Which diseases are transmitted by body lice?

Body lice are known to transmit several infectious diseases due to their feeding habits and association with crowded, unsanitary living conditions. The diseases linked to body lice include epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.

Epidemic typhus is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia prowazekii and is associated with outbreaks in situations where people are living in close quarters without access to proper hygiene. Trench fever, caused by Bartonella quintana, is also transmitted by body lice, particularly in military settings where soldiers may have been crowded together. Relapsing fever is caused by various species of Borrelia and can also be transmitted through body lice, contributing to sudden fevers that recur.

Understanding the route of transmission is crucial for controlling outbreaks and preventing disease spread, especially in populations living in conditions that favor body lice infestations. The other options do not include diseases transmitted by body lice, as they are associated with different vectors or modes of transmission, such as ticks or mites.