Epidemiological analysis of pediculosis and the distribution of kdr mutation frequency in head lice populations in Torbat Heydarieh city of Khorasan Razavi Province, Northeastern Iran

• Published in: BMC research notes 2024-10, Vol.17 (1), p.323-9, Article 323
• Main Authors: Taheri, Mohammad, Ghahvechi Khaligh, Fereshteh, Hanafi-Bojd, Ahmad Ali, Khalkhali, Hamid Reza, Dashti, Kamal, Badakhshan, Mehdi, Gholizadeh, Saber
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Care and treatment; Child; Control; Demographic aspects; Diagnosis; Elementary school students; Epidemiology; Female; Haplotypes; Head lice; Health aspects; Humans; Insecticide resistance; Insecticide Resistance - genetics; Insecticides - pharmacology; Iran; Iran - epidemiology; Knockdown gene; Lice; Lice Infestations - epidemiology; Lice Infestations - parasitology; Male; Mutation; Pediculosis; Pediculus; Pediculus - genetics; Pesticide resistance; Prevalence; Prevention; Research Note; Social aspects
• ISSN: 1756-0500; 1756-0500
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-024-06940-3

Head lice infestations are the most prominent ectoparasitic infection in the world, including Iran, particularly among school children. Recently, numerous cases of infestation have been reported in various provinces of the country. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of head louse infestations and analyze kdr gene sequences in terms of resistance mutations in the Torbat-e Heydarieh, Mahvelat, and Zaveh cities of Khorasan Razavi Province, Northeast Iran. The data related to the epidemiological and demographic history of head lice populations were extracted from their medical records and analyzed in Excel software. After extracting the genomic DNA, the kdr fragment was amplified using specific primers. The sequences were also analyzed using bioinformatics software. The prevalence of head louse infestations was 1.59% and 1.7% during 2016 and 2017, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed the frequency distribution of two kdr haplotypes, I and V, in the study areas. The increase in head louse infestations in recent years and the simultaneous presence of kdr mutations indicate the need for new treatments and monitoring/controlling resistance to head louse insecticides.