An experimental model of human body louse infection with Rickettsia prowazekii

Linda Houhamdi, Pierre Edouard Fournier, Rong Fang, Hubert Lepidi, Didier Raoult

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rickettsia prowazekii is transmitted to humans by the body louse. A new experimental model of body louse infection with R. prowazekii is reported here. Eight hundred human lice were infected by feeding on a rabbit that was made bacteremic by injecting 2 × 106 plaque-forming units of R. prowazekii. The bacterium invaded the stomach cells and was released in feces, in which it was detected 5 days after infection. At day 6 after infection, as a result of the cell burst and the spread of erythrocytes in the hemolymph, the louse became bright red and died within 4 h. The life span of infected lice was shortened by 20-23 days, compared with that of uninfected control lice. Infected lice did not transmit R. prowazekii to their progeny. Through cell culture, rickettsiae were cultivated from fecal samples up to 10 days after their emission. The administration of doxycycline to the rabbit during louse feeding did not cure lice from R. prowazekii infection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1639-1646
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume186
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

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