The potential of the human head louse to transfer from host to host was evaluated in the laboratory. Experimental subjects were reared in the laboratory on a live host. The tendency of head lice to disperse was examined with respect to different life stages, different physiological status (fed versus fasted), different densities, and over different time frames. A comparison of the feasibility between direct host head-to-head contact versus transmission via fomites is discussed.
Species 1: Phthiraptera Pediculidae Pediculus capitis (human head louse)
Keywords: transmission
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