Medical name for crabs. Pubic Lice: Symptoms, Causes, and Effective Treatment Options

22.11.197321.09.2021 by alexxlab

What are pubic lice and how do they spread. What symptoms indicate a pubic lice infestation. How are pubic lice diagnosed and treated effectively. What preventive measures can reduce the risk of contracting pubic lice.

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Understanding Pubic Lice: An Overview

Pubic lice, commonly known as crabs, are tiny parasitic insects that infest the pubic hair region. These minuscule creatures, while not carriers of diseases, can cause significant discomfort and irritation. Despite their name, pubic lice can also inhabit other coarse body hair areas, including the chest, armpits, and facial hair.

Contrary to popular belief, pubic lice are not classified as a sexually transmitted disease (STD). However, sexual contact remains the primary mode of transmission. These parasites can jump from one person to another during close physical contact, making intimate encounters a common vector for infestation.

Characteristics of Pubic Lice

Size: About the size of a pinhead
Appearance: Resemble tiny gray crabs
Habitat: Primarily pubic hair, but can infest other coarse body hair
Lifespan: Die within 1-2 days if they fall off a human host

The Life Cycle of Pubic Lice: From Nit to Adult

Understanding the life cycle of pubic lice is crucial for effective treatment and prevention. These parasites go through three distinct stages: nit, nymph, and adult.

Nits (Eggs)

Nits are the eggs of pubic lice. They are typically oval-shaped and appear yellow or white. Due to their small size, nits can be challenging to spot with the naked eye.

Nymphs

After hatching from the nits, young lice enter the nymph stage. These immature lice require about two to three weeks to develop into adults. During this period, they feed on human blood to sustain their growth.

Adults

Fully grown pubic lice have six legs, with the front pair resembling crab pincers. Adult lice are tan or grayish-white in color and continue to feed on human blood. Their crab-like appearance gives rise to the colloquial term “crabs” for pubic lice infestations.

Transmission and Risk Factors for Pubic Lice Infestation

While sexual contact is the most common method of transmission, pubic lice can spread through other means as well. Understanding these transmission routes is essential for prevention and control.

Primary Transmission Methods

Sexual contact with an infested person
Close physical contact with an infested individual
Sharing bedding, clothing, or towels with someone who has pubic lice

Can pubic lice spread through casual contact? Handshakes, hugs, and other forms of casual contact are unlikely to transmit pubic lice. These parasites require close, prolonged contact to move from one host to another.

Is it possible to contract pubic lice from toilet seats? While theoretically possible, the likelihood of getting pubic lice from a toilet seat is extremely low. Pubic lice cannot survive long away from a human host, and their legs are not adapted to grip smooth surfaces like toilet seats.

Risk Factors

Multiple sexual partners
Sharing personal items with an infested person
Living in crowded conditions
Poor personal hygiene

Recognizing the Symptoms of Pubic Lice Infestation

Identifying a pubic lice infestation early can lead to quicker treatment and relief. Symptoms typically appear about five days after initial infestation. However, some individuals may remain asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms that go unnoticed.

Common Symptoms of Pubic Lice

Intense itching in the pubic region
Visible lice or eggs in pubic hair
Small specks of blood in underwear
Pale bluish spots on thighs, buttocks, or lower abdomen
Low-grade fever and general malaise

Why do pubic lice cause such intense itching? The itching associated with pubic lice is primarily due to an allergic reaction to their bites. As the lice feed on human blood, they make tiny bites on the skin, triggering an immune response that manifests as intense itching.

Diagnosing Pubic Lice: Professional and Self-Examination

While self-examination can often reveal the presence of pubic lice, a professional diagnosis may be necessary in some cases, especially if symptoms are present but no lice are visible.

Self-Examination

To check for pubic lice at home:

Examine the pubic hair area closely
Look for tiny, grayish-white insects moving in the hair
Check for small white or yellowish eggs (nits) attached to hair shafts
Inspect other body hair areas, including chest, armpits, and facial hair

Professional Diagnosis

If self-examination is inconclusive, a healthcare provider can offer a definitive diagnosis. They may:

Use a magnifying glass to spot lice or nits
Take samples for microscopic examination
Recommend testing for other sexually transmitted infections

Effective Treatment Options for Pubic Lice

Treating pubic lice involves eliminating the infestation and managing symptoms. Over-the-counter treatments are often effective, but severe cases may require prescription medications.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

Several OTC treatments are available for pubic lice:

Permethrin 1% lotion or cream
Pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide

These treatments typically involve applying a medicated shampoo or cream to the affected areas. Follow the package instructions carefully for best results.

Prescription Treatments

For severe or persistent infestations, a healthcare provider may prescribe:

Malathion 0.5% lotion
Ivermectin (oral medication)

Treatment Procedure

Wash and dry the body thoroughly
Apply the treatment to all potentially infested areas
Leave the treatment on for the recommended time
Rinse off the treatment
Comb through treated areas with a fine-toothed comb to remove dead lice and nits

Is a single treatment sufficient to eliminate pubic lice? In many cases, a second treatment is necessary after 7-9 days to ensure all newly hatched lice are eliminated. Always follow the instructions provided with the treatment or by your healthcare provider.

Prevention and Control: Limiting the Spread of Pubic Lice

Preventing pubic lice infestations involves a combination of personal hygiene practices and responsible sexual behavior. Additionally, proper steps must be taken to prevent reinfestation after treatment.

Preventive Measures

Practice safe sex and limit the number of sexual partners
Avoid sharing personal items like towels, clothing, and bedding
Maintain good personal hygiene
Regularly inspect the pubic area for signs of infestation

Post-Treatment Precautions

After treating a pubic lice infestation:

Wash all bedding, towels, and clothing used in the past 2-3 days in hot water (at least 130Â°F)
Dry clean items that can’t be machine washed, or seal them in a plastic bag for two weeks
Vacuum carpets, furniture, and car seats thoroughly
Avoid sexual contact until the infestation is completely cleared

Can pubic lice survive on inanimate objects? While pubic lice prefer human hosts, they can survive for 1-2 days on clothing, bedding, or towels. Proper cleaning of these items is crucial to prevent reinfestation.

Myths and Misconceptions About Pubic Lice

Despite being a common condition, pubic lice are surrounded by numerous myths and misconceptions. Addressing these can help reduce stigma and promote better understanding of the condition.

Common Myths About Pubic Lice

Myth: Pubic lice can jump or fly from person to person.
Fact: Pubic lice cannot jump or fly. They can only crawl and require close contact to spread.
Myth: Only people with poor hygiene get pubic lice.
Fact: Anyone can get pubic lice, regardless of personal hygiene habits.
Myth: Pubic lice can spread diseases.
Fact: While uncomfortable, pubic lice do not transmit any diseases.
Myth: You can get pubic lice from animals.
Fact: Pubic lice are human-specific parasites and do not infest animals.

Do pubic lice indicate the presence of other STIs? While pubic lice are often associated with sexual activity, their presence does not necessarily indicate other sexually transmitted infections. However, it’s advisable to get tested for other STIs if you’ve contracted pubic lice through sexual contact.

Long-Term Health Implications of Pubic Lice Infestations

While pubic lice do not directly cause serious health issues, prolonged infestations can lead to complications. Understanding these potential long-term effects can motivate prompt treatment and preventive measures.

Potential Complications

Secondary bacterial infections from excessive scratching
Skin discoloration in affected areas
Sleep disturbances due to persistent itching
Psychological distress and social stigma

Can pubic lice infestations recur after successful treatment? Yes, reinfestations are possible, especially if preventive measures are not followed or if sexual partners are not treated simultaneously. Consistent adherence to preventive practices is key to avoiding recurrent infestations.

Psychological Impact

The psychological effects of pubic lice infestations should not be underestimated. Some individuals may experience:

Embarrassment and shame
Anxiety about future sexual encounters
Decreased self-esteem
Relationship stress

Seeking support from healthcare providers or counselors can help address these psychological aspects of pubic lice infestations.

Special Considerations: Pubic Lice in Children and Pregnant Women

While pubic lice infestations are most common in adults, special populations like children and pregnant women require particular attention and care.

Pubic Lice in Children

The presence of pubic lice in children raises several concerns:

Possible indication of sexual abuse
Need for gentle, age-appropriate treatments
Importance of investigating the source of infestation

Healthcare providers should be alert to the possibility of abuse when diagnosing pubic lice in children and follow appropriate reporting procedures.

Pubic Lice During Pregnancy

Pregnant women with pubic lice require special consideration:

Some treatments may not be safe during pregnancy
Consultation with an obstetrician is crucial before starting any treatment
Close monitoring for potential complications is necessary

Are there safe treatment options for pregnant women with pubic lice? While some treatments are contraindicated during pregnancy, others may be used under medical supervision. Permethrin 1% is generally considered safe for use during pregnancy, but always consult a healthcare provider before starting any treatment.

Global Perspective: Pubic Lice Prevalence and Public Health Initiatives

Pubic lice infestations occur worldwide, affecting people of all races and ethnicities. Understanding the global prevalence and public health approaches can provide valuable insights into management and prevention strategies.

Global Prevalence

Estimated 3 million cases annually in the United States
Prevalence varies by region and population demographics
Often underreported due to stigma and self-treatment

Public Health Initiatives

Various public health strategies are employed globally to address pubic lice infestations:

Education and awareness campaigns
Integration of screening in routine sexual health check-ups
Promotion of safe sex practices
Improving access to effective treatments

How do public health initiatives impact the prevalence of pubic lice? Comprehensive public health approaches, including education, screening, and treatment access, can significantly reduce the prevalence of pubic lice infestations. These initiatives also help destigmatize the condition, encouraging more people to seek timely treatment.

Research and Development

Ongoing research in the field of pubic lice management focuses on:

Developing more effective and user-friendly treatments
Understanding resistance patterns to current treatments
Investigating novel prevention strategies
Improving diagnostic techniques for early detection

These research efforts aim to enhance our ability to manage and prevent pubic lice infestations more effectively in the future.

Pubic Lice (Genital Crabs): Symptoms, Treatment

Overview

What are pubic lice?

Pubic lice are also called crabs. These tiny insects live on your pubic hair — the hair below the belly button, around the genitals. Pubic lice rarely live on the scalp, but they can live in other hairy parts of the body, including:

Armpits.
Beard and mustache.
Chest.
Eyebrows and eyelashes.

Are pubic lice a disease?

Pubic lice don’t carry or spread diseases. So you can’t get sick from them. But they are annoying and itchy. You may end up with a bacterial infection from scratching. When you scratch, you can break the skin. Bacteria can enter the skin and cause an infection.

Are pubic lice an STD?

Pubic lice often get lumped in with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). That’s because people get pubic lice most often during sex. But pubic lice are not an actual disease or infection.

How do you get pubic lice?

You get genital crabs by coming into close physical contact with a person who has them. The lice jump from the pubic hair of one person to another. Usually, people catch crabs by having sex with a person who has them. Even if there’s no penetration or intercourse, the close physical contact means you can catch or spread crabs.

You can occasionally get crabs other ways, too. You can catch them by sharing or having contact with the clothes, linens and towels of a person who has them. But you won’t get crabs through casual contact, such as handshakes or hugs.

Can I get crabs by sharing a toilet seat with a person who has crabs?

You most likely cannot get crabs by sharing a toilet seat with someone who has them. The lice can’t live very long when they’re away from a human body. And their legs can’t hold onto a smooth surface like a toilet seat.

What do pubic lice look like?

The lice look different depending on their stage of growth:

Nits: These lice eggs are hard to see. They’re usually oval and yellow or white.
Nymph: This is the young louse (singular of lice) that hatches from the egg. Each one needs about two to three weeks to become a mature adult.
Adult: A fully grown louse has six legs. The front legs are larger and resemble a crab’s pincher claws. Adults are tan or grayish-white.

Nymphs and adult lice feed on blood. Once a louse falls off a person, it dies within a day or two.

Can I get pubic lice from a pet?

No. Dogs, cats and other pets don’t spread pubic lice.

Are pubic lice the same as head lice?

The lice you can get on your head are a different type of lice than pubic lice.

Can children get pubic lice?

Children might get infested if they sleep in the same bed as someone who has pubic lice. Often, pubic lice in a child is a sign of sexual abuse.

How common are pubic lice?

Pubic lice are common, found in people around the world, of every race and ethnic group. Pubic lice are most common in adults. Every year, about 3 million people in the United States get pubic lice.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes pubic lice?

You typically get pubic lice by being physically close to a person who has them. During sex, for example, the lice can jump from your partner’s pubic hair to your own.

Less often, lice spread through shared clothes, towels and linens.

What are the symptoms of crabs?

Pubic lice symptoms often show up about five days after you get infested. Symptoms of crabs include:

Pruritus (severe itching) in hairy areas, especially pubic hair.
Specks of blood in your underwear.
Small white dots on pubic hair that are hard to remove.
Pale bluish spots on your thighs, buttocks and lower abdomen.
Low fever and feeling run-down.

Why do pubic lice itch?

The lice feed on your blood. They make small bites on your skin. An allergic reaction to the bites causes the itchiness.

Diagnosis and Tests

How can I know if I have pubic lice?

You may see the lice, though they’re small and can be hard to spot. That’s the best way to know for sure if you have them. Pubic lice are the size of a pinhead and look like tiny gray crabs.

How will my provider diagnose pubic lice?

You may have symptoms of pubic lice but can’t see the lice. If you’re not sure, see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Your provider may use a magnifying glass to spot the lice. If you have pubic lice, your provider will likely recommend testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

Management and Treatment

What is pubic lice treatment?

You treat pubic lice using a special shampoo or cream. You can typically buy these treatments over-the-counter, without a prescription. They are safe and effective. Make sure to follow the directions on the package carefully

For best results from the lice treatment, follow these steps:

Check for lice in your underarm hair and other hairy parts of your body. Wash and dry your body.
Apply the shampoo or cream on all the areas that may have crabs — thighs, underarms and trunk (lower abdomen and buttocks, including near the rectum). Do not put it on your eyelashes.
Leave the shampoo or cream for the amount of time recommended in the instructions, then rinse it off.
Remove nits from hair strands using fingers or a fine-toothed comb. Put on clean underwear and clothing after treatment.
Clean your clothes, bed linens and towels using the hot cycles of your washer and dryer. The heat destroys the crabs. Place items you can’t wash in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks. Or get them dry-cleaned.
Do not spray insecticide on your clothes or other objects in your house.
Pause your sex life until the crabs go away, usually about two weeks.
Repeat the treatment in nine to 10 days if the lice remain.

What are the types of shampoos and creams for pubic lice?

Pubic lice treatments that you can buy without a prescription include:

Common brand names of these lice treatments include A-200®, RID® and Nix®.

Are there prescription medications for pubic lice?

If over-the-counter approaches don’t work, you may need a prescription for stronger treatments. Your healthcare provider may recommend a topical cream for your body or a shampoo. Oral medicines (taken by mouth) may provide another option, too. Lice get exposed to these drugs when they bite you and draw blood.

One of the prescription options is called lindane shampoo (Kwell®). It destroys lice and eggs but can have serious side effects. It may be toxic to the brain and nervous system. Usually, providers recommend lindane shampoo only when other treatments have failed.

Can I use other at-home treatments for pubic lice?

Special lice shampoos or creams are the only treatments that will work. They destroy pubic lice. Shaving or taking hot baths won’t destroy the lice. You can use a hydrocortisone cream to stop the itching, but it won’t treat the lice.

How do I treat lice in my eyelashes?

You need special treatment for lice in your eyelashes. Contact your healthcare provider to find out the best way to treat the problem.

Can I use pubic lice treatment if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your healthcare provider before using any lice treatment.

Should my sex partner(s) get treated?

Get in touch with your sexual partner(s) from the previous month. They may have pubic lice, too, and will need treatment.

Prevention

How can I prevent genital crabs?

The only guaranteed way to prevent pubic lice is to avoid any close physical contact with people. Still, you can take reasonable steps to lower your risk for crabs and prevent them from coming back:

Do:

Limit your sex partners. And try to avoid sex with people who have multiple sex partners.
Make sure your partner(s) get treated if you had pubic lice.
Wash and dry clothing, bedding and towels.
Finish treatment and check that the crabs are gone before resuming sex.

Don’t:

Have sex or close physical contact with someone who has crabs.
Share clothing, bedding or towels with a person who has crabs.
Use insecticide sprays. They don’t control crabs and can be harmful.
Try on bathing suits when shopping. If you do try them on, wear underwear.

Can I use pubic lice shampoo preventively?

Perhaps you found out that a sexual partner from the past month got pubic lice. It’s fine to use one of the lice shampoos or creams to be safe.

Will frequent showers prevent pubic lice?

Getting pubic lice has nothing to do with your hygiene. You get pubic lice by having close physical contact with a person who has them.

Outlook / Prognosis

Are pubic lice dangerous?

No, pubic lice won’t cause serious health concerns. Usually, the main problems that the lice cause are itching and discomfort. You may get a bacterial infection if you end up scratching your skin a lot.

Can I get pubic lice more than once?

Yes, you can get crabs again. Take steps to prevent pubic lice, so you don’t get them again.

Living With

When can I resume sex?

Pause your sex life until both you and your partner(s) have finished treatment. Check that the lice have not returned.

What else should I ask my healthcare provider?

If you have pubic lice, ask your provider:

What pubic lice treatment do you recommend?
How many times should I do the treatment?
When can I resume having sex?
Should I tell my sexual partner(s) that I have pubic lice?
How can I prevent the lice from coming back?
Are there any long-term complications from crabs?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

If you have pubic lice, or genital crabs, don’t feel alarmed. While crabs can be annoying and cause discomfort, it’s easy to treat them. Pubic lice won’t cause long-term health problems, either. If you’re not sure you have crabs, talk to your healthcare provider. Pubic lice treatment usually involves special creams or shampoos to destroy the lice. After treatment, make sure to comb any nits (eggs) out of your hair. Wash all clothes, bedding and towels to destroy any lice living there. And suggest to recent sexual partner(s) that they get treated as well.

Pubic Lice (Genital Crabs): Symptoms, Treatment

Overview

What are pubic lice?

Armpits.
Beard and mustache.
Chest.
Eyebrows and eyelashes.

Are pubic lice a disease?

Are pubic lice an STD?

Pubic lice often get lumped in with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). That’s because people get pubic lice most often during sex. But pubic lice are not an actual disease or infection.

How do you get pubic lice?

Can I get crabs by sharing a toilet seat with a person who has crabs?

What do pubic lice look like?

The lice look different depending on their stage of growth:

Nits: These lice eggs are hard to see. They’re usually oval and yellow or white.
Nymph: This is the young louse (singular of lice) that hatches from the egg. Each one needs about two to three weeks to become a mature adult.
Adult: A fully grown louse has six legs. The front legs are larger and resemble a crab’s pincher claws. Adults are tan or grayish-white.

Nymphs and adult lice feed on blood. Once a louse falls off a person, it dies within a day or two.

Can I get pubic lice from a pet?

No. Dogs, cats and other pets don’t spread pubic lice.

Are pubic lice the same as head lice?

The lice you can get on your head are a different type of lice than pubic lice.

Can children get pubic lice?

Children might get infested if they sleep in the same bed as someone who has pubic lice. Often, pubic lice in a child is a sign of sexual abuse.

How common are pubic lice?

Pubic lice are common, found in people around the world, of every race and ethnic group. Pubic lice are most common in adults. Every year, about 3 million people in the United States get pubic lice.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes pubic lice?

You typically get pubic lice by being physically close to a person who has them. During sex, for example, the lice can jump from your partner’s pubic hair to your own.

Less often, lice spread through shared clothes, towels and linens.

What are the symptoms of crabs?

Pubic lice symptoms often show up about five days after you get infested. Symptoms of crabs include:

Pruritus (severe itching) in hairy areas, especially pubic hair.
Specks of blood in your underwear.
Small white dots on pubic hair that are hard to remove.
Pale bluish spots on your thighs, buttocks and lower abdomen.
Low fever and feeling run-down.

Why do pubic lice itch?

The lice feed on your blood. They make small bites on your skin. An allergic reaction to the bites causes the itchiness.

Diagnosis and Tests

How can I know if I have pubic lice?

You may see the lice, though they’re small and can be hard to spot. That’s the best way to know for sure if you have them. Pubic lice are the size of a pinhead and look like tiny gray crabs.

How will my provider diagnose pubic lice?

Management and Treatment

What is pubic lice treatment?

For best results from the lice treatment, follow these steps:

Check for lice in your underarm hair and other hairy parts of your body. Wash and dry your body.
Apply the shampoo or cream on all the areas that may have crabs — thighs, underarms and trunk (lower abdomen and buttocks, including near the rectum). Do not put it on your eyelashes.
Leave the shampoo or cream for the amount of time recommended in the instructions, then rinse it off.
Remove nits from hair strands using fingers or a fine-toothed comb. Put on clean underwear and clothing after treatment.
Clean your clothes, bed linens and towels using the hot cycles of your washer and dryer. The heat destroys the crabs. Place items you can’t wash in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks. Or get them dry-cleaned.
Do not spray insecticide on your clothes or other objects in your house.
Pause your sex life until the crabs go away, usually about two weeks.
Repeat the treatment in nine to 10 days if the lice remain.

What are the types of shampoos and creams for pubic lice?

Pubic lice treatments that you can buy without a prescription include:

Common brand names of these lice treatments include A-200®, RID® and Nix®.

Are there prescription medications for pubic lice?

Can I use other at-home treatments for pubic lice?

How do I treat lice in my eyelashes?

You need special treatment for lice in your eyelashes. Contact your healthcare provider to find out the best way to treat the problem.

Can I use pubic lice treatment if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your healthcare provider before using any lice treatment.

Should my sex partner(s) get treated?

Get in touch with your sexual partner(s) from the previous month. They may have pubic lice, too, and will need treatment.

Prevention

How can I prevent genital crabs?

The only guaranteed way to prevent pubic lice is to avoid any close physical contact with people. Still, you can take reasonable steps to lower your risk for crabs and prevent them from coming back:

Do:

Limit your sex partners. And try to avoid sex with people who have multiple sex partners.
Make sure your partner(s) get treated if you had pubic lice.
Wash and dry clothing, bedding and towels.
Finish treatment and check that the crabs are gone before resuming sex.

Don’t:

Have sex or close physical contact with someone who has crabs.
Share clothing, bedding or towels with a person who has crabs.
Use insecticide sprays. They don’t control crabs and can be harmful.
Try on bathing suits when shopping. If you do try them on, wear underwear.

Can I use pubic lice shampoo preventively?

Perhaps you found out that a sexual partner from the past month got pubic lice. It’s fine to use one of the lice shampoos or creams to be safe.

Will frequent showers prevent pubic lice?

Getting pubic lice has nothing to do with your hygiene. You get pubic lice by having close physical contact with a person who has them.

Outlook / Prognosis

Are pubic lice dangerous?

Can I get pubic lice more than once?

Yes, you can get crabs again. Take steps to prevent pubic lice, so you don’t get them again.

Living With

When can I resume sex?

Pause your sex life until both you and your partner(s) have finished treatment. Check that the lice have not returned.

What else should I ask my healthcare provider?

If you have pubic lice, ask your provider:

What pubic lice treatment do you recommend?
How many times should I do the treatment?
When can I resume having sex?
Should I tell my sexual partner(s) that I have pubic lice?
How can I prevent the lice from coming back?
Are there any long-term complications from crabs?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Pubic Lice | Crabs | MedlinePlus

What are pubic lice?

Pubic lice (also called crabs) are tiny insects which usually live in the pubic or genital area of humans. They are also sometimes found on other coarse body hair, such as hair on the legs, armpits, mustache, beard, eyebrows, or eyelashes. Pubic lice on the eyebrows or eyelashes of children or teens may be a sign of sexual exposure or abuse.

Pubic lice are parasites, and they need to feed on human blood to survive. They are one of the three types of lice that live on humans. The other two types are head lice and body lice. Each type of lice is different, and getting one type does not mean that you will get another type.

How do pubic lice spread?

Pubic lice move by crawling, because they cannot hop or fly. They usually spread through sexual contact. Occasionally, they may spread through physical contact with a person who has pubic lice, or through contact with clothing, beds, bed linens, or towels that were used by a person with pubic lice. You cannot get pubic lice from animals.

Who is at risk for pubic lice?

Since they spread mainly through sexual contact, pubic lice are most common in adults.

What are the symptoms of pubic lice?

The most common symptom of pubic lice is intense itching in the genital area. You may also see nits (lice eggs) or crawling lice.

How do you know if you have pubic lice?

A diagnosis of a pubic lice usually comes from seeing a louse or nit. But lice and nits can be difficult to find because there may be only a few present. Also, they often attach themselves to more than one hair, and they do not crawl as quickly as head and body lice. Sometimes it takes a magnifying lens to see the lice or nits.

People who have pubic lice should also be checked for other sexually transmitted diseases, and their sexual partners should also be checked for pubic lice.

What are the treatments for pubic lice?

The main treatment for pubic lice is a lice-killing lotion. Options include a lotion that contains permethrin or a mousse containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide. These products are available over-the-counter without a prescription. They are safe and effective when you use them according to the instructions. Usually one treatment will get rid of the lice. If not, you may need another treatment after 9-10 days.

There are other lice-killing medicines that are available with a prescription from your health care provider.

You should also wash your clothes, bedding, and towels with hot water, and dry them using the hot cycle of the dryer.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

What Are the Symptoms & Signs of Pubic Lice (Crabs)?

The most common symptom of pubic lice is itching near your genitals. You may also see crabs or eggs in your pubic hair.

Pubic lice symptoms

Usually, the symptoms of pubic lice start about 5 days after you get them. Some people never have symptoms, or they think the symptoms are caused by something else (like a rash).

The most common symptom of pubic lice is intense itching in your pubic area. The itching and irritation is caused by your body’s reaction to the crabs’ bites.

Pubic lice symptoms include:

Lots of itching in your genital area.
Super small bugs in your pubic hair. You can usually see pubic lice by looking closely, or you may need to use a magnifying glass. Pubic lice are tan or whitish-gray, and they look like tiny crabs. They get darker when they’re full of blood.
Crab eggs (called nits) on the bottom part of your pubic hairs. Nits are really small and can be hard to see. They’re oval and yellow, white, or pearly. Nits usually come in clumps.
Dark or bluish spots on the skin where pubic lice are living. These spots come from the crabs’ bites.
Feeling feverish, run-down, or irritable.

Crabs usually hang out in your pubic hair around your genitals, which is why it’s easy to get them from sex. But crabs can sometimes end up in other kinds of coarse hair, like your eyelashes, eyebrows, chest hair, armpits, beard, or mustache. It’s really, really rare to get pubic lice in the hair on top of your head.

History, Biology and Treatment vs. Knowledge and Beliefs of US College Students

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2009 Feb; 6(2): 592–600.

Carol Belk Building, Department of Health Education and Promotion, Environmental Health Program, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA; E-Mail:
ude. uce@eyenahc (E. C.)^*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
ude.uce@lanosredna; Tel. +1-252-737-1473 Fax: +1-252-328-1285

Received 2008 Dec 29; Accepted 2009 Jan 25.

Abstract

Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis) maintain a worldwide parasitic population infesting two to over 10 percent of human populations, continuing a presence that has been constant since early evidence 10,000 years ago. Outbreaks in the 1970s have been recorded, but incomplete records preclude description of a definitive population cycle. Current levels of infestation in a US college student population were investigated in this study. Knowledge and opinions of students were also recorded in an online survey administered to college students taking a basic health course at a mid-sized East Coast University. In a group of 817 students, 35 reported experience with pubic lice or other STD infection. Knowledge, beliefs, and treatment attitudes were examined for the 782 students who did not have experience with either pubic lice or STD infection. These students deemed antibiotics as a viable treatment for pubic lice infestation. They also indicated negative attitudes toward the use of pesticide crèmes, which are the most useful prescription. Symptoms and transmission myths in student answers are described.

Keywords: Pthirus pubis, pubic lice, college student, survey

1. Introduction

Pubic lice infestations are not a reportable condition in the US, but are considered an STD. There have been reports of outbreaks of pubic lice during earlier decades [1], though reports are not numerous. In countries where military or STD records are widely available, records are more common. Mimouni [2], for example, describes two outbreaks found in Israeli army records during the years 1972–1999. Incidence of pubic lice in European and South American STD clinic records and prison health records have been reported sporadically [3–5]. Though reporting on pubic lice is less frequent than head lice or body lice, its epidemiology is important because of correlation with the occurrence of other STD infections [2,6–8]. Because there is evidence of co-occurrence with other STD infections, and because accurate surveillance of ectoparasite levels is valuable in evaluating emerging or changing trends, this study was undertaken to describe self-reported attitudes and behavior concerning lice prevention and treatment (and treatment myths) which will add to the general knowledge of Pthirus pubis infestation in young adults. It will also help alert college health clinics and health education providers to the need for continued educational efforts about this pest.

1.1. Pubic lice Biology and History

Before discussing current student attitudes and health behaviors, a general history of pubic louse occurrence and biology will facilitate evaluating the scope of student understanding There is archeological and historical evidence of lice infestation in the human population for as long as 10,000 years [9], though there is much less occurrence information for pubic lice than for head and body lice. Archaeological evidence for occurrence of lice is unusual, due in part to burial and preservation methods which called for cleaning bodies and removing body parasites before burial [10]. Kenward [10], however, reports finding evidence of pubic lice in Roman and Medieval Britain. In South America, Rick, et al. [11], report evidence of pubic lice in human remains. Reinhart and Buikstra [12] report that these archeological studies confirm the parasitological axiom that “10% of the population harbors 70% of the parasites”. Thus, pubic lice have been present in the human population for thousands of years, but have never been of major importance as a serious pest.

The biological evolution of pubic lice and head or body lice shows divergence morphologically into two distinct species of ectoparasites. Together, the human louse complex comprises two species: Pediculus humanus (variants Pediculus humanus var. corporis and Pediculus humanus var. capitis are the first. Pubic lice are a second distinct genus and species, Pthirus pubis (). Head lice (Pediculus humanus var. capitus are the most commonly occurring of the three species, particularly in school children. Body lice are the only disease vector of the complex, capable of transmitting bacterial diseases including trench fever, epidemic typhus, and louse-borne relapsing fever [13]. Unlike head lice and pubic lice, body lice are associated typically with poor hygiene, socioeconomic status and disasters [14].

Photograph of pubic louse (CDC).

Pubic lice are adapted to a sedentary life style on pubic hair, and sometimes on eyelashes and body hair, not often leaving the infested body. They are usually transmitted during sexual contact, and have been associated with other sexually transmitted diseases [2,6,7,8]. All lice infestations are diagnosed by identification of live adult lice, and viable eggs (nits) on the hair shafts in the specific body regions giving them their names [15]. Empty egg cases attached to hair shafts are not diagnostic of an active infection. Treatment for lice infestations is summarized by the following table derived from Diaz [14], and Leone [16] ().

Table 1.

Recommended pediculocide treatments for pediculosis, revised in 2007 [14,16].

Treatment	Safety profile/use	Efficacy	Resistance of insect to treatment
0.33% pyrethrins + PBO shampoo	Excellent Apply to hair, wash off after 10 min.	95% ovicidal in Susceptible strains	Increasing
1% to 5% permethrin cream rinse	Excellent 1% creme rinse, wash off after 10 min.	2 week residual	Increasing
0.5% malathion lotion shampoo (not available in US)	Flammable, organophosphate poisoning risks.	95% ovicidal in susceptible strains, rapid killing, good residual	Increasing
1% lindane lotion and shampoo (not recommended in the US)	Potential CNS toxicity from organochlorine poisoning. Only use as last resort Wash off after 4 min.	95% ovicidal, no residual	Increasing
Ivermectin 0.8 % shampoo (not available in US)	Excellent Apply to hair, wash off after 5 min.	Excellent	None

As noted in , resistance to the pesticides in pediculocide treatments is increasing. Only pyrethrins+PBO pesticide formulations are available in the US.

1.2. Pubic Lice Incidence in Recent Surveys

Typical Pthirus pubis infestation burden in the world appears to be approximately 2% of the (mainly) adult population. Records are often related to STD clinic records or to travel data. In a recent report regarding numbers and types of ectoparasites in travelers returning to the UK, only 7 out of 73 (about 1.6%/year) insect specimens collected from symptomatic patients during the years 1994 to 2000 were identified as Pthirus pubis [14]. In countries where travelers may have visited, however, infestations numbers were considerably higher. In Nepal, for example, a control group for a study of lice in children showed pubic lice prevalence at 7% for pubic lice with head lice, and 9% for pubic lice with body lice [17]. Bignell [8] found 3.5 % male and 2% female infestation with pubic lice in genitourinary clinic screening in the UK in 1991, but only 1% in 2004. Varela, et al. [3] found a yearly infestation rate in Spanish STD clinic records of 1.3 to 4.6% over the years 1988 to 2001. In Australia, Hart [18] reported that from 1988–1991 the incidence of Pthirus pubis in men attending an STD clinic was 1.7% and in women 1.1%. Other articles from 1990–2006 included pubic louse infestation in STD clinic screening and prostitute screening of 2.2% infestation [5].

In addition to maintaining information about infestation rates for pubic lice, it is also important to determine the level of information susceptible populations may have concerning treatment and transmission. Information about possible co-occurring STD infections and about effective treatment are needed for susceptible populations, such as college students, where sexual activity typically ranges from 70–90% [19]. This project, therefore, was undertaken to survey college students at a medium-sized East Coast University regarding student experience, knowledge and attitudes about pubic lice and infestation prevention and treatment. Cultural myths, prejudice, stigma and shame may prevent individuals from seeking treatment for pubic lice and possibly other STD infections [9,20], which in turn prevents accurate surveillance, and can confound appropriate health intervention measures.

2. Results and Discussion

is the list of questions administered to 817 college students regarding pubic lice. The results in the table include answers of 782 students who self-reported no experience with pubic lice or STDs. The survey population comprised both male and female students. Ninety-five percent were ages 17–23. Male students made up 35% of the respondents, and female students 65%. Eleven out of 817 students who answered all 26 pubic lice questions had self-reported experience with pubic lice infestations (1.346%). Thirty-two out of 817 students had self-reported experience with STD infection (4%). Some of these had both STD and pubic lice experience and a few only pubic lice experience. Male students reported more experience with pubic lice and females with other STD infection ().

Numbers of college students with experience of pubic lice, STD infection or both by sex.

Table 2.

Survey Questions and responses: College student knowledge and beliefs about pubic lice.

Question	Yes	No	N/A
Which of the following would you use to treat the environment if you had pubic lice?
1. Buy new bedding	690	92	0
2. Wash clothing	759	19	4
3. Wash bed linens	760	17	5
4. Spray clothing with insecticide for lice	659	116	7
5. Spray bed linens with insecticide for lice	674	106	2
6. Other treatment	716	66	0
7. No special treatment of the environment is required	86	689	7
Can pubic lice be transmitted from one person to another through. ..
8. Shared clothing with a person who has them?	735	44	3
9. Skin to skin contact with the affected area of a person who has them?	724	54	4
10. Generally sharing a living space but not sleeping with someone who has them?	549	231	2
11. Using a toilet seat after someone who has them?	582	198	2
Which of the following are symptoms of pubic lice (crab lice)?
12. Pink rash all over body	307	472	4
13. Itching in affected areas	763	15	4
14. Tiny purplish spots in the affected area	598	199	4
15. Fever	254	523	5
16. Swollen genitals	524	255	3
17. Discharge (fluid) from the vagina or penis	387	392	3
18. Visualizing lice in the pubic hair	658	120	4
19. Evidence of lice eggs on pubic hair	702	76	4
If you become infected with pubic lice, what actions should you take in addition to seeking assistance from a health care provider?
20. Bathe in Lysol or bleach water	213	566	3
21. Use hydrocortisone on bites	634	143	5
22. Take antibiotics	623	152	7
23. Use pesticide containing creme	485	290	7
24. Discontinue contact with current intimate partner, and inform them of lice	731	45	6
25. Have you ever had pubic lice (crab lice)?	16	760	6
26. Have you ever had any other sexually transmitted disease?	32	750	1

Attitudes about environmental treatment for pubic lice included mostly positive responses to all suggested actions. For actions involving pesticides, however, negative responses increased (). Attitudes regarding transmission of pubic lice elicited generally positive answers for all of the possibilities listed, including using a toilet seat after someone who was infested. Negative answers were highest for living with but not sleeping with a person who was infested. Responses to the questions listing possible symptoms resulted in positive responses for all descriptions, including symptoms of swollen genitals, and vaginal or penile discharge (). The two symptoms with the most positive responses were itching in affected areas and evidence of lice eggs on pubic hair.

Self-treatment questions including bathing in Lysol or bleach water were answered positively by some students. Use of hydrocortisone on bites and taking of antibiotics were the two self-treatments, in addition to discontinuing intimate contact, were answered positively most often.

Low levels of pubic lice incidence (nearly 2%) in a sexually active population is within the expectation of a group of young adults as indicated in recent literature of STD clinic surveys. Attitudes and knowledge about treatment and symptoms suffer from persistent myths and misinformation, however. Some students recorded a negative reaction to pesticides as a treatment for ectoparasites. This eliminates the only effective treatment for killing lice other than mechanical removal. Use of shampoos or crèmes containing pyrethrin pesticides is recommended to prevent the spread of these ectoparasites [9]. Physical removal of all insects and eggs is difficult to accomplish, but would be effective if completely thorough.

A second source of myth and possible stigma is peer group misinformation about pubic lice behavior and transmission. Students regarded environmental contact with toilet seats and clothing after an infested person as dangerous. Since pubic lice are extremely sedentary and seldom leave close contact with the body, transmission through either objects or clothing is highly unlikely [8]. Close intimate contact or “skin to skin” contact is the main source of transmission.

Symptom misconceptions appear to be the source of most confusion. Since these students have little experience with pubic lice infestations, non-specific symptoms such as fever and a generalized rash were considered viable, though itching and evidence of lice eggs were decisive favorites and legitimate diagnostic symptoms.

Answers to treatment option questions showed negative attitudes toward an effective treatment with pesticide creme. The positive choice of antibiotic treatment, an ineffective treatment, interestingly exceeded even the choice of fever as a symptom, which might warrant the use of antibiotics (80% chose antibiotic use and 32% chose fever as a symptom). Discontinuation of contact with current sexual partner was the overall choice action for prevention.

Limitations of this study included the use of student populations of different ages in college classes as the study group. The older, returning adult students, skewed the average age of students who had experience with STD infection. The small number of students with self-reported experience of pubic lice or STD infection prevented generalization or characterization of students with experience. Self-reported data often includes inaccurate or dishonest answers, which affects incidence characterization and generalizations. Extrapolation of the results of this study to the general public thus may be limited since the subjects were all students who volunteered to answer the survey. To ensure IRB standards, students were given the option to omit some of the questions, and surveys with omitted questions were not included in the final tabulations Some bias in the results may have occurred as a result of this; however, the incomplete questionnaires were not a systematically related group according to the overall demographic data which all students did complete.

3. Experimental Section

An online survey was administered to college students taking a basic health course at a mid-sized East Coast University to determine their knowledge, experience and attitudes about pubic lice infestations, prevention and treatment. Students volunteered to complete the survey, and also had the option to omit any questions they did not wish to answer in the survey if they chose to participate. Incomplete surveys were not counted in the analysis. Access to the results of the survey was restricted to faculty members who obtained University IRB review for the questions (UMCIRB#07-0590), and who were trained in IRB methodology. Only students in the class had access to the survey through the campus server. Students who chose to answer the survey as part of their class work were issued a receipt to print, with the time and date of completion recorded. Completion was verified by instructors in each of the student’s class sections. Results without individual identification were sent to researchers through university computer servers.

4. Conclusions

In an article surveying stigma and shame related to STD infection, Lichtenstein [21] reported that pubic lice were the least stigma and shame eliciting STD among seven others, including HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, genital warts, genital herpes, and Chlamydia. It is possible that since the advent of HIV as a fearful world-wide scourge, pubic lice and other STD infections have lost significance, importance or stigma in the list of consequences from risky sexual behavior. Ectoparasitic population dynamics should still be a concern of health scientists, however, in this current climate of worldwide human population homogenization from travel and collaborative work. In an increasingly homogenous world, Pthirus pubis has a potential for new outbreak emergence, especially with its increased resistance to pesticides. Its cousin, Pediculus humanus humanus is a vector of disease, so pubic lice and other lice population and infestation statistics cannot safely be ignored. Pubic lice especially warrant attention and continued inclusion in health education for young adults because of their relation to STD infection, and their classification as a sexually transmitted disease. Serious attitude and knowledge misconceptions such as the overwhelming approval of antibiotic use for treatment of pubic lice need to be addressed.

References

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Crabs

How does someone get crabs?

Most cases of crabs happen as a result of intimate contact, when crabs move from the pubic hair of one person to the pubic hair of another. Even when there is no sexual penetration, you can get crabs or give them to someone else if you’re in close physical contact—whenever some part of your body that has coarse hair (such as the pubic area, eyelashes, eyebrows, facial hair, chest, or armpits) comes into contact with the another person’s infested pubic or other course hair. Crabs do not usually attach to head hair.

Crabs can also be passed on in non-sexual ways. For example, it is possible for a person can get crabs from sleeping in an infested bed, using infested towels, or wearing infested clothing. Toilets seats? While not entirely impossible, getting crabs this way would be extremely rare. Not only is the surface of a toilet seat to smooth for crabs to hold on to, but they also don’t live long away from a human body.

What are the symptoms of crabs?

The most noticeable symptom is often intense itching that usually starts about 5 days after a person gets crabs. This itching is caused by an allergic reaction to the bites.

A person may be able to see individual crabs by looking closely or using a magnifying glass. Crabs are small parasites that resemble crabs you see on the beach. They may be whitish-gray or rust colored.

A person may also notice crab eggs—or nits—attached to the base of the hair (close to where it comes out of your body). Nits are small, oval-shaped and pearl-like in color. Dark or bluish spots can appear and last for several days in the infested area; these are also a result of the bites.

Crabs are usually found in the pubic area. However, crabs can also be found in the armpits, eyelashes, beard/mustache and other course hair. Crabs are only very rarely found in the hair on a person’s head.

Crabs, in general, don’t cause anything more than discomfort and inconvenience. Occasionally, secondary bacterial infections may occur due to aggressive scratching.

Pubic Lice (Crabs) (for Parents)

What Are Pubic Lice (Crabs)?

Pubic lice are tiny insects (about the size of a pinhead). They usually live in hair in the pubic area, but also can live in the eyelashes, eyebrows, beard, armpit, and other body hair.

Pubic lice usually spread through sex. Less often, they spread by touching infested clothing, towels, and bedding.

Pubic lice are also called “crabs” because of the tiny claws they use to cling to hair.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Pubic Lice?

Pubic lice usually cause itchiness. This can get worse at night when the lice become active.

Sometimes, lice bites can lead to skin redness and irritation. Lice in the eyelashes or eyebrows can cause eye irritation.

How Do People Get Pubic Lice?

Most people with pubic lice got them through sex or close sexual contact.

Less often, someone can get pubic lice from sharing clothes, sheets, or towels with someone who has pubic lice.

Lice can’t jump from person to person. It is very unlikely that someone would get pubic lice from a toilet seat. Lice can’t live away from a warm body for long and they do not have feet that could hang on to a toilet seat.

How Are Pubic Lice Diagnosed?

A health care provider usually diagnoses pubic lice by looking at the insect. If needed, the insect can be sent to a lab for identification.

Anyone diagnosed with pubic lice needs to tell:

recent sex partners
people who have shared bed sheets, clothes, or towels

These people need to get checked for pubic lice and treated, if necessary.

How Are Pubic Lice Treated?

Pubic lice are treated with medicine. The medicine kills the lice. The medicine may be a cream, lotion, or shampoo. Some are available at drugstores without a prescription.

Most treatments for pubic lice need to be used more than once. So it’s very important to follow the directions included with the medicine.

All clothes and bed sheets used by the person with pubic lice must be:

washed in hot water and dried in a hot drier or dry cleaned
or
put in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks

Can Pubic Lice Be Prevented?

Because pubic lice usually spread during sex, not having sex is the best way to avoid them. Condoms do not protect someone from pubic lice because the lice live outside of the area that condoms cover.

Not sharing clothing, bedding, or towels also can help reduce the risk of getting pubic lice.

What Else Should I Know?

If your teen is diagnosed with pubic lice, it is important to talk about the risks of sex. Your teen needs reliable information about STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and unwanted pregnancy. Topics to cover:

STDs mainly spread through sex.
The best way to completely prevent an STD is to not have sex (vaginal, oral, anal). If someone decides to have sex, using a latex condom every time can prevent most STDs.
Teens should use a reliable method of birth control in addition to condoms. Offer to make an appointment for your teen to talk to a health care provider about birth control.

If you don’t feel comfortable talking with your kids about STDs and other topics related to sex, make sure they can turn to someone else for accurate information. This could be a doctor or

nurse practitioner, counselor, school nurse, teacher, or a trusted family member.

90,000 10 interesting facts about crabs

Crabs are crustaceans, arthropods. Arthropods are invertebrates with an external skeleton, which gives them a robust appearance.
Male and female crabs vary in size, shape and color. The main difference between male and female crab is the anatomy of their lower part – the male crab has a pointed apron, while the female has a rounded apron.

Although there are many animals that have the term “crab” in their name, not all of them are real crabs.Interesting, right? Read on to find out more about this crustacean. Here’s some more information on the anatomy of the crab.

• Crabs have ten legs and are called decapods. Like spiders, crabs can also bend their legs at the joints.
• The front two legs of the crab are usually called claws and are not used for locomotion. Claws are also called claws and can be large in some crabs. Swimming crabs use their hind legs as shoulder blades to move when in the water.
• Male crabs usually have blue claws while female crabs are red. The pronounced red color makes them look like red nail polish!
• Crabs have eyes on stalks that allow them to see their surroundings even when they are underwater or in a rock or burrow. Their eyes are made from hundreds of small lenses.
• The belly of the crab is under its main shell, in contrast to the lobster, which has a belly on its back. They also have modified appendages called maxillips, which are used for digestion.
• Most crabs have a flattened body that allows them to pass through narrow crevices and underwater paths to escape predators.
• Some crabs can lay and carry up to a million eggs at a time. The crab larvae are tiny, about the size of a sewing pin’s head.
• Crabs work together to gather food and protect their families.
• Crabs can become infected with a dangerous parasite called sacculina, which can castrate the crab and cause it to incubate its eggs.Crabs with this parasite do not get enough food and eventually die.

Blue crab relieves pain in osteoporosis

All news >>

Nature often lends a helping hand to sick people. Medicines for many diseases already exist in nature and they just need to be found. A new study, currently underway at the Rambam Medical Center, is looking at the effects of calcium from one of the crustacean family, the blue crab, on back pain associated with vertebral fractures associated with osteoporosis.

The blue swimming crab is a freshwater crustacean native to Australia. The blue crab owes its name to the characteristic light blue color of its shell. Delicate blue crab meat is highly valued by gourmets all over the world. About a decade ago, the blue crab was introduced to Israel for captive breeding. Here, in the future, its truly unique properties were discovered, which will be discussed below.

As in many other cases, this discovery happened by accident.A few years ago in Israel, a study was carried out in which the process of formation of the exoskeleton (shell) of a blue crab was studied, which takes a surprisingly short time – only a few days, despite the fact that its habitat is quite poor in calcium. Scientists have found that this amazing phenomenon is associated with the ability of the blue crab to accumulate a large amount of calcium in an amorphous state in a short period of time (in the form of a nanometric non-crystallizing salt – readily soluble and highly bioavailable, which causes its accelerated absorption through the gastrointestinal tract) …

Research results

Amorphous calcium carbonate produced by blue crab accumulates in two special glands called gastroliths located in the stomach. These glands allow blue crab to store calcium in amounts that can be up to 4% of the weight of the crab itself. The study was carried out by the Israeli biotechnology company Amorphical under the direction of Yossi Ben, in collaboration with Professor Amir Sagi and Dr. Amir Berman of the University.Ben-Gurion in the Negev.

Calcium accumulated in the glands of blue crab can be used to create a drug. Also, amorphous calcium, similar to that contained in the tour, can be obtained artificially. Its structure differs from the crystalline calcium salts currently used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of food additives.

In the course of the study, the results of which were published in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, it was found that the absorption of amorphous calcium into the blood is 30%, and into the bone tissue is 40% higher than that of crystalline calcium carbonate.

According to Professor Tsofiya Ish-Shalom, head of the Bone Metabolism and Calcium Metabolism Unit at Rambam Medical Center, in previous experiments to study the properties of blue crab, patients reported pain relief. “So far, these are just initial conclusions,” says Professor Ish-Shalom. – The mechanism of action on pain has not yet been established. We believe that this may be due to the fact that amorphous calcium accelerates fracture healing. ” Professor Ish-Shalom expressed hope that the results of this study will help alleviate the condition of patients with osteoporotic fracture and back pain, as well as reduce their need for pain medication.

The study is being conducted in collaboration with the Pain Therapy Clinic of the Rambam Medical Center. Other medical centers in Israel are also taking part in the study.

Why modern medicine needs a horseshoe crab

Remaining largely unchanged since they first crawled across the Earth more than 450 million years ago, these ancient creatures (sometimes called living fossils) have outlived almost every other species – largely due to their incredibly robust immune systems.Their unique way of clotting blood in the presence of endotoxins makes them incredibly useful for detecting harmful bacteria.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at horseshoe crabs and what they do for us.

What are horseshoe crabs?

The horseshoe crab is a species of arthropod that, despite its name, is technically more closely related to spiders and scorpions than crabs. The horseshoe crab family includes four species: Atlantic, mangrove, Indo-Pacific, and Chinese horseshoe crab.

Limulus polyphemus, aka Atlantic horseshoe crab

What makes them so special?

It’s very simple – their blood. Surprisingly, the mesmerizing blue color – due to its high copper content – is not the most attractive trait of horseshoe crab blood. What interests scientists most is the “amoebocytes” it contains. These specialized cells protect horseshoe crabs from bacteria and viruses by gelatinizing and coagulating around these invaders, preventing them from spreading and reproducing in the crab’s system.This immune defense mechanism is not unusual in animals. The uniqueness of amoebocytes in horseshoe crab blood lies in their extreme sensitivity to deadly endotoxins (molecules in the cell walls of certain bacteria) and the rapid and violent clotting that occurs as soon as they enter their bloodstream.

When this high sensitivity and rapid blood clotting process was first discovered in 1968, scientists immediately noted the potential for human health.Thus began the development of the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) test to detect endotoxins produced by harmful bacteria.

The bright blue blood of the horseshoe crab is even more mesmerizing than it seems

Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Test (LAL)

The

LAL test is named after the creature whose observed immune behavior led to the discovery of this test, the Atlantic horseshoe crab (scientific name Limulus polyphemus ).

LAL’s manufacturing process involved collecting horseshoe crabs on the beach and transporting them to one of five manufacturing laboratories around the world.There, 30% of the blood is drained from them before being returned to the water. The collected blood is then processed, purified and lyophilized to obtain LAL.

Prior to the introduction of the LAL test, endotoxin testing included administering a specific sample to a group of rabbits and closely monitoring their condition over the next four hours. Since the response of rabbits to endotoxins is similar to our response in humans, subsequent fever in rabbits would indicate that the test sample was contaminated with endotoxins.

At the time, this test method in rabbits was considered a highly effective, albeit very laborious and costly, method for detecting endotoxins. It soon became clear that the LAL test offered a much cheaper, simpler, faster and more effective solution, and this test was adopted as the global standard for screening for bacterial contamination.

Testing with LAL requires the technician to simply add the LAL to the sample and observe the response. Even at concentrations of 1ppt, endotoxins will be detected almost instantly through the formation of a jelly-like clot in the sample.

The

LAL test is incredibly important for detecting the presence of endotoxins in pharmaceuticals and medical implants / prostheses. Every drug that is certified (including medical prostheses and implants) by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) must first pass the LAL test. If you’ve ever received any injection, you must thank the horseshoe crab for its safety!

Future LAL

LAL growers report that the measured mortality rate of 500,000 3 exsanguinated crabs annually is only 15%.However, recent independent studies have shown that this number is close to 30-75,000%, which corresponds to 150,000 of 15,000-XNUMX dead horseshoe crabs annually. Since LAL is so rare and highly prized (one liter can cost up to $ XNUMX XNUMX!), It’s no surprise that manufacturers downplay their mortality rate.

The Atlantic horseshoe crab, currently rated Vulnerable, is only one level away from Endangered, soon to be followed by Endangered, Extinct, and Extinct unless action is taken shortly.The fate of this species will be in jeopardy if we do not overestimate the current LAL harvesting methods, and not only humans will suffer when this species becomes extinct. Many coastal birds, fish and turtles feeding on horseshoe crab eggs will also be affected by their extinction.

Endangered birds are one of many animals that feast on protein-rich horseshoe crab eggs.

However, this is not all bad news. In 1995, researchers at the National University of Singapore were able to identify and isolate a gene responsible for sensitive blood clotting that characterizes LAL.This gene, known as “factor C”, was synthesized in yeast, leading to the creation of “recombinant factor C” (rFC). Synthetic CFL differs from organic CFL in that instead of clotting in response to the presence of endotoxins, synthetic CFL causes the endotoxins to emit fluorescent colors.

Although its discovery was a major breakthrough, regulatory and safety concerns with this LAL alternative slowed down the massive adoption of synthetic LAL. Europe did not recognize rFC as an alternative to LAL until 2015, and the USFDA only approved the first drug tested with rFC in 2018.In 2020, the USP, which sets the scientific standard for drugs in the US, refused to recognize rFC as the equivalent of LAL, insisting that its safety had yet to be proven. This is despite the fact that their European, Japanese and Chinese counterparts have recognized and accepted the use of synthetic LALs.

As industry ideals and opinions change slowly, it is likely that the biomedical industry will continue to feed their insatiable thirst for blue blood from these ancient animals for the foreseeable future.This is hardly viable, and we can only hope that we do not reach the point where the choice is made for us through the disappearance of the horseshoe crab.

Chemwatch is here to help

If you have any questions about the safety, storage and labeling of your chemicals, do not hesitate to contact us. Our friendly and experienced staff draws on years of knowledge and experience to provide the latest industry information and advice on how to stay safe and comply with chemical regulations.

Sources:

90,000 The most interesting and unusual types of crabs

05.10.2018

Crabs are not just tasty creatures, the meat of which is very similar to crayfish. These are amazing creatures that are able to live almost anywhere on the planet and take on a variety of forms. In total, there are more than 6,000 thousand species of 90,103 crabs. From our today’s article you will learn about the most unusual and amazing representatives of them.

A little history

Try to guess: how many years ago crabs appeared on our planet? We are sure that now you will be surprised. Scientists claim that the oldest representatives of this species inhabited the Earth more than 200 million years ago. This is evidenced by various archaeological finds.

It is also known that several million years ago, our ancestors ate various crab species for food. By the way, the cooking method has not practically changed since those times.The only thing that today we can add salt, pepper and various sauces to crab

TOP 10 most amazing crabs

1. Coconut crab

The largest representative of arthropods: body length can reach 50 cm, and weight up to 5 kg. This palm thief lives on land, usually on palm trees. By the way, he received the nickname “Palm Thief” for the fact that he likes to drag everything that glitters into his hole. If you put a spoon under a palm tree, be sure – he will definitely take it away.

2. Pea crab

The smallest representative of the species: its body length is only a few millimeters. Hence the name. This crustacean is barely larger than a common pea. It is also one of the few species that humans do not eat.

3. Japanese Spider Crab

This crab got its name from the unusual shape of its legs, which reach up to 4 meters in length, which is on average four times the size of a human leg.As you may have guessed, spider crab lives in Japan, which is why it is often used by local chefs for cooking various dishes.

4. Kamchatka crab

From now on, stop calling this creature crab , since it has only external resemblances to crabs . In fact, it is a hermit crab, a member of the “Craboid” family. Unlike crabs, it has 5 pairs of walking legs, and the females of the species have an asymmetrical belly.

5. Hairy crab

Carapax got this name due to its unusual appearance. The entire surface of of crab is covered with small tubercles, on which hard hairs grow. Also, the hairs completely cover all the legs. This representative of crabs reaches 12-15 cm in length, and belongs to the commercial species. If you wish, you can try it in any restaurant.

6. Blue Crab

It became famous for its unusual color. Crab has bright blue legs and claws, and a white body. You can meet this unusual representative of crustaceans in the Black Sea or on the east coast of the United States. These beauties are not found anywhere else, which is why they are rarely eaten.

7. Snow crab

Unlike other representatives of its species, snow crab prefers to live in cold waters, where the temperature ranges from +2 to +5 C. It lives on a sandy or muddy bottom at a depth of 10- 20 meters.You can meet this cold-loving creature in the waters of the Atlantic, near Greenland, Newfoundland and in the Gulf of Maine.

8. Vampire crab

Or as it is also called “carnival crab “. It has a bright purple color, which undoubtedly attracts attention. True, it will be difficult to taste it. “Vampire” reaches only 2-3 cm in diameter, which is why it is not eaten. But, on the other hand, you can purchase this crab as a pet, and keep it in the aquarium.

9. Alluring crab

Or violin crab . This representative of crustaceans received such an unusual name because of the disproportionately huge right claw. During the mating season, he attracts females with the help of this claw, making movements that resemble the movement of the bow in the hand of a violinist. Themselves crabs reach only 15, 2 cm in diameter, therefore, do not represent any consumer value.

10. Large land crab

This is a valuable industrial representative because it has very tasty and tender white or brown meat.As for the size, it is not for nothing that the word “big” is attributed to this crab . Adults can have a shell width of up to 25 cm and weigh about 3 kilograms.

How do you like the article? We hope that you really have not heard anything about most of the listed crab species , and this information was useful to you. If so, leave your opinion in the comments. We will be pleased to familiarize ourselves with it.

90,000 “Horseshoe crabs will shed their blood”: How arachnid crabs will help in the fight against coronavirus

Horseshoe crabs are one of the most ancient creatures on our planet.Scientists estimate their age at 300-450 million years, that is, they found mammoths and even dinosaurs. Horseshoe crabs, although they are called horseshoe crabs, have nothing to do with them, their closest relatives are spiders. The name stuck only because of the appearance.

Arachnids look intimidating – they have 10 eyes and 12 legs hidden under strong armor. However, appearances are deceiving – they are harmless creatures that save thousands of lives every year.

Blue blood flows in the “veins” of horseshoe crabs.This is no joke or fun – the liquid in their body is really blue in color. It is called hemolymph and is somewhere between blood and lymph. Hemolymph acquired an amazing color due to the content in it of a large amount of copper and the pigment hemocyanin.

Horseshoe crab blood is a reagent material used by pharmaceutical companies to determine the purity of medicines.

Recently, the hemolymph of horseshoe crabs has a new function – it is used to create a vaccine against coronavirus.

The value of the blood of arachnid crabs lies in its exceptional ability to coagulate when even the slightest amount of contamination by microorganisms or products of their activity gets into it. Because of all of the above, scientists call horseshoe crabs “living fossils.”

Due to “donation”, a certain percentage of horseshoe crabs die. The question arises – is there an artificial analogue of such a valuable raw material in medicine? Until a few years ago, people were far from creating a substitute for the reagent from the hemolymph of horseshoe crabs.It was possible to achieve positive results only in 2016. In Europe, the analogue created by the researchers was approved, and most European pharmaceutical companies, as well as some American ones, switched to it.

In the summer of 2020, the American organization responsible for the safety of medicines (FDA) said that any company that wants to sell a coronavirus vaccine in the United States must verify the purity of its drug using the old and proven method – with the blood of horseshoe crabs.The FDA refers to the fact that there is no guarantee of a complete replacement of a natural product with an artificial analogue. Considering that the vaccine will have to be administered to almost all the inhabitants of our planet, such errors can lead to irreparable consequences.

The candidate of biological sciences Ilya Kolmanovsky put it very accurately:

We have a synthetic test, they’ve been testing one migraine drug for two years, duplicating it with horseshoe crab blood. We have to make sure the validation is reliable – we need the validation validation.The government does not want to face a situation where there is a negligible chance that someone will have a very severe adverse reaction, not related to the vaccine, but due to the fact that traces of toxins have been missed somewhere in the workplace. Because of this, horseshoe crabs will shed their blood in very large quantities.

Let’s hope that the fight against the coronavirus will not lead to a significant reduction in the population of these amazing creatures.

THE STORY OF THE LOST CRAB

On the way, the Russian business, wishing to supply large quantities of deep-sea crustaceans to the domestic market, to increase fishing and develop onshore processing, faces an insurmountable obstacle – a line of sanitary rules applicable to food products.

ARSENIC TAITATE CONTRADICTIONS

Marine life, including the crustaceans already mentioned by us, contain arsenic in their bodies. This chemical element has a very sinister reputation, in the minds of people, it is traditionally associated with poison, poison.

Reference: arsenic (As) is a non-metal, an element of group V of the periodic system of Mendeleev. It is able to interact with carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, sulfur and form numerous compounds – both inorganic and organic.

Just the fact that in former times arsenic had one more, extremely eloquent name – “powder for heirs”. It was not for nothing that this substance aroused increased interest from the developers of chemical weapons during the First World War. Woe to the one who inhales gaseous arsenic hydrogen (arsine) Ash4 – one of the strongest inorganic poisons. The presence of arsenic in drinking water turned out to be a real disaster for people – those who consumed it died from skin cancer.However, arsenic compounds vary significantly in toxicity. Some of them, as they say in scientific sources, “are no more poisonous than table salt.” So in what form is this “ambiguous” non-metal present in the organisms of the abodes of the deep sea? And why has a deep-sea crab been ordered to the Russians’ tables today?

– The problem of the content of organic compounds of arsenic in seafood was actively discussed in the second half of the 20th century. Studies of many organisms, in which a high concentration of arsenic was initially revealed, showed that in most cases in these aquatic organisms it is represented by organic compounds, mainly arsenobetaine and arsenocholine, – told RIA Fishnews.Common crawl en In ZAO Fisheries Kolkhoz Vostok-1, which has been successfully fishing for snow crab angulatus and japonicus, living at depths of 1200-2000 m for several years. kg. This is where a barrier appears, which fishermen who want to supply crab to the domestic market cannot cross, namely, the requirements of the sanitary rules in force in our country.

SanPiN WALL STOPPED

Sanitary and Epidemiological Rules and Regulations “Hygienic Requirements for Safety and Nutritional Value of Food Products” clearly stipulate: the level of the toxic element “arsenic” in non-fish fishing objects, which include molluscs, crustaceans and other invertebrates; seaweed and sea grasses, as well as in products of their processing, should not exceed 5 mg / kg.

– SanPiN 2.3.2.1078-01 established this standard without dividing into arsenic of organic and inorganic origin. We submitted product samples to food laboratories for research. They showed that the concentration of arsenic in the meat of deep-sea crabs of the Far Eastern seas varies from 5 mg / kg to 30 mg / kg. Such an amount of arsenic in an organically bound form does not pose a threat to human life, – say specialists from the Vostok-1 fishing collective farm.

Indeed, in open sources you can find information that the organic compounds of arsenic that are part of seafood, the main of which are the already mentioned low-toxic arsenobetaine and arsenocholine, are quickly excreted from the human body in a natural way.So seafood containing the infamous element is not dangerous? This is apparently the opinion of those foreign countries that do not set the maximum permissible concentration of organic arsenic in seafood at all. “At the same time, they have a norm for inorganic arsenic, which is really poisonous, and in some countries it is even stricter than we have, for example, in the Scandinavian countries – 2 mg / kg,” explained the head of the Vostok- 1 “Maxim Labuz.

The fishing collective farm believes that the sanitary rules in force in Russia regarding arsenic create an artificial barrier for the sale of deep-sea crab, shrimp, algae, sea grasses, etc. on the domestic market. Is it possible at such a rate to get to us, for example, some hydrobionts from the coastal waters of Great Britain, containing up to 170 As / kg in organic form, in particular bivalve mollusks, in which the concentration of arsenic can reach 40 mg / kg? Can not. And completely unfounded, Russian fishermen believe.To prove its point of view, Vostok-1 provides various examples of a foreign approach to the “arsenic issue”, the results of scientific research and experiments:

– The US Food and Drug Administration has set the 76 mg / kg. But when inspecting a crab, tests for arsenic concentration are not done at all.

With regard to the European Union, according to the published March 2004 No.report 3-2-11 of the European Scientific Committee on Food (SCF), it was found that arsenic is present in aquatic organisms in the form of organic compounds that do not have a toxic effect on humans, both adults and children. The data of long-term observations of representatives of different strata of the population, whose diet traditionally includes seafood, including crustaceans: the content of organic arsenic in them is many times higher than the maximum permissible level fixed by the Russian SanPiN – 5 mg / kg.

On average for countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden, England – the daily intake of organic arsenic compounds in seafood reaches 103.46 mg, and in Italy – even 308.46 mg … No symptoms of food poisoning, signs of arsenic poisoning were recorded.

In accordance with the report prepared by the Scientific Committee on Food Products of the European Union, which is based on the results of medical research, observations of consumers in various countries, the EU regulations were amended and arsenic is clearly differentiated into non-toxic organic and inorganic, the MPL of which is in drinking water , for example, no more than 0.015 mg / kg is set.

In the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, where seafood – crab, shrimp, seaweed – are very popular, where one of the highest life expectancies in the world and the least cases of cardiovascular diseases, organic arsenic in aquatic organisms is also not considered as object of danger.

For example, Japan has been fishing for the deep-sea Japanese crab for over 60 years. According to Japanese scientists, it was this crab that saved their nation: the researchers found that the substances contained in japonikus meat help to strengthen the immune system and prevent the emergence and development of cancer cells.The cheapness and availability of this crab for all segments of the population allowed the Japanese to survive the consequences of two nuclear explosions and to protect themselves from radioactive exposure. It has also been found that consumption of japonica has a positive effect on the prostate gland. The Japanese still consume a lot of this crab.

Another example in favor of adjusting the approach to determining the limit level of arsenic is the results of studies carried out in the same Europe.

– The experiment consisted in the following: the subjects were divided into two groups, for eight weeks one group was given inorganic arsenic, the other – organic.At the same time, in the first group, with a total consumption of 137 mg, signs of poisoning were revealed, and in the second – with the consumption of 1500 mg (10 times more!) – no symptoms were found, – said Maxim Labuz. He emphasized that “the safety of organic compounds of arsenic is a well-known fact in Russia: if you enter a corresponding query into an Internet search engine, there will be many links to Russian-language sites, monographs and articles on this issue.”

At the deep-sea crab catching enterprise they are sure: it is necessary to differentiate the form of arsenic occurrence in marine biological resources into organic and inorganic ones.And this requires the approval of new research methods and rules.

Meanwhile, deep-sea crustaceans caught by Russian fishermen are readily consumed by the American, European and Asian markets – by the way, very demanding on the quality and safety of the product.

“They are happy to buy the same crabs abroad, but we cannot let them enter the domestic market, because with the existing research method, the products will simply not be allowed on it,” Maxim Labuz commented on the situation.

FOREIGN FINDINGS WILL BE SUITABLE

Currently used GOST 26930-86 “Raw materials and food products. The method for the determination of arsenic “has been in effect since the distant 1987. The method provided for by this standard” is based on measuring the color intensity of a solution of a complex compound of arsenic with silver diethyldithiocarbamate in chloroform. ”

As explained in RK Vostok-1, this wording hides the following: “They just take the raw mass, in which it is necessary to determine the content of arsenic, burn it out and get arsenic in its pure form at the output – without any differentiation of its compounds”.

Naturally, such a state standard “undercuts” the capabilities of deep-sea crab hunters. Hope for a successful resolution of the “arsenic issue” appeared only after the release of the RF Government Decree of September 28, 2009 No. 761 “On ensuring the harmonization of Russian sanitary and epidemiological requirements, veterinary, sanitary and phytosanitary measures with international standards.” It, in particular, states: “Legal acts establishing sanitary and epidemiological requirements, veterinary and sanitary and phytosanitary measures that … are restrictive in comparison with international standards, in the absence of scientific justification for such a limitation or degree of risk to human life or health , animals and plants must be brought into conformity with international standards. “A little later, at the end of last year, there were amendments to the Federal Law “On Technical Regulation”, regulating the registration in our country of international, regional and standards of foreign states.

Now, in order to obtain the right to supply deep-sea crab to the domestic market, it is necessary to submit to the national body of the Russian Federation for standardization – the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology – an application for registration of the standard. However, before that, a suitable international or foreign standard (such that it provides for the detection of various arsenic compounds in seafood) still needs to be found, a certified translation into Russian must be prepared.

– For example, the Department of Nutrition Science and Technology of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology in 2006 developed a method that can identify seven organic arsenic compounds at once in marine biological resources. Also, in search of the desired option, we found an American analysis of existing methods for determining the content of arsenic and its compounds: the source for 2005 indicates the methods, their effectiveness, accuracy and complexity of execution. So, the difficulty of using one of the methods lies in the fact that there are only a few necessary installations on the territory of the United States.

The Rostekhregulirovanie website has a link to various international and foreign standards, including 25 documents of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) on methods for the determination of arsenic in food. Perhaps they already have methods for differentiating arsenic compounds, – said Maxim Labuz. – Now, taking into account the changes in the legislation on technical regulation, we are going to conclude an agreement with scientists from TINRO-Center so that they find a suitable standard in international practice, conduct research and tests.

Also, to the application for registration of the standard, you will need to attach the conclusions of the VARPE, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In addition, you will need a motivated opinion of the technical committee, which, on an equal and voluntary basis, may include representatives of federal executive authorities, scientific organizations, self-regulatory organizations, public associations of entrepreneurs and consumers, commercial and non-commercial organizations. If the documentation requirements are not met or / and the technical committee rejects the standard, this will serve as the basis for refusal to register it.

Meanwhile, noted in the fishing collective farm, our country is losing thousands of tons of the most valuable crab products per year, and even the possibility of developing coastal processing in addition.

BARRIER BREAKING DREAMS ABOUT THE PLANT

The authorities, including the management of the industry, are calling for the development of processing production in order to saturate the domestic market so that not raw materials go abroad, but products with high added value. In the meantime, the current arsenic remote control, the procedure for its determination, cuts at the root of the idea of creating a plant in the Primorsky Territory for processing the deep-sea snow crab japonikus.

According to Vostok-1 RC, deep-sea crabs of the Sea of Japan and Okhotsk make up one third of the total allowable catch of all crabs in the Far East basin. At the same time, only about 7 thousand tons are developed, or 1/3 of the TAC of deep-sea crabs (13% of the TAC of all crabs).

– Creation of a special production facility on the coast of Primorye will make it possible to develop another 8-9 thousand tons, which will have a stimulating effect on the region’s economy, and the meat of deep-sea crab, given the relatively low price, will go well on the Russian market.

Creation of onshore processing will have a positive impact on the economic condition of mining enterprises, since the fishing areas are very close – 2-8 hours of travel, which will significantly reduce transportation costs.

An example of the reality of this project is the work of the Russian fleet to supply chilled crab to factories in Japan. In the 90s of the last century, according to rough information, about 8 thousand tons were exported there, – explained in the fishing collective farm.

… Well, it remains to be hoped that the controversial issue of the maximum level of content in seafood of such a “controversial element” as arsenic will finally find such a solution so that business does not suffer, the country does not lose its most valuable products, but the safety and well-being of the consumer with this remained at the forefront.

Margarita KRYUCHKOVA, RIA Fishnews.ru

June 2010

90,000 Hold the crab!

Russia and Norway catch the same crab in the same sea.Only Russian crab catchers can receive a considerable fine for this, and the Scandinavian neighbors – a reward.

“Presentation” of a new crab species in the Barents Sea – the opilio snow crab. It is distinguished from the Kamchatka brother, already familiar to all of us, by its more modest size, long legs, the absence of thorns and the color of the shell, for which it received its second name – the snow crab. For the price it is more affordable, as for the taste, then you need to try it yourself.

While the officials of the Murmansk region agree on the distribution of quotas for catching snowflakes, our Norwegian neighbors are sounding the alarm: sea locusts are going to storm Svalbard.The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research received data on the distribution of snow crab from the Murmansk Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography. So, according to PINRO, the snow crab in the Barents Sea turns out to be as much as 10 times more than the Kamchatka crab.

In Norway, where before that the Kamchatka crab was considered the only enemy of the fragile ecosystem of Svalbard, its distant relative was also not happy:

– The snow crab, like the king crab, is notorious for devouring everything in the bottom zone that it meets on its way.Decaying organics, organisms that promote decomposition and organisms that help oxygenate the bottom area are all essential components of the nutrient cycle in the benthos, says Norwegian scientists BarentsObserver.

There is a colossal difference in the approaches to catching crab between the two countries fishing in the same sea.

Kamchatka crab was launched into the Barents Sea in 1968 as an experiment. The experiment was a success, the king crab took root, in the opinion of the Norwegians, even too much.In 2004, the population reached the commercial volume, which made it possible to open its production.

Auctions were held, part of the quotas – 450 tons – were distributed to those companies that fished at sea, 267 tons were given for coastal fishing. Scientists closely monitored the number and health of the crab, as a result, in 2006, it was decided to limit fishing in coastal areas. This was explained, first of all, by the fact that male crab, which can be hunted on a commercial scale, live mainly in the sea.And in the coastal zone there are females and young animals not suitable for prey, a kind of crab kindergarten. And fishing in these areas has led to a sharp decline in the population.

The “Coastal” began to incur losses, but the main problems were ahead. In 2009, fishing for Kamchatka crab in the coastal zone was completely banned.

– It is clear who benefits from it – large enterprises such as the North-West Company, – says the captain of one of the ships, who was engaged in coastal fishing for Kamchatka crab. “They process the crab at sea and export it.They have a monopoly. Thanks to them and all these restrictions, a crab that covers the seashore in three layers costs ten times more than it should. And we need to get it, bring it ashore, process it and market it. People bought or rented workshops, ships, factories, got credits and started their business. And now they are suffering losses. Some of the licenses cost millions, who will return the money now?

In 2010, there was a rally of “coastal workers”, after which they were allowed to start fishing, canceling the draft order on the introduction of a moratorium on crab fishing in the coastal zone.But at the end of the year, a new order was issued, which again banned crab fishing in the coastal zone for 2011.

Instead of solving the problem, the coastal workers, as a verdict for the industry, received a ban on fishing for Kamchatka crab in the 12-mile zone.

Those who should fish in coastal areas say that the crab migrates to Norway or beyond the 12-mile zone, it knows no boundaries, but scientists are against resuming such fishing. The volumes of Kamchatka crab exported by poachers per year are approaching 100 tons.

If there is only one company that successfully harvests and sells these cephalopods, it does not take long to look for who benefits from this format of “crab fishing”. In addition, the fewer delicacies are on the shelves of the shops, the more expensive they are. This means that only those who have bought a fishing license, have attended to the creation of a production facility for processing, are losing here, but in fact cannot fish. And ordinary citizens who buy this crab at exorbitant prices in comparison with the same Norwegians.

In neighboring Norway, the king crab is “outlawed” as it poses a threat to the spawning of commercial fish.Norwegian scientists do not share the love of their Russian colleagues for him and treat him as a parasite capable of devouring everything that comes along the way. Therefore, you can catch it without a license in any quantity. Moreover, there is a reward for a female crab caught – up to 15 euros.