JOURNAL ARTICLE

Bartonella quintana Transmitted by Head Lice: An Outbreak of Trench Fever in Senegal.

  • Published In: Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2023, v. 76, n. 8. P. 1382 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Hammoud, Alissa; Louni, Meriem; Fenollar, Florence; Bassene, Hubert; Sambou, Masse; Duclos, Nathalie; Diatta, Georges; Sokhna, Cheikh; Levasseur, Anthony; Raoult, Didier; Mediannikov, Oleg 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on a trench fever outbreak in Ndiop, Senegal, caused by Bartonella quintana and investigates the role of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) as vectors. Through a point-of-care (POC) laboratory surveillance system from 2010 to 2015, researchers detected B. quintana DNA in blood samples and head lice, isolated live bacteria from both sources, and performed genomic sequencing revealing near-identical strains in patients' blood and their head lice. The findings challenge the traditional view that only body lice transmit B. quintana, suggesting that head lice can also harbor and potentially transmit viable bacteria during outbreaks, even in the absence of body lice. This study underscores the need to reconsider head lice's vectorial capacity in public health strategies for controlling trench fever.

Additional Information

  • Source:Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2023/04, Vol. 76, Issue 8, p1382
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Geography and Cartography
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:1058-4838
  • DOI:10.1093/cid/ciac937
  • Accession Number:163191487
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