Examination of vertical transmission of Bartonella quintana in body lice following multiple infectious blood meals.

ABSTRACT: Bartonella quintana is a re-emerging louse-borne pathogen. Horizontal transmission from the body louse vector (Pediculus humanus humanus) to a human host occurs through contact with infectious louse feces containing a high concentration of the bacteria. However, questions have remained about whether vertical transmission from infected vectors to their progeny, which could significantly influence the dynamics of transmission to humans, occurs in body lice. To address this subject, we performed a series of controlled laboratory experiments that examined the presence of B. quintana on the surface of and within eggs produced by female body lice that were provisioned multiple infectious blood meals to recapitulate the natural pathogen acquisition process. Our results demonstrate that B. quintan

SUBMITTER: Kress L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9384838 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature