Pediculus pubis: Difference between revisions

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==Overview==
 
 
==Description==
The pubic or crab louse (Phthirus pubis) is a parasitic insect which spends its entire life on human hair and feeds exclusively on blood. Humans are the only known host of this parasite. Humans can also be infested with [[body lice]] (Pediculus humanus humanus) and with [[head lice]] (Pediculus humanus capitis)
The pubic or crab louse (Phthirus pubis) is a parasitic insect which spends its entire life on human hair and feeds exclusively on blood. Humans are the only known host of this parasite. Humans can also be infested with [[body lice]] (Pediculus humanus humanus) and with [[head lice]] (Pediculus humanus capitis)
==Morphology==
==Morphology==
The dorso-ventrally flattened body of the louse is divided into head, thorax and abdomen. A pair of eyes and a pair of antenna are clearly visible on the head. The mouthparts are adapted to piercing the skin and sucking blood. The second and third pair of legs, with their terminal claws are adapted to holding the hair-shaft, while the first pair of leg holds the skin during feeding. Abdominal protuberances on the side of the body are characteristic of this species. Males are slightly smaller than females. The eggs are oval-shaped and ca. 0.8 mm in length. Immediately after oviposition they are shiny, round, and transparent. Pubic lice are 1-2- mm in size, varying according to the stage of their development. They are usually whitish-grayish in color they become reddish-brown for some time after blood-meal.
The dorso-ventrally flattened body of the louse is divided into head, thorax and abdomen. A pair of eyes and a pair of antenna are clearly visible on the head. The mouthparts are adapted to piercing the skin and sucking blood. The second and third pair of legs, with their terminal claws are adapted to holding the hair-shaft, while the first pair of leg holds the skin during feeding. Abdominal protuberances on the side of the body are characteristic of this species. Males are slightly smaller than females. The eggs are oval-shaped and ca. 0.8 mm in length. Immediately after oviposition they are shiny, round, and transparent. Pubic lice are 1-2- mm in size, varying according to the stage of their development. They are usually whitish-grayish in color they become reddish-brown for some time after blood-meal.
==Biology==
==Biology==
Pubic lice are insect parasites, spending their entire life on the host's hair and skin and feeding exclusively on blood, 4-5 times daily. The life-cycle from egg to adult is 22-27 days. The egg hatches producing the first nymphal stage, which after three moltings develops to nymph 2, nymph 3 and subsequently to either a male or female louse. The incubation period of the egg is 7-8 days, while the rest of the cycle is taken up with the development of nymphal stages. The average adult female lives for 17 and the male for 22 days.  
Pubic lice are insect parasites, spending their entire life on the host's hair and skin and feeding exclusively on blood, 4-5 times daily. The life-cycle from egg to adult is 22-27 days. The egg hatches producing the first nymphal stage, which after three moltings develops to nymph 2, nymph 3 and subsequently to either a male or female louse. The incubation period of the egg is 7-8 days, while the rest of the cycle is taken up with the development of nymphal stages. The average adult female lives for 17 and the male for 22 days.  
<ref>Nuttall GHF. 1918. The biology of Phthirus pubis. Parasitology 10: 383-405.</ref>
<ref>Nuttall GHF. 1918. The biology of Phthirus pubis. Parasitology 10: 383-405.</ref>
<ref>Payot F. 1920. Contribution a l'etude du Phthirus pubis (Linne, Leach). Bull. Soc. vaud. Sci. nat. 53: 127-161.</ref>.
<ref>Payot F. 1920. Contribution a l'etude du Phthirus pubis (Linne, Leach). Bull. Soc. vaud. Sci. nat. 53: 127-161.</ref>.
==Epidemiology==
Pubic lice usually infest a new host only by close contact between individuals, making sexual contacts among adults and parent child interactions the more likely routes of infestation than shared towels, clothing, beds or closets. Adults are more frequently infested than children <ref>Alexander, J.O’D. 1984. Arhtropods and Human Skin. Springer-Verlag, Berlin</ref>.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==Evolutionary theory of origin==
==Evolutionary theory of origin==
The most recent genetic research indicates that crab lice are related to the louse endemic to gorillas, ''Pthirus gorillae'', having spread to early hominids from the ancestors of gorillas several millions of years ago, rather than having diverged from human head lice as was previously generally thought.<ref>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/5/7/abstract</ref>
The most recent genetic research indicates that crab lice are related to the louse endemic to gorillas, ''Pthirus gorillae'', having spread to early hominids from the ancestors of gorillas several millions of years ago, rather than having diverged from human head lice as was previously generally thought.<ref>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/5/7/abstract</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
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<div class="references-small">
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.stdhelp.org/about/pubic-lice-crabs.php Pubic Lice Pictures & Information]
* [http://www.stdhelp.org/about/pubic-lice-crabs.php Pubic Lice Pictures & Information]
*[http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/crab_louse.htm University of Florida information on Crab Louse]
*[http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/crab_louse.htm University of Florida information on Crab Louse]
*[http://www.bashh.org/guidelines/2002/pubic_lice_0901b.pdf Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Public Lice]
*[http://www.bashh.org/guidelines/2002/pubic_lice_0901b.pdf Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Public Lice]
 
*[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000841.htm Medline Plus article]*[http://www.lindane.com Lindane Facts]
*[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000841.htm Medline Plus article]
 
*[http://www.lindane.com Lindane Facts]
 
*[http://www.bashh.org/guidelines/2007/management_of_phthirus_pubis_infestation.pdf Guideline on the Management of Phthirus pubis infestation (UK, 2007)]
*[http://www.bashh.org/guidelines/2007/management_of_phthirus_pubis_infestation.pdf Guideline on the Management of Phthirus pubis infestation (UK, 2007)]
*[http://www.plosbiology.org/plosonline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0020340 Genetic Analysis of Lice Supports Direct Contact Between Modern and Archaic Humans]
*[http://www.plosbiology.org/plosonline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0020340 Genetic Analysis of Lice Supports Direct Contact Between Modern and Archaic Humans]
{{STD/STI}}
{{STD/STI}}



Revision as of 19:17, 10 August 2015

Phthirus
A magnified crab louse
ICD-10 B85
ICD-9 132
DiseasesDB 10028
MedlinePlus 000841
eMedicine emerg/298 
MeSH B01.500.131.617.564.159.730
Pubic louse or "Crabs"

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phthiraptera
Suborder: Anoplura
Family: Pthiridae
Genus: Pthirus
Leach, 1815
Species: P. pubis
Binomial name
Pthirus pubis
(L., 1758, originally Pediculus pubis)

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This page is about microbiologic aspects of the organism(s).  For clinical aspects of the disease, see Pubic louse infestation.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

The pubic or crab louse (Phthirus pubis) is a parasitic insect which spends its entire life on human hair and feeds exclusively on blood. Humans are the only known host of this parasite. Humans can also be infested with body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus) and with head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis)

Morphology

The dorso-ventrally flattened body of the louse is divided into head, thorax and abdomen. A pair of eyes and a pair of antenna are clearly visible on the head. The mouthparts are adapted to piercing the skin and sucking blood. The second and third pair of legs, with their terminal claws are adapted to holding the hair-shaft, while the first pair of leg holds the skin during feeding. Abdominal protuberances on the side of the body are characteristic of this species. Males are slightly smaller than females. The eggs are oval-shaped and ca. 0.8 mm in length. Immediately after oviposition they are shiny, round, and transparent. Pubic lice are 1-2- mm in size, varying according to the stage of their development. They are usually whitish-grayish in color they become reddish-brown for some time after blood-meal.

Biology

Pubic lice are insect parasites, spending their entire life on the host's hair and skin and feeding exclusively on blood, 4-5 times daily. The life-cycle from egg to adult is 22-27 days. The egg hatches producing the first nymphal stage, which after three moltings develops to nymph 2, nymph 3 and subsequently to either a male or female louse. The incubation period of the egg is 7-8 days, while the rest of the cycle is taken up with the development of nymphal stages. The average adult female lives for 17 and the male for 22 days. [1] [2].

Evolutionary theory of origin

The most recent genetic research indicates that crab lice are related to the louse endemic to gorillas, Pthirus gorillae, having spread to early hominids from the ancestors of gorillas several millions of years ago, rather than having diverged from human head lice as was previously generally thought.[3]

References

  1. Nuttall GHF. 1918. The biology of Phthirus pubis. Parasitology 10: 383-405.
  2. Payot F. 1920. Contribution a l'etude du Phthirus pubis (Linne, Leach). Bull. Soc. vaud. Sci. nat. 53: 127-161.
  3. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/5/7/abstract

See also

External links

Template:STD/STI