Human pediculosis, a global public health problem

Yi-Tian Fu; Chaoqun  Yao; Yuan-Ping Deng; Hany M.  Elsheikha; Renfu Shao; Xing-Quan Zhu; Guo-Hua Liu

doi:10.1186/s40249-022-00986-w

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Human pediculosis, a global public health problem

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Human pediculosis, a global public health problem

Yi-Tian Fu, Chaoqun Yao, Yuan-Ping Deng, Hany M. Elsheikha, Renfu Shao, Xing-Quan Zhu and Guo-Hua Liu

Infectious Diseases of Poverty, Vol.11, pp.1-15

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-022-00986-w

PMCID: PMC9134731

PMID: 35619191

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Abstract

Human lice

Pediculosis

Public health

Phylogenetics

Omics technology

Background: Human pediculosis is caused by hematophagous lice, which are transmitted between individuals via direct and/or indirect contact. Despite the public health importance of louse infestation, information concerning the global burden of pediculosis and the epidemiological landscape of louse-borne diseases is limited. The aim of this review was to summarize the biology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and control of lice infestation in humans. We also discussed the latest advances in molecular taxonomy and molecular genetics of lice. Methods: We searched five electronic bibliographic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, CNKI, VIP Chinese Journal Database, and Wanfang Data) and followed a standard approach for conducting scoping reviews to identify studies on various aspects of human lice. Relevant information reported in the identified studies were collated, categorized, and summarized. Results: A total of 282 studies were eligible for the final review. Human pediculosis remains a public health issue affecting millions of people worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests that head lice and body lice should be considered conspecific, with different genotypes and ecotypes. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial (mt) cytb gene sequences identified six distinct clades of lice worldwide. In addition to the direct effect on human health, lice can serve as vectors of disease-causing pathogens. The use of insecticides plays a crucial role in the treatment and prevention of louse infestation. Genome sequencing has advanced our knowledge of the genetic structure and evolutionary biology of human lice. Conclusions: Human pediculosis is a public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide, particularly in developing countries. More progress can be made if emphasis is placed on the use of emerging omics technologies to elucidate the mechanisms that underpin the physiological, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of lice.

Details

Title: Human pediculosis, a global public health problem
Authors: Yi-Tian Fu (Author) - Hunan Agricultural University
Chaoqun Yao (Corresponding Author) - Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
Yuan-Ping Deng (Author) - Hunan Agricultural University
Hany M. Elsheikha (Author) - University of Nottingham
Renfu Shao (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy
Xing-Quan Zhu (Corresponding Author) - Yunnan Agricultural University
Guo-Hua Liu (Corresponding Author) - Hunan Agricultural University
Publication details: Infectious Diseases of Poverty, Vol.11, pp.1-15
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
Date published: 2022
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-022-00986-w
PMID: 35619191; PMC9134731
Copyright note: © The Author(s) 2022. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99640577702621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Infectious Diseases; Parasitology; Tropical Medicine

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