Body lice live and multiply in human clothing and bedding
New research sheds light on the role of body lice in the transmission of the bubonic plague
Pawlowsky glands in body lice heads transmit plague at sufficient levels to infect humans
Up to 60% of infected body lice remain infectious for a week
The bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history. It ravaged Europe in the 14th century, claiming an estimated 25 million lives. The common belief is that rat fleas were responsible for spreading this devastating disease. However, recent research suggests that body lice may have also played a role in its transmission.
Body lice live and multiply in the seams of human clothing and bedding. They are blood-sucking parasites that consume more blood than fleas, making humans more likely to scratch when infested. This scratching can lead to open wounds, providing an opportunity for plague bacteria to enter the body.
A study published in PLOS Biology demonstrated that human body lice are more efficient transmitters of plague than previously thought. The researchers found that up to 60% of infected lice remained infectious for a week and could transmit the disease within 24 hours of feeding on plague-infected blood. Even those without visible signs of infection in their feces were capable of transmitting the disease.
The Pawlowsky glands, located in the heads of body lice, are thought to play a role in saliva secretion. The researchers discovered that these glands can transmit plague at levels sufficient to infect humans. This finding suggests that body lice may be better vectors of plague bacilli than previously appreciated.
The bubonic plague was a turning point in human history, leading to significant social and economic changes. Understanding the role of both rat fleas and body lice in its transmission can provide valuable insights into the dynamics of infectious diseases and their spread.
Human body lice may have provided an additional transmission route for plague bacteria due to their ability to transmit other infections and being common in the Middle Ages when hygiene was poorer.
Research published in PLOS Biology demonstrates that human body lice are more efficient transmitters of plague than previously thought.
A study in the journal PLOS Biology suggests that body lice may be capable of transmitting Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, more effectively than previously thought.
