Genetic diversity of human head lice and molecular detection of associated bacterial pathogens in Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Bernard Davoust
Nadia Amanzougaghene
Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki
Oleg Mediannikov
Florence Fenollar
Celia Scherelle Boumbanda Koyo
Didier Raoult
Leon Tshilolo
Journal: Parasites & Vectors (2019)
Discipline: MICROBIOLOGY
Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii; Acinetobacter spp.; Clade E; Democratic Republic of Congo; Head lice.
Affiliations: Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France., IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France., Unité d'Evolution Epidémiologie et Résistances Parasitaires (UNEEREP), Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon., Ecole Doctorale Régionale en Infectiologie Tropicale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon., Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, Marseille, France., Monkole Mother and Child Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo., Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé (USS), Libreville, Gabon., Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, Marseille, France. ., IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France. .

Abstract:  Background: Head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, is an obligatory blood-sucking ectoparasite, distributed worldwide. Phylogenetically, it occurs in five divergent mitochondrial clades (A-E); each exhibiting a particular geographical distribution. Recent studies suggest that, as in the case of body louse, head louse could be a disease vector. We aimed to study the genetic diversity of head lice collected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and to screen for louse-borne pathogens in these lice. Methods: A total of 181 head lice were collected from 27 individuals at the Monkole Hospital Center located in Kinshasa. All head lice were genotyped and screened for the presence of louse-borne bacteria using molecular methods. We searched for Bartonella quintana, Borrelia recurrentis, Rickettsia prowazekii, Anaplasma spp., Yersinia pestis, Coxiella burnetii and Acinetobacter spp. Results: Among these head lice, 67.4% (122/181) belonged to clade A and 24.3% (44/181) belonged to clade D. Additionally, for the first time in this area, we found clade E in 8.3% (15/181) of tested lice, from two infested individuals. Dual infestation with clades A and D was observed for 44.4% individuals. Thirty-three of the 181 head lice were infected only by different bacterial species of the genus Acinetobacter. Overall, 16 out of 27 individuals were infested (59.3%). Six Acinetobacter species were detected including Acinetobacter baumannii (8.3%), Acinetobacter johnsonii (1.7%), Acinetobacter soli (1.7%), Acinetobacter pittii (1.7%), Acinetobacter guillouiae (1.1%), as well as a new potential species named "Candidatus Acinetobacter pediculi". Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study reports for the first time, the presence of clade E head lice in DR Congo. This study is also the first to report the presence of Acinetobacter species DNAs in human head lice in DR Congo. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 The scope of this paper is the genetic diversity of human head lice and molecular detection of associated bacterial pathogens. The authors declared no competing interests. However, according to a poster from the Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire de Marseille (see below), 1 of the author is mentioned as one of the founder of a pharmaceutical company called Arthrobac Pharma in 2014. This pharmaceutical company is dedicated to the treatment of lice using ivermectin in combination with other products. Being a founder of a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the treatment of lice may be considered as a competing interest when the article address a topic covering the head lice. Can the author explain why this financial interest was not mentioned ? ![Image](http: backup.mediterranee-infection.com arkotheque client ihumed _depot_arko articles 579 poster_img.jpg) ,