For those of you itching to know more about bedbugs, Clinical Infectious Diseases just published an extensive review (available as a free PDF) on the matter, including information on how best to detect bedbugs in the environment and how to recognize their dermatologic manifestations. The authors even go so far as to describe their very distinct sexual and reproductive habits- known as ‘traumatic insemination’. Too much information.
The role of bedbugs as potential vectors of disease transmission is neatly reviewed and summarized. To date, however, bedbugs have not been implicated in the transmission of any bloodborne pathogens.
For a less academic perspective, I refer you to a posting from 2010, where I blogged about bedbugs in the fashion industry.
Critters in the couture are not good for business!
