Evidence for an African cluster of human head and body lice with variable colors and interbreeding of lice between continents.
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 intergen...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2012-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3360600?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818525842978897920 |
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| author | Aurélie Veracx Amina Boutellis Vicky Merhej Georges Diatta Didier Raoult |
| author_facet | Aurélie Veracx Amina Boutellis Vicky Merhej Georges Diatta Didier Raoult |
| author_sort | Aurélie Veracx |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 genotypic data. RESULTS: No congruence between louse color and genotype has been identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the spacer PM2, performed including lice from other sources, showed the existence of an African cluster of human lice. However, the analysis of other spacers suggested that lice from different areas are interbreeding. CONCLUSIONS: We identified two geotypes of Clade A head and body lice including one that is specifically African, that can be either black or grey and can live on the head or in clothing. We also hypothesized that lice from different areas are interbreeding. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T06:14:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c30ec3a15da40969a9a0fddc356ff7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T06:14:44Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c30ec3a15da40969a9a0fddc356ff7f2022-12-22T01:18:00ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032012-01-0175e3780410.1371/journal.pone.0037804Evidence for an African cluster of human head and body lice with variable colors and interbreeding of lice between continents.Aurélie VeracxAmina BoutellisVicky MerhejGeorges DiattaDidier RaoultBACKGROUND: 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 genotypic data. RESULTS: No congruence between louse color and genotype has been identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the spacer PM2, performed including lice from other sources, showed the existence of an African cluster of human lice. However, the analysis of other spacers suggested that lice from different areas are interbreeding. CONCLUSIONS: We identified two geotypes of Clade A head and body lice including one that is specifically African, that can be either black or grey and can live on the head or in clothing. We also hypothesized that lice from different areas are interbreeding.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3360600?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Aurélie Veracx Amina Boutellis Vicky Merhej Georges Diatta Didier Raoult Evidence for an African cluster of human head and body lice with variable colors and interbreeding of lice between continents. PLoS ONE |
| title | Evidence for an African cluster of human head and body lice with variable colors and interbreeding of lice between continents. |
| title_full | Evidence for an African cluster of human head and body lice with variable colors and interbreeding of lice between continents. |
| title_fullStr | Evidence for an African cluster of human head and body lice with variable colors and interbreeding of lice between continents. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence for an African cluster of human head and body lice with variable colors and interbreeding of lice between continents. |
| title_short | Evidence for an African cluster of human head and body lice with variable colors and interbreeding of lice between continents. |
| title_sort | evidence for an african cluster of human head and body lice with variable colors and interbreeding of lice between continents |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3360600?pdf=render |
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