Sea Lice

Sea Lice Latest News

A German biotech startup developing a feed-based nanoantibody treatment for sea lice has ambitions to use its platform technology to tackle bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases across aquaculture.

About Sea Lice

• Sea lice are larvae from certain jellyfish and sea anemones that live in saltwater oceans and seas. 
• Sea lice can be unpredictable because they drift with the currents. A beach that had sea lice one year may not have them the next, and vice versa. 
• Despite the name, sea lice aren’t like head lice. But they’re about the same size (2 to 3 millimeters, about the size of a sesame seed). 
• Because they’re so small and nearly see-through, sea lice are almost impossible to see with the naked eye. 
• Unlike head lice, which bite and burrow into your scalp to feed on your blood, sea lice can sting. 
• And those stings can cause a rash called seabather’s eruption. It can appear within minutes or up to a day after exposure.  
• Although seabather’s eruption can be uncomfortable, it’s usually not a serious concern. It’s typically easy to spot and treat. 
• A sea lice rash is usually:
  • Very itchy
  • Red and raised
  • Similar in appearance to small pimples, blisters, or welts
• A sea lice rash tends to affect areas covered by your bathing suit. Pressure on the organisms from the bathing suit causes the stinging cells to discharge, releasing toxins into the skin.  
• Sea lice can also get caught in hair on your head or body. While most cases are mild, some people may experience whole-body symptoms, like:
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Malaise (a general feeling of illness)
  • Nausea and vomiting
• Seabather’s eruption can affect people of any age, but children often experience stronger symptoms.  
• Most sea lice rashes improve within about two weeks, though more severe reactions may take up to a month to fully clear.

News: AN

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