Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jul 2024)

Body Louse Pathogen Surveillance among Persons Experiencing Homelessness, Canada, 2020–2021

  • Carl Boodman,
  • Leslie R. Lindsay,
  • Antonia Dibernardo,
  • Kathy Kisil,
  • Heather Coatsworth,
  • Chris Huynh,
  • Amila Heendeniya,
  • John Schellenberg,
  • Yoav Keynan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3007.231660
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 30, no. 7
pp. 1450 – 1453

Abstract

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We analyzed body lice collected from persons experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, during 2020–2021 to confirm vector species and ecotype and to identify louseborne pathogens. Of 556 lice analyzed from 7 persons, 17 louse pools (218 lice) from 1 person were positive for the louseborne bacterium Bartonella quintana.

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