Body lice

Definition

The hematophagous ectoparasitic lice that infest human clothing and bedding, feeding on skin blood vessels; the adult and nymphal stages live primarily in fabric seams and move to the host only to feed. Distinguished from head lice by habitat preference and from pubic lice by morphology and attachment site. The body louse *Pediculus humanus humanus* (or *Pediculus humanus corporis*) is the principal vector of epidemic typhus (*Rickettsia prowazekii*), trench fever (*Bartonella quintana*), and louse-borne relapsing fever (*Borrelia recurrentis*).

Etymology

Example

Outbreaks of body lice occur in conditions of crowding and poor hygiene, such as refugee camps or prisons, where the lice transmit *Rickettsia prowazekii* between hosts; delousing with 0.5% permethrin-treated clothing is standard control.

Synonyms

• clothing lice
• cooties (informal)

Related Terms

• Head lice
• Pubic lice
• Ectoparasite
• vector-borne disease
• Epidemic typhus
• Pediculosis
• Phthiraptera

Usage Notes

Body lice and head lice are often considered conspecific subspecies or ecotypes (*Pediculus humanus humanus* vs. *P. h. capitis*) rather than distinct species; they differ ecologically in microhabitat and epidemiologically in disease transmission capacity. The term excludes crab lice (*Pthirus pubis*). In field usage, "body lice" refers to the infestation or population, while "body louse" refers to the individual insect.