where P. arminjoniana is absent, but no record of hybridization between these two exists and they remain phenotypically distinct. The breakdown of species boundaries in Round Island petrels followed environmental change (deforestation and changes in species composition due to hunting) within their overlapping ranges. Such multi-species interactions have implications not only for conservation, but also for our understanding of the processes of evolutionary diversification and speciation.}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0020350.t001}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/61591.pdf}, author = {Brown, Ruth M. and Jordan, William C. and Faulkes, Chris G. and Jones, Carl G. and Bugoni, Leandro and Tatayah, Vikash and Ricardo L. Palma and Nichols, Richard A.} }