Genotyping of human lice suggests multiple emergencies of body lice from local head louse populations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Genetic analyses of human lice have shown that the current taxonomic classification of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) and body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus) does not reflect their phylogenetic organization. Three phylotypes of head lice A, B and C exist but body lice have been observed only in phylotype A. Head and body lice have different behaviours and only the latter have been involved in outbreaks of infectious diseases including epidemic typhus, trench fever and louse borne recurrent fever. Recent studies suggest that body lice arose several times from head louse populations.

Methods and findings

By introducing a new genotyping technique, sequencing variable intergenic spacers which were selected from louse genomic sequence, we were able to evaluate

SUBMITTER: Li W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2843630 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature