@article {46251, title = {Isolation, amplification, and sequencing of human mitochondrial DNA obtained from human crab louse, Pthirus pubis (L.), blood meals}, journal = {Journal of Forensic Sciences}, volume = {43}, year = {1998}, month = {1998}, pages = {1097 - 1100}, abstract = {

The ability to identify individual human hosts based on analyses of blood recovered from the digestive tract of hematophagous arthropods has been a long-term pursuit in both medical and forensic entomology. Blood meal individualization techniques can bring important advancements to studies of vector-borne disease epidemiology. Forensically, these analyses may aid in assailant identification in violent crime cases where blood-feeding insects or their excreta are recovered from victims or at crime scenes. Successful isolation, amplification, and sequencing of human mitochondrial DNA obtained from adult human crab lice fed on human volunteers are reported. Adult lice were removed from recruited volunteers frequenting inner city health clinics. Live lice were killed by freezing and subsequently air dried at ambient temperature. A saliva sample was obtained from each volunteer and served as a DNA reference sample. Volunteers were afforded free, approved pediculosis treatment. Individual lice were subsequently processed using procedures developed for the extraction of mitochondrial DNA from human hair, teeth, and bone. The resulting DNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Our results point to valuable avenues for future entomological research.

}, keywords = {animals, dna, entomology, Feeding Behavior, genes, lice, Lice Infestations/blood, polymerase, polymorphism, Research Support, U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t, Non-P.H.S., Sensitivity and Specificity}, url = {https://www.astm.org/DIGITAL_LIBRARY/JOURNALS/FORENSIC/PAGES/JFS14367J.htm}, author = {Lord,W. D. and DiZinno,J. A. and Wilson,M. R. and Budowle,B. and Taplin,David and Meinking,Terri Lynn} } @article {46036, title = {First molecular evidence of new Bartonella spp. in fleas and a tick from Peru}, journal = {American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene}, volume = {67}, year = {2002}, note = {LR: 20041117; JID: 0370507; 0 (DNA, Bacterial); 0 (DNA, Intergenic); CIN: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2002 Aug;67(2):133-4. PMID: 12389934; ppublish}, month = {2002}, pages = {135 - 136}, address = {United States}, abstract = {

Fleas, lice, and ticks collected in Peru in a suburban area of Cusco in November 1998 were tested by polymerase chain reaction for the presence of Bartonella DNA using primers amplifying a fragment of the intergenic spacer region (ITS) gene. Three new Bartonella genotypes were detected in Pulex fleas self-collected from the beds and clothes of schoolchildren and adults. A fourth new genotype was also detected from a tick found on a sheep in the same area. One of the genotypes is closely related to B. vinsoni subsp. berkhoffii, and the others seem to originate from unknown Bartonella species, whose medical importance has yet to be clarified.

}, keywords = {animals, Bartonella/classification/isolation \& purification, Disease Vectors, dna, Dog Diseases, Fleas/microbiology, genes, Genotype, humans, Lice/microbiology, Peru, Phylogeny, polymerase, sheep, Swine, Ticks/microbiology}, isbn = {0002-9637}, url = {http://www.ajtmh.org/docserver/fulltext/14761645/67/2/12389935.pdf?expires=1558007697\&id=id\&accname=guest\&checksum=E54B1F2214DEDD05FAEB8D81B77F4D07}, author = {Parola,Phillipe and Shpynov,S. and Montoya,M. and Lopez,M. and Houpikian,P. and Zeaiter,Z. and Guerra,H. and Didier Raoult} } @article {45993, title = {Real-time PCR duplex assay for Rickettsia prowazekii and Borrelia recurrentis}, journal = {Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences}, volume = {990}, year = {2003}, note = {LR: 20041117; JID: 7506858; 0 (DNA Primers); 0 (DNA, Bacterial); ppublish}, month = {2003}, pages = {302 - 310}, address = {United States}, abstract = {

Rickettsia prowazekii, the etiologic agent for epidemic typhus, and Borrelia recurrentis, the etiologic agent of relapsing fever, both utilize the same vector, the human body louse (Pediculus humanus), to transmit human disease. We have developed an assay to detect both bacterial pathogens in a single tube utilizing real-time PCR. Assays for both agents are specific. The R. prowazekii and B. recurrentis assays do not detect nucleic acid from R. typhi, R. canada, or any of eight spotted fever rickettsiae. In addition they did not react with Neorickettsia risticii, N. sennetsu, Franciscella persica, Bartonella quintana, Legionella pneumophila, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, the B. recurrentis assay did not detect B. duttonii, B. coriaceae, B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. hermsii, or B. burgdorferi nucleic acid. Both assays detected repeatedly only R. prowazekii or B. recurrentis either when tested alone or together in one test tube.

}, keywords = {animals, Base Sequence, Borrelia, Comparative Study, dna, genes, humans, Lice/microbiology, polymerase, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t, Rickettsia prowazekii/classification/genetics/isolation \& purification}, isbn = {0077-8923}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2003.tb07380.x}, url = {https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2003.tb07380.x}, author = {Jiang,Ju and Temenak,J. J. and Richards,Allen L.} } @article {45949, title = {Cloning and characterization of a trypsin-encoding cDNA of the human body louse Pediculus humanus}, journal = {Insect Molecular Biology}, volume = {13}, year = {2004}, note = {LR: 20041117; JID: 9303579; 0 (DNA Primers); EC 3.4.21.4 (Trypsin); ppublish}, month = {2004}, pages = {9 - 18}, address = {England}, abstract = {

From a cDNA library of the whole insect, a trypsin gene of Pediculus humanus has been cloned and sequenced. The 908 bp clone has an open reading frame of 759 bp, which encodes a pre-proenzyme with 253 amino acid residues. A sixteen-residue N-terminal signal peptide is followed by a twelve-residue activation peptide with putative cleavage sites at Gly16 and Tyr28. The deduced amino acid sequence has several features typical of trypsin proteases and an overall identity of 35-43\% with the trypsins of several haematophagous Diptera. The 1.0 kb genomic trypsin gene contains three introns of 102, 79 and 80 nucleotides following the codons for Gly16, Gln74 and Ala155, respectively. Only a single gene seems to be present. In Northern blot analysis, unfed first instar larvae have an identical or slightly lower level of trypsin mRNA than fed adult lice, and in adults 2-24 h after the bloodmeal this gene shows a constitutive expression. After in vitro transcription and translation, the activation peptide is cleaved by chymotrypsin, a so far unreported phenomenon in trypsin activation.

}, keywords = {Amino Acids, animals, Base Sequence, Blotting, Northern, Comparative Study, dna, electrophoresis, genes, Molecular Sequence Data, Pediculus, polymerase, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t, sequence, Transition Temperature, Trypsin/genetics}, isbn = {0962-1075}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2583.2004.00453.x}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2583.2004.00453.x/epdf}, author = {Kollien,A. H. and Waniek,P. J. and Pr{\"o}ls,F. and Habedank,Birgit and Schaub,G. A.} } @article {40328, title = {Current knowledge of Bartonella species}, journal = {European Journal of Clinical Microbiology \& Infectious Diseases}, volume = {16}, year = {1997}, month = {1997}, pages = {487 - 506}, abstract = {Bartonella species are now considered emerging pathogens. Of the 11 currently recognized species, four have been implicated in human disease, although only two have been encountered in Europe. Bartonella quintana infections are now being diagnosed among the urban homeless and deprived, manifesting as trench fever, and Bartonella henselae has been shown to be the causative agent of cat scratch disease. Both species also cause a variety of HIV-associated infections, including bacillary angiomatosis. However, perhaps the most significant presentation of bartonellae infection is culture-negative endocarditis. The epidemiologies of Bartonella infections are poorly understood; most Bartonella henselae infections are probably acquired from infected cats, either directly by contact with a cat or indirectly via fleas. No animal reservoir has been implicated for Bartonella quintana; however, infection can be transmitted via the human body louse. Diagnosis of Bartonella infections can be made using histological or microbiological methods. The demonstration of specific antibodies may be useful in some instances, although certainly not in all. Cultivation of Bartonella is difficult, as the bacteria are extremely fastidious. Polymerase chain reaction- based or immunological methods for the detection of bartonellae in infected tissues have proven useful. Clinical relapse is often associated with Bartonella infections despite a wide range of prescribed regimens. Only aminoglycosides display in vitro bactericidal activity against intracellular Bartonella species; therefore, they are recommended for treatment of Bartonella infections.}, keywords = {afipia felis, AIDS, angiomatosis, bacillary, cat, chain reaction, disease, genes, infections, polymerase, rochalimaea, sp.nov.}, url = {http://www.phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/38687.pdf}, author = {Maurin,M. and Birtles,R. and Didier Raoult} }