Use of Temperature and Water Immersion to Control the Human Body Louse (Anoplura: Pediculidae)

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology 2006-07, Vol.43 (4), p.723-725
• Main Authors: Mumcuoglu, KY, Friger, M, Cohen, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anoplura; Pediculidae; Pediculus humanus humanus
• ISSN: 0022-2585
• DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585(2006)43[723:UOTAWI]2.0.CO;2

Physical methods such as high and low temperatures were used in the past for the control of human body louse, Pediculus humanus humanus L. (Anoplura: Pediculidae). In the current study, the minimum time necessary to kill all lice after exposing them to temperatures other than those described in the literature, the mortality of lice after immersing them in water, and the survival of lice whose legs were amputated were studied. All lice died after 6 d at 6 degree C, after 11 d at 24 degree C, and after 9 d at 31 degree C. At -17 degree C, all lice were dead after 35 min, whereas at -70 degree C, all lice were dead after 1 min. All lice died after immersion in water within 19 h. The differences in mortality were significant but borderline between controls and lice whose two legs were amputated immediately or 24 h after feeding (3.3 versus 13.3% and 8.3 versus 21.7%). For lice whose leg was amputated 48 h after feeding, significant differences were found between controls and lice with one amputated leg (13.3 versus 48.3%), between controls and lice with two amputated legs (13.3 versus 68.3%), and between lice with one and two amputated legs (48.3 versus 68.3%).