02378nas a2200229 4500008004100000245006400041210005900105260007400164300001200238490000700250520165500257653002501912653002501937653001801962653001401980653001401994653001602008653002602024100002102050700001902071856005802090 2010 eng d00aLäuse – Biologie, medizinische Bedeutung und Bekämpfung0 aLäuse Biologie medizinische Bedeutung und Bekämpfung aLinz, AustriabBiologiezentrum der Oberösterreichischen Landesmuseen a191-2120 v303 a
English title: Lice – Biology, medical importance and control.
Abstract: All species of Phthiraptera are strongly stenoxenous ectoparasites on birds and mammals. They spend their entire life cycle on the host. Many species are of veterinary importance, but only three are ec- toparasites of humans – the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis, the clothing louse Pediculus humanus humanus and the crab louse Pthirus pubis. The clothing louse is important as the main vector of Rickettsia prowazekii, Borrelia recurrentis and Bartonella quintana. Its preferred habitat is clothing. Long-term survival of the clothing louse is only possible when infested clothes are worn for long pe- riods of time in the absence of sufficient disinsection measures such as washing or storage. The head louse infests scalp hair. It is wide- spread the world over, among all social groups and especially among children. The crab louse Pthirus pubis is mainly found in pubic hair. It is usually transmitted by close bodily contact, such as during sexual intercourse, and occurs more rarely.
Head and crab lice, as well as animal lice, can be eradicated only by efficient and repeated lice control measures that include re- peated applications of pediculicid medications having a high anti-lice efficacy. To treat human lice, various pediculicids are avail- able with classical and alternative modes of action. Additional steps to effectively control lice and to guard against lice-borne dis- eases are information, attention, early diagnosis, contact tracing and hygienic measures.
In former times clothing lice were very important mainly as vectors of disease. As a consequence of the bionomics, mainly the egg deposition on clothing, they were abundant under ti- mes of war and social deprivation. Nowadays head lice and crab lice are more important. These lice species are independent of the social status and may be acquired even under very clean conditions.
Biggest hindrance to eradication seems to be entomophobia and parent's and children's concern following identification to be of social stigma. Eradication is possible with a combined effort of appropriate control measures using effective pedicu- licides and contact tracing.
10aclothing lice10acrab lice10ahead lice10aPediculosis1 aMaier, W., A.1 aHabedank, Birgit1 aAspöck, Horst uhttp://www.zobodat.at/pdf/DENISIA_0006_0497-0506.pdf