Crab louse

The crab louse or pubic louse (Pthirus pubis) is an insect that is an

obligate ectoparasite of humans, feeding exclusively on blood.[1] Crab louse
The crab louse usually is found in the person's pubic hair. Although
the louse cannot jump, it can also live in other areas of the body that
are covered with coarse hair, such as the eyelashes.[2][3] It is of the
order Psocodea.

Humans are the only known hosts of the crab louse, although a
closely related species, Pthirus gorillae, infects gorilla populations.
The human parasite diverged from Pthirus gorillae approximately
3.3 million years ago.[4] It is more distantly related to the genus Scientific classification
Pediculus, which contains the human head and body lice and a
Kingdom: Animalia
louse that affects chimpanzees and bonobos.
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Contents Order: Phthiraptera
Naming Suborder: Anoplura
Description Family: Pthiridae
Life cycle
Genus: Pthirus
Infestation of humans
Species: P. pubis
References
Binomial name
External links
Pthirus pubis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Naming Synonyms
Infestation with crab lice is also called phthiriasis or phthiriasis
pubis. The disease (like the name of the order to which the louse Pediculus pubis Linnaeus, 1758
belongs, Phthiraptera) is spelled with phth, but the scientific name
of the louse, Pthirus pubis, is spelled with pth, despite this being
based on a misspelling that was nevertheless fixed as the official spelling in 1958.[5]

Description
An adult crab louse is about 1.3–2 mm long (slightly smaller than the body louse and head louse), and can be
distinguished from those other species by its almost round body. Another distinguishing feature is that the
rearmost two pairs of legs of a crab louse are much thicker than the front legs and have large claws.[6]

Life cycle
The eggs of the crab louse are laid usually on the coarse hairs of the genital and perianal regions of the human
body. The female lays about three eggs a day. The eggs take 6–8 days to hatch, and there are three nymphal
stages which together take 10–17 days before the adult develops, making a total life cycle from egg to adult of
16–25 days. Adults live for up to 30 days.[6] Crab lice feed exclusively on blood, and take a blood meal 4–5
times daily. Adults are 1.5–2.0 mm long and flattened. They are much broader in comparison to head and
body lice. Adults are found only on the human host and require human blood to survive. If adults are forced
off the host, they will die within 24–48 hours without a blood feeding. Pubic lice are transmitted from person
to person most-commonly via sexual contact, although fomites (bedding, clothing) may play a minor role in
their transmission.[7]

Infestation of humans
Infestations of crab lice are known as pediculosis pubis or phthiriasis
pubis (which, unlike the generic name of the louse, is spelled with a
phth). Infestation of the eyelashes is referred to as pediculosis ciliaris
or phthiriasis palpebrarum.[8]

The main symptom of infestation with crab lice is itching, usually in

the pubic-hair area, resulting from hypersensitivity to louse saliva,
which can become stronger over two or more weeks following initial Pubic lice on eyelashes
infestation. In some infestations, a characteristic grey-blue or slate
coloration appears (maculae caeruleae) at the feeding site, which may
last for several days.

Current worldwide prevalence has been estimated at 2% of the human

population, but accurate numbers are difficult to gauge because crab lice
infestations are not considered a reportable condition by many governments,
and many cases are self-treated or treated discreetly by primary physicians.[9]

It has been suggested that an increasing percentage of humans removing their

pubic hair has led to reduced crab louse populations in some parts of the
world.[10][11] Other lice that infest humans are the body louse and the head
Crab louse egg on human louse. The claws of these three species are adapted to attachment to specific
body hair
hair diameters.[12]

Pubic lice are not known to transmit disease. Adult pubic

lice are 1.1–1.8 mm in length. The pubic hair can
typically host up to a dozen on average. Pubic lice
typically are found attached to hair in the pubic area but
sometimes are found on coarse hair elsewhere on the
Crab Lice body (for example, eyebrows, eyelashes, beard,
mustache, chest, armpits, etc.). They do not generally
occur on the finer hair of the scalp.[6][13] Crab lice attach
to pubic hair that is thicker than other body hair because their claws are adapted to the specific diameter of
pubic hair.[14] Pubic lice infestations (pthiriasis) are usually spread through sexual contact.[14][2][3] The crab
louse can travel up to 25 cm (10 in) on the body. Pubic lice infestation is found worldwide and occurs in all
races and ethnic groups and in all economic levels. Pubic lice usually are spread through sexual contact and
are most common in adults. Occasionally pubic lice may be spread by close personal contact or contact with
articles such as clothing, bed linens, and towels that have been used by an infested person.[7][15]
Pubic lice found on the head or eyelashes of children may be an indication of sexual exposure or abuse. Pubic
lice do not transmit disease; however, secondary bacterial infection can occur from scratching of the skin. They
are much broader in comparison to head and body lice. Adults are found only on the human host and require
human blood to survive. If adults are forced off the host, they will die within 24–48 hours without a blood
feeding.[7]

Symptoms of crab louse infestation in the pubic area include itching, redness and inflammation. These
symptoms cause increased blood circulation to the skin of the pubic region creating a blood-rich environment
for the crab louse. Pubic lice infestation can also be diagnosed by identifying the presence of nits or eggs on
the pubic hair. When clinicians find the crab louse on one family member they often request to examine other
members of the family for similar symptoms of infestation. If a clinician suspects the presence of the louse,
they may be able to identify the nits or eggs under magnification.[14]

References
1. Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set.
St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
2. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) (2017-05-02). "Parasites: lice" (https://www.
cdc.gov/parasites/lice/index.html). www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2017-12-04. This article
incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) (2017-05-02). "Parasites: pubic "crab" lice"
(https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/pubic/index.html). www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
4. Weiss RA (10 February 2009). "Apes, lice and prehistory" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ar
ticles/PMC2687769). J Biol. 8 (2): 20. doi:10.1186/jbiol114 (https://doi.org/10.1186%2Fjbiol11
4). PMC 2687769 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2687769). PMID 19232074
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19232074).
5. "Phthiraptera.info: Taxonomy of Human Lice" (http://phthiraptera.info/content/taxonomy-human-l
ice). Retrieved 2019-10-23.
6. Service, Mike (2012). Medical Entomology for Students (5th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-66818-8.
7. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) (2017-05-02). "Pubic "crab" lice: biology" (h
ttps://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/pubic/biology.html). www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
8. Manjunatha NP, Jayamanne GR, Desai SP, Moss TR, Lalik J, Woodland A. Pediculosis pubis:
presentation to ophthalmologist as phthriasis palpebrarum associated with corneal epithelial
keratitis. Int. J. STD AIDS 2006; 17: 424–426
9. Anderson AL, Chaney E (February 2009). "Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis): history, biology and
treatment vs. knowledge and beliefs of US college students" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pm
c/articles/PMC2672365). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 6 (2): 592–600.
doi:10.3390/ijerph6020592 (https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fijerph6020592). PMC 2672365 (https://
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672365). PMID 19440402 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.ni
h.gov/19440402).
10. Armstrong, N. R.; Wilson, J. D. (2006). "Did the "Brazilian" kill the pubic louse?" (https://www.nc
bi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2564756). Sexually Transmitted Infections. 82 (3): 265–266.
doi:10.1136/sti.2005.018671 (https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fsti.2005.018671). PMC 2564756 (http
s://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2564756). PMID 16731684 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nl
m.nih.gov/16731684).
11. Bloomberg: Brazilian bikini waxes make crab lice endangered species (https://www.bloomberg.
com/news/2013-01-13/brazilian-bikini-waxes-make-crab-lice-endangered-species-health.html),
published 13 January 2013, retrieved 14 January 2013
12. Williams gynecology. Hoffman, Barbara L., Williams, J. Whitridge (John Whitridge), 1866-1931.
(2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. 2012. p. 90. ISBN 9780071716727.
OCLC 779244257 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/779244257).
13. Nuttall, GHF (1918). "The biology of Phthirus pubis" (https://zenodo.org/record/1428632).
Parasitology. 10 (3): 383–405. doi:10.1017/s0031182000003954 (https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs
0031182000003954).
14. Williams gynecology. Hoffman, Barbara L., Williams, J. Whitridge (John Whitridge), 1866-1931.
(2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. 2012. ISBN 9780071716727. OCLC 779244257 (htt
ps://www.worldcat.org/oclc/779244257).
15. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) (2017-05-02). "Pubic "crab" lice:
epidemiology & risk factors" (https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/pubic/epi.html). www.cdc.gov.
Retrieved 2017-12-04. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public
domain.

External links
MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Pubic lice (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000841.htm)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crab_louse&oldid=970748920"

This page was last edited on 2 August 2020, at 04:17 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.