How many clothing lice are there? - briefly
Only one species, Pediculus humanus corporis, is classified as the clothing louse. It is the sole member of its genus that inhabits garments.
How many clothing lice are there? - in detail
The only louse that lives permanently in human garments is the body louse, scientifically named Pediculus humanus humanus. It is a subspecies of Pediculus humanus, which also includes the head louse (P. h. capitis). No other distinct species are classified as clothing‑associated lice in humans.
Key points:
- Taxonomy – One species, two subspecies; the body‑lice subspecies is the sole garment‑dwelling form.
- Global occurrence – Estimated prevalence of 0.5 %–1 % of the world’s population; with a current human population of ≈8 billion, this translates to 40–80 million individuals carrying the garment‑dwelling form.
- Geographic distribution – Endemic in regions with poor hygiene, overcrowding, and limited access to clean clothing; reported in Africa, the Middle East, South America, and parts of Asia.
- Life cycle – Eggs (nits) are attached to fabric fibers; larvae develop on clothing and move to the host’s skin for feeding; the entire cycle lasts 10–14 days under optimal conditions.
- Public‑health impact – Acts as a vector for Rickettsia prowazekii (epidemic typhus), Bartonella quintana (trench fever), and Borrelia recurrentis (relapsing fever).
Thus, the count of distinct clothing‑associated lice is limited to a single recognized subspecies, with tens of millions of individual organisms infesting human clothing worldwide.