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Open Access

Correction

Correction: Distinguishing Body Lice from Head Lice by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Analysis of the Phum_PHUM540560 Gene

  • The PLOS ONE Editors

This Correction resolves the prior Expression of Concern for the linked article [1, 2].

Following the publication of the article and Expression of Concern [1, 2], PLOS investigated the concerns pertaining to the reported ethical oversight and the article’s adherence to PLOS research ethics policies.

Specifically, PLOS found that the ethics approval number was also reported in multiple other publications [3–20], despite apparent differences in the study objectives, periods during which the data were collected, sample sizes, sampling methodology and locations, types of samples being collected, and types of consent. Furthermore, the PLOS ONE article [1] does not state when samples were collected.

A representative from the Aix-Marseille Université stated that the institutional investigation into the ethics concerns concluded this article meets ethical standards. They stated that no invasive or risky sampling was carried out for this study, and they indicated that collection of lice would not require ethics approval.

The study reported in [1] included lice collected in two contexts: (i) in a CPP-approved study that involved a treatment (CPP approval RCB: 2010-A01406-33), and (ii) from people in foreign countries.

Approval #2010-A01406-33 was issued by the Comité de Protection des Personnes Sud Méditerranée I on or after 24 January 2011, and grants approval for a study titled “Eradication du portage du pou de corps par vetements impregnes de perméthrine: essai comparatif randomise versus placebo en double aveugle dans les populations défavorisées de Marseille”. The ethics document approves a randomized comparative trial, whereas the Materials and Methods section of this article [1] states that the lice collected in France were obtained during a registered epidemiological study. The representative of the Aix-Marseille Université Ethics Committee confirmed that the statement in [1] is incorrect and that the French samples used in [1] were collected during a clinical trial [5]. They further stated that [1] was one of several secondary studies that stemmed from the trial and would therefore report the same ethics approval number. The article reporting the clinical trial [5] states that participants were recruited in February 2011 and December 2011.

In light of the information provided by the institute, the second paragraph of the Ethics statement in the Materials and Methods section is updated to:

The lice collected in France were obtained from homeless individuals during a randomized comparative trial involving a study into the eradication of lice by clothing impregnated with permethrin (reference [5] of this Correction notice; clinicaltrials.gov # NCT01287663). Informed consent was obtained from participants, and the randomized comparative trial was approved by the “Comité de Protection des Personnes Sud Mediterranée I” on January, 24, 2011 (ID RCB: 2010-A01406-33).

According to the Methods section of this article [1], “Lice from foreign countries were obtained from the private frozen collection of our laboratory (The URMITE/WHO Collaborative Research Center). The lice in that collection were required for various epidemiological and entomological studies or to perform diagnoses abroad and were sent to our laboratory as a WHO reference facility. The specimens were collected according to the ethics laws of each country”.

PLOS has not received any ethics documentation or research authorizations to confirm the reported ethics information about lice collected outside the CPP-approved study. Nevertheless, based on the information currently available the PLOS ONE Editors are satisfied that [1] met the journal’s research ethics requirements since it was a secondary analysis of samples from a WHO reference facility and a CPP-approved study.

With this update, the PLOS ONE Editors consider the ethics approval concerns resolved. This Correction supersedes the prior Expression of Concern [2].

References

  1. 1. Drali R, Boutellis A, Raoult D, Rolain JM, Brouqui P (2013) Distinguishing Body Lice from Head Lice by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Analysis of the Phum_PHUM540560 Gene. PLoS ONE 8(2): e58088. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058088 pmid:23469145
  2. 2. The PLOS ONE Editors (2022) Expression of Concern: Distinguishing Body Lice from Head Lice by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Analysis of the Phum_PHUM540560 Gene. PLoS ONE 17(12): e0278004. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278004 pmid:36512552
  3. 3. Drali R, Benkouiten S, Badiaga S, Bitam I, Rolain JM, Brouqui P (2012) Detection of a Knockdown Resistance Mutation Associated with Permethrin Resistance in the Body Louse Pediculus humanus corporis by Use of Melting Curve Analysis Genotyping. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 50(7): 2229–2233. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00808-12
  4. 4. American Society for Microbiology (2024) Retraction for Drali et al., “Detection of a Knockdown Resistance Mutation Associated with Permethrin Resistance in the Body Louse Pediculus humanus corporis by Use of Melting Curve Analysis Genotyping”. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 62(2): e01505–23. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.01505-23
  5. 5. Benkouiten S, Drali R, Badiaga S, Veracx A, Giorgi R, Raoult D, et al. (2014) Effect of Permethrin–Impregnated Underwear on Body Lice in Sheltered Homeless Persons: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA Dermatology, 150(3): 273–279. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.6398 pmid:24305799
  6. 6. Drali R, Abi-Rached L, Boutellis A, Djossou F, Barker SC, Raoult D (2016) Host switching of human lice to new world monkeys in South America. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 39: 225–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2016.02.008 pmid:26867815
  7. 7. Ly TDA, Touré Y, Calloix C, Badiaga S, Raoult D, Tissot-Dupont H, et al. (2017) Changing Demographics and Prevalence of Body Lice among Homeless Persons, Marseille, France. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23(11): 1894–1897. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2311.170516 pmid:29048280
  8. 8. Ly TDA, Edouard S, Badiaga S, Tissot-Dupont H, Hoang VT, de Santi VP, et al. (2018) Epidemiology of respiratory pathogen carriage in the homeless population within two shelters in Marseille, France, 2015–2017: cross sectional 1-day surveys. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 25(2): P249.E1–249.E6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2018.04.032 pmid:29777925
  9. 9. Ly TDA, Kerbaj J, Edouard S, Hoang VT, Louni M, Dao TL, et al. (2019) The Presence of Acinetobacter baumannii DNA on the Skin of Homeless People and Its Relationship With Body Lice Infestation. Preliminary Results. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00086
  10. 10. Ly TDA, Holi-Jamovski F, Hoang VT, Dao TL, Drancourt M, Gautret P. (2019) Preliminary Feasibility Study of Questionnaire-based Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis Screening in Marseille Sheltered Homeless People, Winter 2018. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 9(2): 143–145. https://doi.org/10.2991/jegh.k.190510.001 pmid:31241873
  11. 11. Ly TDA, Hadjadj L, Hoang VT, Louni M, Dao LT, Badiaga S, et al. (2019). Low prevalence of resistance genes in sheltered homeless population in Marseille, France, 2014–2018. Infection and Drug Resistance, 12: 1139–1151. https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S202048 pmid:31123411
  12. 12. Ly TDA, Louni M, Hoang VT, Dao TL, Badiaga S, Brouqui P, et al. (2020) Epidemiological serosurvey of vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens among homeless people living in shelters in Marseille: cross-sectional one-day surveys (2005–2015). European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 39: 1663–1672. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-020-03889-6 pmid:32318966
  13. 13. Amanzougaghene N, Mediannikov O, Ly TDA, Gautret P, Davoust B, Fenollar F, et al. (2020) Molecular investigation and genetic diversity of Pediculus and Pthirus lice in France. Parasites & Vectors, 13: 177. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04036-y
  14. 14. Ly TDA, Amanzougaghene N, Hoang VT, Dao TL, Louni M, Mediannikov O, et al. (2020) Molecular Evidence of Bacteria in Clothes Lice Collected from Homeless People Living in Shelters in Marseille. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 20(11): 872–874. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2019.2603 pmid:32366193
  15. 15. Ly TDA, Hoang VT, Louni M, Dao TL, Badiaga S, Tissot-Dupont H, et al. (2020) Epidemiological serosurvey and molecular characterization of sexually transmitted infections among 1890 sheltered homeless people in Marseille: Cross-sectional one day-surveys (2000–2015). Journal of Infection, 82(1): 60–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2020.11.026 pmid:33279534
  16. 16. Ly TDA, Dao TL, Goang VT, Braunstein D, Broqui P, Lagier JC, et al. (2020) Pattern of infections in French and migrant homeless hospitalised at Marseille infectious disease units, France: A retrospective study, 2017–2018. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 26: 101768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101768
  17. 17. Ly TDA, Hadjadj L, Hoang VT, Goumbala N, Dao TL, Badiaga S, et al. (2021) Enteric pathogenic bacteria and resistance gene carriage in the homeless population in Marseille, France. Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica, 68(1): 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1556/030.2021.01346 pmid:33512334
  18. 18. Ly TDA, Hoang VT, Goumballa N, Louni M, Canard N, Dao TL, et al. (2021) Variations in respiratory pathogen carriage among a homeless population in a shelter for men in Marseille, France, March–July 2020: cross-sectional 1-day surveys. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 40: 1579–1582. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-020-04127-9
  19. 19. Ly TDA, Perieres L, Hoang VT, Dao TL, Gautret P (2021) Pneumococcal infections and homelessness. Molecular Epidemiology, 62(4). https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.4.1805 pmid:35603253
  20. 20. Ly TDA, Holi-Jamovski F, Hoang VT, Goumballa N, Louni M, Dao TL, et al. (2021) Screening Strategy of Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Sheltered Homeless People in Marseille, 2019. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 11(1): 124–131. https://doi.org/10.2991/jegh.k.201009.001 pmid:33605113

Citation: The PLOS ONE Editors (2024) Correction: Distinguishing Body Lice from Head Lice by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Analysis of the Phum_PHUM540560 Gene. PLoS ONE 19(10): e0311640. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311640

Published: October 1, 2024

Copyright: © 2024 The PLOS ONE Editors. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.