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LICE

BY
WAQAS ASGHAR
18121714-003

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
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Contents
Lice
Taxonomic status
Types
Morphology
Characteristics
Life cycle
Infestation
Symptoms
Body lice diseases
Treatment
References

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LICE
Lice is the common name for members of
the order Phthiraptera.
Greek "phthir"meaning lice
and "aptera" meaning wingless.

which contains nearly 5,000 species of

wingless insect.

obligate ectoparasite

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Lice are classified as members of
order Phthiraptera
Anoplura Mallophaga

Sucking Biting

Blood sucker Feed on scales, secretions

and detritus of skin

Proboscis Mandibles

Slow moving More active

Mammals Mammals and birds

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Anoplura
4 families
30 genera
500 species
Arranged in four families
Echinophthiriidae ( marine mammals)
Haematopinidae (cattle)
Haematopinoididae ( gophers of N
America)
Pediculidae (Human lice)

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:- Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Phthiraptera
Anoplura
Pediculidae
Pediculus
P. humanus
P. h. capitis
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Types
HEAD LICE
PEDICULUS CAPITUS

BODY LICE
PEDICULUS HUMANUS

PUBIC LICE
PTHIRUS PUBIS

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MORPHOLOGY
Small
Grayish white
Leathery integument
Flattened
Males 2-3mm
Females 3-4mm
Pair of five segmented antennae

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Thoracic segments fused

Tarsal claw
Tibial spine
Sucking snout like projection called
haustellum
Males tip of abdomen is round
Females bifurcated to grip fibers
and hair during egg laying

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Pubic louse
Size 1.3-2mm

Length and width approximately same

Middle and hind legs are large and thicker

and have massive claws

Slow movement

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lice
Host Eggs (nits) are cemented onto host’s hair or feathers

All stages (nymphs & adults) are blood sucking

Unable to survive for long when off hosts

Only 3 species attack humans

Louse nit

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY Adults & nymphs

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Many species are host specific

Live in specific region of host’s body

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 Obligate ectoparasite of human.

 Wingless insects spending their entire

life on human scalp and feeding
exclusively on human blood.

 Humans are the only known host.

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INFESTATION
Preschool and elementary-aged children
are infested most often

Females are infested more than males

Most common transmission is head to head

contact

Shared hats, combs, and hair accessories, as

well as from infested bedding.

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SYMPTOMS
Itching of head – may or may not occur due
to the saliva of the louse as it bites the
scalp.

Irritating sensation of something moving in

the hair

Diagnosis is made by observing nits,

nymphs, or adults
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Body Lice Diseases

Louse-Borne Relapsing Fever Spirochaeta (Borrelia
recurrentis)
1 Million cases observed in North Africa (WWII)
Case fatality rate 10%

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Trench Fever (Bartonella quintana)
Less serious, rarely fatal
Characteristic five-day fever
headache, dizziness, pains in muscles and bones

Epidemic typhus (Rickettsia prowazekii)

15 - 75% cause deaths
WAR AND FAMINE
High fever, backache, intense headache, mental
confusion and brick red face and chest after 5-6
days
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To relieve itching
Lotion made of
1% spirits of thymol

Mixture of
5% benzocaine
2% methyl salicylate
0.5% salicyclic acid
70% alcohol

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Lice Treatment
Pyrethins and Permethrin lotion 1%
kill live lice but not the nits.
Malathion lotion 0.5%
kill some eggs
Lindane shampoo 1%:
cause neurological damage
“Nix” shampoo
DDT WWII

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Cont….
Pyrethrins
1 percent permethrin lotion
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