The Presence of Acinetobacter baumannii DNA on the Skin of Homeless People and Its Relationship With Body Lice Infestation. Preliminary Results

• Published in: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology Vol. 9; p. 86
• Main Authors: Ly, Tran Duc Anh, Kerbaj, Jad, Edouard, Sophie, Hoang, Van Thuan, Louni, Meriem, Dao, Thi Loi, Benkouiten, Samir, Badiaga, Sekene, Tissot-Dupont, Herve, Raoult, Didier, Brouqui, Philippe, Mediannikov, Oleg, Gautret, Philippe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers 05.04.2019; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Acinetobacter baumannii; Acinetobacter baumannii - genetics; Acinetobacter baumannii - isolation & purification; Acinetobacter Infections - epidemiology; Acinetobacter Infections - microbiology; Animals; Bacteriology; Blood - microbiology; body lice; Cardiology and cardiovascular system; Carrier State - epidemiology; Carrier State - microbiology; Cellular and Infection Microbiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; Emerging diseases; France - epidemiology; Genotype; Hair - microbiology; homeless; Human health and pathology; Humans; Ill-Housed Persons; Infectious diseases; Lice Infestations - complications; Life Sciences; Microbiology and Parasitology; ompA/motB; Parasitology; Pediculus - growth & development; Prevalence; skin; Skin - microbiology; Virology; France; homeless; skin; body lice; Acinetobacter baumannii; ompA/motB
• ISSN: 2235-2988; 2235-2988
• DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00086

The presence of was demonstrated in body lice, however, little is known about the mechanism of natural lice infection. In 2013 and 2014, cross-sectional one-day studies were therefore performed within two Marseille homeless shelters to assess the presence of DNA on human skin, blood and in body lice collected from the same homeless individuals. All 332 participants completed questionnaires, were examined for dermatologic signs, and provided four skin samples (hair, neck, armpits, and pelvic belt), blood samples and body lice (if any). We developed a new real-time PCR tool targeting the gene for the detection of for all collected samples. Blood culture was also performed. Body lice were found in 24/325 (7.4%) of subjects. We showed a prevalence of DNA skin-carriage in 33/305 (10.8%) of subjects. No difference was found in DNA prevalence according to body sites. A strong association between body lice infestation (OR = 3.07, = 0.029) and DNA skin-carriage was noted. In lice, DNA was detected in 59/219 arthropods (26.9%). All blood cultures and real-time PCR on blood samples were negative for . Lice probably get infected with while biting through the colonized skin and likely transmit the bacteria in their feces. We found no evidence that lice facilitate the invasion of into the blood stream. Further investigations are needed to compare phenotypic and genotypic features of isolates from human skin and lice from the same individuals.