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Ecol Evol 2020 Jun 5;10(12):6120-6135. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Institute of Marine Research Bergen Norway.

Capture and long-distance translocation of cleaner fish to control lice infestations on marine salmonid farms has the potential to influence wild populations via overexploitation in source regions, and introgression in recipient regions. Knowledge of population genetic structure is therefore required. We studied the genetic structure of ballan wrasse, a phenotypically diverse and extensively used cleaner fish, from 18 locations in Norway and Sweden, and from Galicia, Spain, using 82 SNP markers. Read More

Prev Vet Med 2020 Jun 18;181:105063. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Sustainable Aquaculture Laboratory - Temperate and Tropical (SALTT), School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.

Ectoparasitic salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestations are costly for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) farmers in Norway. As a result, there is a strong desire for solutions to prevent and control infestations, and new technologies are typically developed and commercialised rapidly, without rigorous validation. Here, we tested the efficacy of a new commercially available control measure-delousing by underwater lasers-using a replicated design at full commercial scale. Read More

J Formos Med Assoc 2020 Jun 17. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background/purpose: Population aging and unequal accessibility of health care are increasingly important in developed countries. One strategy to overcome these issues is utilizing telemedicine, which is recently made possible technologically by the advancement of internet speed, high speed zooming cameras, and the information storages. In Taiwan, the telemedicine is granted legally by the amendment for Taiwan's Physician Act in 2018. Read More

Parasitol Res 2020 Jun 18. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Department of Biomathematics and Informatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.

Sex-biassed and age-biassed parasite infections are common in nature, including ectoparasites-vertebrate host systems. We investigated the effect of Amur Falcons' sex, age and body size on the abundance of their lice at a migratory stopover site, where the falcons' habitat use and behaviour are more homogeneous across sex and age categories than during the breeding season. We sampled Amur Falcons in Nagaland, India at major roosting sites in 2016. Read More

Planta Med 2020 Jun 4;86(9):619-630. Epub 2020 May 4.

Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, Bobigny, France.

Pediculosis is a prevalent ectoparasite infestation caused by lice. The head louse () and body louse () are obligatory parasites whose only known hosts are humans. Pediculosis is probably the most common ectoparasitic infestation, affecting up to 80% of the population in several countries, and particularly prevalent in the infant population worldwide. Read More

Dermatol Pract Concept 2020 20;10(2):e2020042. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Amanza Health Care, Nahas Skin Clinic, Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India.

J Fish Dis 2020 Jun 22;43(6):697-706. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Sustainable Aquaculture Laboratory - Temperate and Tropical (SALTT), School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Problematic sea lice infestations on farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) have motivated extensive research and development into new methods to prevent, monitor and control sea lice. Most of these technologies require detailed information on the behaviour, spatial distribution and demography of lice on host fish. This study investigated how salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestation density varies across the host's surface under sea cage farming conditions. Read More

J Res Health Sci 2019 Sep 8;19(4):e00459. Epub 2019 Sep 8.

Health Office, Ministry of Education, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Pediculosis capitis is one of the most common contagious diseases in overcrowded places, especially in schools. We aimed to determine the overall and seasonal prevalence of Pediculosis capitis (head lice infestation) among Iranian students.

Study Design: A repeated cross-sectional study. Read More

GMS Ophthalmol Cases 2020 27;10:Doc09. Epub 2020 Feb 27.

Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Dermatology, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.

To report the occurrence and management of an eyelashes infestation by Phthirus pubis. A 27-year-old female presented with itching in her right eye and head after she had been traveling in southern Italy five days earlier. Visual acuity (VA) was 20/20 in both eyes. Read More

Conserv Physiol 2020 26;8(1):coaa023. Epub 2020 Mar 26.

Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), PO Box 1870, Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway.

Anadromous Atlantic salmon () rely on long ocean migrations to build energy stores for maturation and spawning. In seawater, wild Atlantic salmon are threatened by high salmon lice () infestation levels resulting from intensive salmonid sea-cage aquaculture. Salmon lice infection can cause a stress response and an osmotic imbalance in the host. Read More

Zootaxa 2020 Feb 20;4742(2):zootaxa.4742.2.1. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilisation and Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilisation, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, 105 Xingang West Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, 510260, Guangdong, China..

Chewing lice of the Oxylipeurus-complex known from China are described and illustrated. The genera Megalipeurus Kéler, 1958 and Reticulipeurus Kéler, 1958 are considered valid, resurrected from synonymy and redescribed. Two new genera are described: Cataphractomimus new genus and Sinolipeurus new genus, which are proposed for species that do not fit into any previously described genus within the Oxylipeurus-complex. Read More

Int J Parasitol 2020 Apr 26;50(4):299-313. Epub 2020 Mar 26.

Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany. Electronic address:

Habitat loss and fragmentation drive the worldwide depletion of biodiversity. Although it is known that anthropogenic disturbances severely affect host and ecosystem integrity, effects on parasites are largely understudied. This study aims to investigate if and how habitat fragmentation affects the composition of ectoparasite communities on small mammalian hosts in two networks of dry deciduous forest fragments in northwestern Madagascar. Read More

Vet Parasitol 2020 Apr 27;280:109065. Epub 2020 Feb 27.

Hospital Veterinario Espacio Animal, José de la Luz Blanco, Mz. 187, Lt. 33, Col. Santa Martha Acatitla, Ciudad de México, Mexico.

Lice are ectoparasites capable of affecting birds, and can result in direct and indirect damage to their host. Afoxolaner is an isoxazoline that has been shown to be effective against these ectoparasites without known adverse effects. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of afoxolaner on lice in pheasants and plain chachalacas. Read More

Parasitol Res 2020 Apr 16;119(4):1327-1335. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Department of Biomathematics and Informatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.

Permanent ectoparasites live in stable environments; thus, their population dynamics are mostly adapted to changes in the host life cycle. We aimed to investigate how static and dynamic traits of red-footed falcons interplay with the dynamics of their louse subpopulations during breeding and how they affect the colonisation of new hosts by lice. We sampled red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) nestlings (two breeding seasons) and adults (one breeding season) in southern Hungary. Read More

Vet World 2020 Jan 6;13(1):40-46. Epub 2020 Jan 6.

Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

Background And Aim: has been prevalent throughout the world, especially in developing countries among elementary students and societies with a weak socio-economic status. This study aimed to forecast head lice (: ) infestation incidence hotspots based on spatial correlation analysis in Ardabil Province, Northwest Iran.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective analytical study, all cases of head lice infestations who were confirmed by Centers for Disease Control office have been studied from 2016 to 2018. Read More

Pediatr Ann 2020 Mar;49(3):e124-e131

Infestations and arthropod bite reactions in children are common reasons for presentation to pediatric health care providers. Infestations in children include head lice, scabies, and other mites. Fleas and bed bugs are common causes of bite reactions in children, and papular urticaria is a chronic, recurrent eruption resulting from delayed hypersensitivity to a variety of insect bites. Read More

Braz J Infect Dis 2020 Mar - Apr;24(2):170-177. Epub 2020 Feb 24.

Charité University Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Infection Immunology, Berlin, Germany.

Epidermal parasitic skin diseases encompass scabies, pediculosis, cutaneous larva migrans, myiasis, and tungiasis. Tungiasis is probably the most neglected of all Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD). It occurs in South America, the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa and affects marginalized populations where people live in extreme poverty. Read More

J Fish Dis 2020 Apr 14;43(4):475-484. Epub 2020 Feb 14.

Centro de Investigaciones Costeras, Universidad de Atacama (CIC-UDA), Universidad de Atacama, Chile.

The copepod Caligus rogercresseyi is an ectoparasite of several salmonid species. The pumping activity of filter-feeding molluscs could reduce the abundance of copepod dispersive larval stages in the water column. In this research, nauplius II and copepodid larvae of C. Read More

Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2020 7;62:e7. Epub 2020 Feb 7.

Universidade Federal do Paraná, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.

Most human epidemiological and clinical studies use visual inspection of the hair and scalp to diagnose Pediculus humanus capitis , however this method has low sensitivity to diagnose active infestations (presence of nymphs and adult lice). Vacuuming the hair and scalp has been used as a diagnostic method, but there are no previous data comparing its effectiveness with visual inspection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overall infestation (nits and trophic stages), of active infestation by Pediculus humanus capitis , and to evaluate the effectiveness of vacuuming in comparison with the visual inspection. Read More

Vet Parasitol 2020 Mar 31;279:109039. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.

Ctenocephalides felis infestations outbreak is documented as a welfare and production limiting disease in neonatal calves in eastern New South Wales, Australia. Due to the calves' discomfort, the first objective was to relieve the calves from the large burden of fleas. The affected neonatal 0-4 week old calves showed dull and quiet demeanour, with the geometric mean of body condition score (BCS) 2. Read More

Parasite 2020 10;27. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vermillion, 57069 SD, USA.

Human body lice (Pediculus humanus) are neglected ectoparasites and pathogen vectors. Difficulties in raising and maintaining colonies of body lice in a laboratory setting remain a barrier to fundamental studies of physiology and vector-pathogen interactions in these insects. Several in vivo and in vitro rearing systems have been previously described and used by multiple research groups. Read More

Int J Parasitol 2020 Feb 7. Epub 2020 Feb 7.

Sustainable Aquaculture Laboratory - Temperate and Tropical (SALTT), School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.

The salmon aquaculture industry has adopted the use of invertivorous 'cleaner fishes' (CF) for biological control of sea louse infestations on farmed salmon. At present, ~50 million CF are used annually in Norway alone, with variable success in experimental and industrial contexts. We used a national scale database of louse counts, delousing treatments and CF stocking events on Norwegian salmon farms to test for evidence of CF efficacy at 488 sites that completed a grow-out cycle within 2016-2018. Read More

Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2020 Mar;36(1):173-185

Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7616, 1575 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695-7616, USA.

Diverse groups of ectoparasitic arthropods cause significant morbidity and mortality in most of the approximately 1.49 billion head of cattle worldwide. Hematophagous ectoparasites (ie, blood-feeding flies, myiasis-causing flies, lice, mites, ticks) are the most important in cattle. Read More

J Multidiscip Healthc 2020 10;13:19-26. Epub 2020 Jan 10.

Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Health Education & Promotion, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 14711, Iran.

Background: Despite the improvement of living standards and public health as well as conducting the specific programs based on pediculosis control guidelines, Head Lice Infestation (HLI) is still a worldwide health concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cognitive factors associated to school-age children's HLI among mothers in an urban community.

Subjects And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a multi-stage cluster random sample of 619 mothers of students in elementary schools of Chaldoran County, located in North-West of Iran, was recruited to participate in the study. Read More

Parasitol Res 2020 May 31;119(5):1597-1605. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 1160/31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.

Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) is an essential molecule triggering the adaptive immune response by the presentation of pathogens to helper T cells. The association between individual MHC II variants and various parasites has become a frequent finding in studies of vertebrate populations. However, although bird ectoparasites have a significant effect on their host's fitness, and the host's immune system can regulate ectoparasitic infections, no study has yet investigated the association between MHC II polymorphism and ectoparasite infection in the populations of free-living birds. Read More

An Bras Dermatol 2020 Jan - Feb;95(1):1-14. Epub 2019 Dec 31.

Department of Dermatology, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Tropical Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, Fundação Alfredo da Matta de Dermatologia, Manaus, AM, Brazil.

These are cutaneous diseases caused by insects, worms, protozoa, or coelenterates which may or may not have a parasitic life. In this review the main ethological agents, clinical aspects, laboratory exams, and treatments of these dermatological diseases will be studied. Read More

IDCases 2020 9;19:e00696. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

Mayo Clinic, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, United States.

Body lice and bed bugs are hematophagous insects that parasitize humans. Body lice are established vectors of several bacterial pathogens (e.g. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Jan 22;10(1):932. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR PRC.

The avermectin derivative emamectin benzoate (EMB) has been widely used by salmon industries around the world to control sea lice infestations. Resistance to this anti-parasitic drug is also commonly reported in these industries. The objective of this study was to quantify the number of sea lice potentially exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of EMB while fish clear the drug after treatments. Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2020 Jan 19;8(1). Epub 2020 Jan 19.

SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.

Infestation with the salmon louse (Copepoda, Caligidae) affects Atlantic salmon ( L.) production in European aquaculture. Furthermore, high levels of salmon lice in farms significantly increase challenge pressure against wild salmon populations. Read More

J Parasitol 2020 02;106(1):14-24

University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069.

Human head lice and body lice () are neglected ectoparasites. Head lice continue to be prevalent in children worldwide, and insecticide resistance in these insects has complicated their treatment. Meanwhile, body lice, which are most common in the developing world, are resurging among marginalized populations in developed nations. Read More

Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2019 Oct 10;7(19):3240-3244. Epub 2019 Oct 10.

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya Street, 8/2, 119992, Moscow, Russia.

Pediculosis is a global problem in public health. An important factor in the efficient eradication of lice is ensuring adequate recognition and treatment of the disease by the population. In the present study, awareness of the population about the physiological properties of head lice, the ways of infestation with head lice, and the methods of treatment and prevention were studied. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 01 9;17(2). Epub 2020 Jan 9.

University of Applied Sciences and Arts HAWK, Faculty N, Von-Ossietzky-Strasse 99/100, 37085 Göttingen, Germany.

Due to an error during production and a corrupted data set, subsection 3.3.1 in the result section of the published paper [1] was displaying incorrect data [. Read More

Res Vet Sci 2020 Apr 16;129:21-27. Epub 2019 Dec 16.

Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Pediculosis is a parasitic disease that is considered a serious global public health problem. It is caused by the ectoparasite that is popularly known as lice, mainly affecting children in early childhood. The most commonly used treatment to combat this parasitosis is the macrocyclic lactone ivermectin (IVM). Read More

Nurs Forum 2020 Apr 9;55(2):252-258. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington.

Aim: The aim of this concept analysis was to examine stigma in the context of head lice, illuminating its components and providing insights for the development of appropriate nursing interventions.

Background: Stigma associated with the phenomenon of head lice management is pervasive, promulgating fear and influencing policy and treatment practices. Few studies have examined stigma in this context. Read More

Biomedica 2019 12 1;39(4):631-638. Epub 2019 Dec 1.

Centro de Estudios en Microbiología y Parasitología, Departamento de Medicina Interna,Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Cauca, Popayán, Colombia.

Pediculosis capitis is the most frequent ectoparasitosis around the world. The infestation is caused by Pediculus humanus capitis (head louse), which affects hair, scalp, and skin. It rarely presents with more symptoms and in the majority of the cases, it shows a benign course if treated properly. Read More

BMJ 2019 Dec 12;367:l6559. Epub 2019 Dec 12.

Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China

J Med Entomol 2020 May;57(3):915-926

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Pediculosis capitis caused by Pediculus humanus capitis (De Geer) is endemic all over the world, and children are mostly affected, particularly those living in overcrowded institutions. Several studies have shown that P. h. Read More

Parasitol Res 2020 Feb 10;119(2):395-401. Epub 2019 Dec 10.

School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, 2678, Australia.

The sheep body louse, Bovicola ovis (B. ovis), is one of the most significant ectoparasites affecting Australia's sheep flocks. Despite this, detection methods for B. Read More

Commun Biol 2019 29;2:445. Epub 2019 Nov 29.

Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL USA.

Nearly all lineages of birds host parasitic feather lice. Based on recent phylogenomic studies, the three major lineages of modern birds diverged from each other before the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction event. In contrast, studies of the phylogeny of feather lice on birds, indicate that these parasites diversified largely after this event. Read More

J Parasitol 2019 12;105(6):893-903

School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, Utah 84112.

Five new species of chewing lice in the genus Kéler, 1936 , are described from North American jays and allies. They are n. sp. Read More

Biomolecules 2019 11 25;9(12). Epub 2019 Nov 25.

Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.

Members of the genus are native to America, Africa and Asia, and have long been used in traditional medicine. The species most commonly used for medicinal purposes are , , , , , , , and , which are highly effective in asthma, birth/postpartum pains, callouses, conjunctivitis, diabetes, diarrhea, expectorant, fever, flu, lactation, liver infection, malaria, otitis, pains, pediculosis, rheumatism, scabies, skin inflammations, spasm, stomach ache, bladder and pancreas stone removal. Flour, syrup, and beverages from pods have also been potentially used for foods and food supplement formulation in many regions of the world. Read More

J Parasitol 2019 12;105(6):840-845

Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Xingang West Road 105, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, 510260, Guangdong, China.

The genus n. gen. (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) is described and illustrated based on 2 new species of chewing lice from New Guinean birds in the genus Wagler, 1829 (Passeriformes: Artamidae). Read More

Indian J Med Microbiol 2019 Apr-Jun;37(2):296-297

Department of Post Graduate Ophthalmology, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Phthiriasis palpebrarum (PP) is the infestation of eyelids caused by the ectoparasite Phthirus pubis, frequently misdiagnosed as allergic conjunctivitis, blepharitis or dermatitis. There is no standard treatment of choice although various treatment modalities have been described. A 6-year-old male child with PP was successfully treated with local application of 20% fluorescein solution over the eyelashes and eyebrows of both the eyes, followed by the mechanical removal of all parasites and trimming of the eyelashes from the base and application of ophthalmic ointment. Read More

Obstet Gynecol Int 2019 16;2019:1830245. Epub 2019 Oct 16.

Dermatology Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.

Background: Gynecology and dermatology share the diagnosis and the management of some disorders of the female external genital area. In the last decade, clinical diagnosis in dermatology has dramatically improved, thanks to the introduction of dermatoscopy.

Technique: Dermatoscopy is a noninvasive, rapid, and simple technique performed with an affordable handheld instrument called dermatoscope, endowed with a light source and a high-quality lens achieving 10 times magnification. Read More

J Parasitol 2019 12;105(6):858-873

School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, Utah 84112.

Nine new species of chewing lice in the genus Kéler, 1936 , are described from North American hosts. They are n. sp. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2019 11;100(10):601

Knoxville, TN, USA.

Conserv Physiol 2019 7;7(1):coz072. Epub 2019 Nov 7.

Department of Primary Industries, Narrandera Fisheries Centre, PO Box 182, Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia.

High salmon lice () infestation levels resulting from intensive salmonid sea-cage aquaculture can threaten populations of wild salmonid hosts. This includes anadromous Arctic char (), which rely on short migrations into more productive seawater environments to build energy stores for maturation, spawning and over-wintering in freshwater. Elevated salmon lice burdens may limit the benefits of migration by constraining osmoregulation, growth, survival and reproduction. Read More

Zootaxa 2019 Nov 4;4691(5):zootaxa.4691.5.4. Epub 2019 Nov 4.

Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.

The purpose of this study was to record the species of chewing lice parasitising Gyps bengalensis (Gmelin, 1788), the white-rumped vulture, in Pithauli, Nawalparasi District, Nepal, from February to June 2017. Three louse species were identified: Cuculiphilus (Aegypiphilus) gypsis (Eichler, 1944), Colpocephalum sp., and the new species Aegypoecus bengalensis, described herein. Read More

Zootaxa 2019 May 28;4612(1):zootaxa.4612.1.10. Epub 2019 May 28.

Systematic Entomology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan..

Three species of chewing lice-Eucolpocephalum femorale (Piaget, 1880) (Amblycera: Menoponidae), Ibidoecus plataleae (Denny, 1842) (Ischnocera: Philopteridae) and Ardeicola plataleae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ischnocera: Philopteridae)-are reported from the black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor Temminck Schlegel, 1849) in Japan. These three louse species are new records for this host. The black-faced spoonbill is classified as a "Critically Endangered" species in the IUCN Red List; although its species of lice are known to infest other species of spoonbills, these lice are endangered at the population level. Read More