Evidence for an African cluster of human head and body lice with variable colors and interbreeding of lice between continents.

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 genotyp

SUBMITTER: Veracx A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3360600 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature