Hepatitis B Virus in Bedbugs

Bed bugs are tiny insects (maximum size: 5 millimeters) from the genus Cimex that feed on human blood, usually at night. They have mouth parts that saw through the skin and inject saliva with anticoagulants and painkillers. Bed bugs spend much of their time in dark, hidden locations like mattress seams, or cracks in a wall.

[Common bed bug - Image: El Grafo]

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is the species best adapted to human environments. It is found in temperate climates throughout the world. Other species include the tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus), found in tropical regions, which also infests poultry and bats, and Leptocimex boueti, found in the tropics of West Africa and South America, which infests humans and bats. The western bat bug (Cimex pilosellus) and the bat bug (Cimex pipistrella) primarily infest bats, while the Mexican chicken bug (Haematosiphon inodora), a species of North America, primarily infests poultry.

So, there are quite a few species of bed bugs that live close to humans and have a nightly feast on our blood. Well, since our blood can be infected with all sorts of viruses, we can ask the question if bedbugs can become infected too (and potentially spreading the infection to others).

The answer to that vexing question is: yes.

The tropical bed bugs were collected from the bedding in the huts of village dwellers in Senegal, West Africa[1]. Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBSAg) was detected in unengorged nymph and adult bedbugs in each of the first three collections. The results were the highest field infection-rates of hepatitis-B virus reported in any insect species. The bedbug must be considered a potential vector of hepatitis-B virus, the scientists report.

Also, in South-Africa, scientist found that transmission of Hepatitis B Virus was possible via (I) contamination of a person when crushing infective bugs, (II) contamination from infected faeces, and (III) infection by bite due to regurgitation or interrupted feeding[2].

In other research, scientists could find Hepatitis B in bedbugs, but not Hepatitis C[3].

[1] Wills et al: Hepatitis-B virus in bedbugs (Cimex hemipterus) from Senegal in Lancet – 1977
[2] Jupp et al: The mechanical transmission of hepatitis B virus by the common bedbug (Cimex lectularius L.) in South Africa in South African Medical Journal - 1983
[3] Silverman et al: Assessment of hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis C virus RNA in the common bedbug (Cimex lectularius L.) and kissing bug (Rodnius prolixus) in American Journal of Gastroenterology – 2001