Some seven million years ago, this ancient ape species split into gorillas and the ancestors of humans and chimps, with both lineages infected by both species of lice. But Pediculus then fell extinct in its gorilla hosts, according to Dr. Reeds reconstruction, and Phthirus vanished from the chimp-human ancestor. Next, chimps and humans diverged, and their joint louse diverged with them into Pediculus humanus and Pediculus schaeffi.
The last event in this history of human-louse cohabitation was the transfer of the gorillas Phthirus louse to people.
Dr. Stoneking said Dr. Reeds reconstruction was pretty reasonable and said he agreed that acquisition of the gorillas louse indicated people had lost their body hair by then. The transfer doesnt have to be sexual, he said, but presumably it does require reasonably close contact.
I just LOVE the smell of speculation in the morning!!!