Molecular survey of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) infestation among disadvantaged children in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2021

Abstract

Ectoparasitic infestations including pediculosis capitis are common in people of disadvantaged communities as they live in overcrowded institutions, a condition that often favourable for disease transmission. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of head lice infestation among disadvantaged children aged between five to 14 years-old living in five poor conditions located across the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Of total 335 children examined, 14% were positively infected with head lice. Molecular analysis using the universal cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcoding gene on total of 167 head lice collected in this study indicated they are belonging to the A and C clades; confirming the global distribution of clade A and expansion of clade C in Southeast Asia, which is reported for the first time in Malaysia.

Keywords

COI, DNA barcoding, Disadvantaged children, Head lice, Malaysia

Publication Title

Tropical Biomedicine

Divisions

tidrec

Funders

Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia (Higher Institution Centre of Excellence Program)[MO002-2019],Impact Oriented Interdisciplinary Research Grant[IIRG002A-2020SAH]

Volume

38

Issue

4

Publisher

Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine

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