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The aggregation response of human body louse (Pediculus humanus) (Insecta: Anoplura) to its excretory products

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Y. Mumcuoglu ,
R. Galun  and
R. Ikan
Y. Mumcuoglu
Affiliation:
The Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School
R. Galun
Affiliation:
The Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School
R. Ikan
Affiliation:
Department of Organic Chemistry, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
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Abstract

The human body louse aggregates on filter paper impregnated with an aqueous extract of louse faeces. Chemical analysis of the faeces revealed the presence of haemoglobin, xanthine, hypoxanthine, uric acid and ammonium salts. Of all these compounds, only ammonium salts caused marked aggregation of lice. Excretory products of other insects and ticks also failed to induce aggregation. Total faecal material was more attractive than ammonium, and led to greater aggregation of females than of males. Antennectomized lice reacted neither to faeces extract nor to ammonium carbonate solution.

Résumé

Les poux du corps de l'homme se ressemblent en agrégats sur du papier filtre impregné d'un extrait aqueux de matières fécales de pou. L'analyse chimique des matières fécales révèle la presence d'hémoglobine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, acide urique et de sels d'ammonium. Parmi tous ces éléments, seuls les sels d'ammonium provoquent une forte agrégation des poux. D'autres produits d'excrétion de certains insectes et de tiques ne causent pas d'agrégation. Les matières fécales totales provoquent une agrégation plus forte des femelles que des males et leur action est plus marquée que celle des sels d'ammonium. Les poux dont les antennes ont été sectionées ne réagissent ni à l'extrait de matières fécales ni au carbonate d'ammonium en solution.

Keywords

Human body lousePediculus humanusaggregationfaecesammoniumPou du corpsPediculus humanusagrégationmatières fécalesammonium
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 7 , Issue 5 , October 1986 , pp. 629 - 632
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1986

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