Body louse

This article is about the animal. For the infestation caused by body lice, see Pediculosis corporis.

Body louse
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Psocodea
Family: Pediculidae
Genus: Pediculus
Species:
P. humanus
Subspecies:
P. h. humanus
Trinomial name
Pediculus humanus humanus

The body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus, also known as Pediculus humanus corporis) or the cootie is a hematophagic ectoparasite louse that infests humans.[1] It is one of three lice which infest humans, the other two being the head louse, and the crab louse or pubic louse.[2]

Body lice may lay eggs on the host hairs and clothing,[3] but clothing is where the majority of eggs are usually secured.[4]

Since body lice cannot jump or fly, they spread by direct contact with another person or more rarely by contact with clothing or bed sheets that are infested.[5]

Body lice are disease vectors and can transmit pathogens that cause human diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.[6] In developed countries, infestations are only a problem in areas of poverty where there is poor body hygiene, crowded living conditions, and a lack of access to clean clothing.[7] Outbreaks can also occur in situations where large groups of people are forced to live in unsanitary conditions. These types of outbreaks are seen globally in prisons, homeless populations, refugees of war, or when natural disasters occur and proper sanitation is not available.[8]

  1. ^ Zimmer, Carl (8 November 2023). "Lice Genes Offer Clues to Ancient Human History - The jumpy parasites have followed our ancestors around for at least 25 million years, adapting along with us through major upheavals". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  2. ^ Prevention, CDC-Centers for Disease Control and (2021-01-11). "CDC - Lice". www.cdc.gov. Archived from the original on 2020-04-06. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  3. ^ Sulica, VI; Graham, JH (August 1981). "Generalized pediculosis corporis. Microscopic study of hairs". Journal of Cutaneous Pathology. 8 (4): 308–11. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0560.1981.tb01015.x. PMID 7309944.
  4. ^ Nuttall, George H. F. (November 1917). "The Biology of Pediculus humanus". Parasitology. 10 (1): 80–185. doi:10.1017/S0031182000003747. ISSN 0031-1820. Archived from the original on 2024-07-26. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  5. ^ "Body Lice". medlineplus.gov. Archived from the original on 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  6. ^ Prevention, CDC-Centers for Disease Control and (2021-07-08). "CDC - Lice - Body Lice - Frequently Asked Quesetions (FAQs)". www.cdc.gov. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  7. ^ Powers, Jim; Badri, Talel (2020), "Pediculosis Corporis", StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, PMID 29489282, archived from the original on 2021-11-02, retrieved 2020-02-08
  8. ^ "Lice (Phthiraptera) - Factsheet for health professionals". www.ecdc.europa.eu. 2022-02-15. Archived from the original on 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2024-05-03.