body louse
Quick Summary
The body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) is a species of sucking louse that lives on humans. It is closely related to the head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis). Body lice are typically white to brown and live in the seams of clothing, though they are not dependent on clothing itself. They lay their eggs in underclothes, which hatch in about a week. Body lice are sensitive to heat and can be killed by ordinary laundry procedures. They can transmit diseases like epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever, especially in conditions of poor hygiene and overcrowding. Heavy infestations of any lice can cause intense skin irritation and secondary infections from scratching.12
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human lousehumanus humanus, the body louse, or cootie.
Read Morehumanus humanus, the body louse, or cootie.
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louseCritical appraisal…variety or subspecies of the body louse. At present they are probably best referred to under one name, Pediculus humanus, but if separated subspecifically they must be called Pediculus humanus humanus (the body louse) and Pediculus h. capitis (the head louse).
Read More…variety or subspecies of the body louse. At present they are probably best referred to under one name, Pediculus humanus, but if separated subspecifically they must be called Pediculus humanus humanus (the body louse) and Pediculus h. capitis (the head louse).
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typhusCauses, symptoms, & Treatment…person to person by the body louse, Pediculus humanus humanus. The louse is infected by feeding with its powerful sucking mouth on a person who has the disease. As the louse sucks the person’s blood, rickettsiae pass into the insect’s gut, where they invade the intestinal cells. There they multiply…
Read More…person to person by the body louse, Pediculus humanus humanus. The louse is infected by feeding with its powerful sucking mouth on a person who has the disease. As the louse sucks the person’s blood, rickettsiae pass into the insect’s gut, where they invade the intestinal cells. There they multiply…
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trench fever…with the feces of a body louse harboring the causative organism, the bacterium Bartonella quintana (formerly known as Rochalimaea quintana, or Rickettsia quintana). Louse feces can enter the body through scratched or broken skin or through contact with the conjunctiva of the eye (the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid).…
Read More…with the feces of a body louse harboring the causative organism, the bacterium Bartonella quintana (formerly known as Rochalimaea quintana, or Rickettsia quintana). Louse feces can enter the body through scratched or broken skin or through contact with the conjunctiva of the eye (the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid).…
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