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Genetic diversity of the human head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, among primary school girls in Saudi Arabia, with reference to their prevalence

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Abstract

The present work aimed at investigating the genetic diversity of the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis (P. humanus capitis) among infested primary school girls at Bisha governorate, Saudi Arabia, based on the sequence of mitochondrial cytochrome b (mt cyt b) gene of 121 P. humanus capitis adults. Additionally, the prevalence of pediculosis capitis was surveyed. The results of sequencing were compared with the sequence of human head lice that are genotyped previously. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed the presence of 100% identity (n = 26) of louse specimens with clade A (prevalent worldwide) of the GenBank data base. Louse individuals (n = 50) showed 99.8% similarity with the same clade A reference having a single base pair difference. Also, a number of 22 louse individuals revealed 99.8% identity with clade B reference (prevalent in North and Central Americas, Europe, and Australia) with individual diversity in two base pairs. Moreover, 14 louse individual sequences revealed 99.4% identity with three base pair differences. It was concluded that moderate pediculosis (~13%) prevailed among the female students of the primary schools. It was age-and hair texture (straight or curly)-dependent. P. humanus capitis prevalence diversity is of clades A and B genotyping.

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Acknowledgements

This research project was supported by a grant from the “Research Center of the Female Scientific and Medical colleges,” Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University for the financial support. The authors are grateful to the all administrators, Ministry of Education, Bisha governorate, Saudi Arabia. Sincere thanks are also due to Professor Ahmed Ali Al-Qahtani, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center for cooperation and guidance in DNA sequencing as well as providing all his laboratory facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Bisha University, Bisha, Saudi Arabia

    Sarah A. Al-Shahrani

  2. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Reem A. Alajmi

  3. Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Orman, 12613, Giza, Postal Code 12613, Egypt

    Tahany H. Ayaad & El-Sayed H. Shaurub

  4. Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University Hospital at King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammed A. Al-Shahrani

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  1. Sarah A. Al-Shahrani
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  2. Reem A. Alajmi
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  3. Tahany H. Ayaad
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  4. Mohammed A. Al-Shahrani
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  5. El-Sayed H. Shaurub
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Correspondence to Tahany H. Ayaad.

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Al-Shahrani, S.A., Alajmi, R.A., Ayaad, T.H. et al. Genetic diversity of the human head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, among primary school girls in Saudi Arabia, with reference to their prevalence. Parasitol Res 116, 2637–2643 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5570-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5570-3

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