A Case Study of Body Louse Pediculus humanus corporis (Anoplura: Pediculidae) Infestation Found on a Homeless Person in Okayama, Japan
A human case of body louse (Anoplura: Pediculidae) infestation found in Okayama City, Japan is reported. The patient was a 44-year-old male, a homeless person around Okayama Railroad Station. On February 9th, 1998, the patient suddenly fell down senseless on the ground nearby the west gate of the Station, and was sent to Kawasaki Hospital Division of our school. The patient was diagnosed as having splenolysis and immediately admitted to the hospital. The following day of admission, a numerous number of crawling minute insects were found in underwears of the patient. The minute insects were identified as adult and nymphal stages of human body louse, Pediculus humanus corporis De Geer, 1778 from morphological features and behavioral characteristics. The body lice were not found on head hair of the patient, and neither dermatological damage nor conspicuous change of systemic symptom caused by the body louse infestation was recognized. The body lice found on the patient were completely controlled by incineration of the clothes.
