Distinguishing Body Lice from Head Lice by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Analysis of the Phum_PHUM540560 Gene |
| |
Authors: | Rezak Drali Amina Boutellis Didier Raoult Jean Marc Rolain Philippe Brouqui |
| |
Institution: | 1. Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, Marseille, France.; 2. Service des Entérobactéries et Hygiène de l''Environnement, Institut Pasteur d''Algérie, Algiers, Algeria.; Cairo University, Egypt, |
| |
Abstract: | BackgroundBody louse or head louse? Once removed from their environment, body and head lice are indistinguishable. Neither the morphological criteria used since the mid-18th century nor the various genetic studies conducted since the advent of molecular biology tools have allowed body lice and head lice to be differentiated. In this work, using a portion of the Phum_PHUM540560 gene from the body louse, we aimed to develop a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to differentiate between body and head lice in a single reaction.Materials and MethodsA total of 142 human lice were collected from mono-infested hosts from 13 countries on five continents. We first identified the louse clade using a cytochrome b (CYTB) PCR sequence alignment. We then aligned a fragment of the Phum_PHUM540560 gene amplified from head and body lice to design-specific TaqMan© FAM- and VIC-labeled probes.ResultsAll the analyzed lice were Clade A lice. A total of 22 polymorphisms between the body and head lice were characterized. The multiplex real-time PCR analysis enabled the body and head lice to be distinguished in two hours. This method is simple, with 100% specificity and sensitivity.ConclusionsWe confirmed that the Phum_PHUM540560 gene is a useful genetic marker for the study of lice. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|