ma oshaghi

Scorpions are among the most medically important arthropods in Iran, particularly northwestern areas. To date, five scorpion species, i.e. Mesobuthus eupeus, Mesobuthus caucasicus, Androctonus crassicauda, Hottentotta saulcyi, and scorpio maurus, have been identified. The family Buthidae is responsible for most cases of scorpionism in Iran. The Mesobuthus eupeus species belong to this family and is commonly distributed from Turkey to China, including Iran. Among these species, Mesobuthus eupeus is regarded as the most medically important species and responsible for most cases of envenomation in this area. Morphological differences between some species collected in the study area have been reported. The present study, thus, aimed to identify the subspecies of Mesobuthus eupeus in northwestern Iran. Scorpions were captured in the summer months from 37 localities in three northwestern provinces in Iran: West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, and Ardabil. Scorpion collection was carried out using rock rolling and ultraviolet methods. A total of 376 specimens of Mesobutus eupeus (177males and 199 females) were collected and identified as Mesobuthus eupeus (98.4%) and Mesobuthus eupeus philippovitschi (1.6%). Owing to the findings of our study, M.e.philippovitschi has been added to the scorpion fauna of northwestern parts of Iran for the first time. Unlike M.e. eupeus which is widely distributed from plains to mountainous regions, M.e.philippovitschi has limited distribution and is found mostly along the borders with neighboring countries. This subspecies is the most medically important and most prevalent one in the region. The findings of the present study also provide the basis for future consideration of regional antivenom production for this medically important species.

A study was conducted to determine the efficacy of using of poultry by-product meal as animal protein source,to comparison all vegetable diets formulated with soybean meal,on prevention of footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens.a total of 280,7-day-old ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to 28 pens that included 7 treatments with new pine shavings as litter.each treatment had 4 replications.experimental treatments were :1) control 2. 3 and 4) diets with 5% of poultry by-product meal with arrangement of A,B and C slaughterhouse:5 , 6 and 7) diets from 8 day old up to 42 ays of age.data were evaluated by ANOVA in a completely randomized design statistical procedure of SAS software.mean differences representing statistical diffrences were using Tukey,s test.the feet were scored on all birds on 28, 35 and 42 day of age and the severity of lesions was recorded as none,intermediate and severe.litter samples were collected 28, 35 and 42 of age for moisture,total N and pH analysis.the incidence of footpad dermatitis was significantly affected by protein source and protein levels.birds fed all vegetable diets showing higher incidence and severity than those fed vegetable plus animal diets.litter moisture,N2 and pH,although not significant.the incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis was significantly affected by protein source and protein levels and age.hence,nutritional factors play a significant role in the etiology of FPD in broilers.

Introduction &

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is caused by obligatory intracellular parasite of genus Lieshmania. The disease is reported from more than half of Iran's provinces. Various species of sand flies are vector of the disease. Determination of vectors and gaining knowledge about them are important for devising of control program.

This survey was performed as a cross-sectional study in order to determine the vector(s) of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Damghan district during 2008-2009. Sand flies were collected from indoors and outdoors by sticky traps twice in month from April to November. Head and last abdominal segments of the samples were removed and mounted in a drop of Puri’s medium and identified. The rest of the sand flie's bodies was subjected to DNA extraction for molecular detection of Leishmania parasite by Nested PCR using specific primers of minicircle kinetoplast DNA

Totally, 6110 sand flies in 8 species were collected. P. papatasi had high density (46.7%). Examination of 280 female sand flies by Nested PCR showed that 28 sand flies (10%)include 24 specimens P.papatasi (85.7%) and 4 specimens P.caucasicus(14.3%)were found naturally infected with L.major. The highest rate of infected sandflies were observed in rodents burrow (42.9%). Maximum rate of sand fly infection was in September (89.3%).

With respect to high density of P.papatasi and isolation of L.major from it, this species was the main vector of the disease. Detection of L.major from P.caucasicus shows that this species was the secondary vector in rodent burrow. The highest rate of sand leis infected was in September, so personal protection in this month is very important and necessary. Regarding to the high density of vectors and high infection rate of them taking actions to decrease the sand fly abundance and prevention of human biting are suggested.

Appropriate methodology for storage biological materials, extraction of DNA, and proper DNA preservation is vital for studies involving genetic analysis of insects, bacteria, and reservoir hosts as well as for molecular diagnostics of pathogens carried by vectors and reservoirs. Here we tried to evaluate the utility of a simple filter paper-based for storage of insects, bacteria, rodent, and human DNAs using PCR assays. Total body or haemolymph of individual mosquitoes, sand flies or cockroaches squashed or placed on the paper respectively. Extracted DNA of five different bacteria species as well as blood specimens of human and great gerbil Rhombomys opimus was pipetted directly onto filter paper. The papers were stored in room temperature up to 12 months during 2009 until 2011. At monthly intervals, PCR was conducted using a 1-mm disk from the DNA impregnated filter paper as target DNA. PCR amplification was performed against different target genes of the organisms including the ITS2-rDNA of mosquitoes, mtDNA-COI of the sand flies and cockroaches, 16SrRNA gene of the bacteria, and the mtDNA-CytB of the vertebrates. Successful PCR amplification was observed for all of the specimens regardless of the loci, taxon, or time of storage. The PCR amplification were ranged from 462 to 1500 bp and worked well for the specified target gene/s. Time of storage did not affect the amplification up to one year. The filter paper method is a simple and economical way to store, to preserve, and to distribute DNA samples for PCR analysis.

The cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has been occurred in Dehbakri County, located 46 km of Bam Dis­trict, Kerman Province since 2004–2005. Phlebotomus papatasi is an important vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmanisis (ZCL) as well as sand fly fever and P. sergenti is considered as main vector of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in Iran. There are several measures for vector control with emphasizing on insecticides. The objective of this study was to determine the baseline susceptibility of leishmaniasis vectors to the DDT and del­tamethrin in an endemic focus of CL in southern Iran. Baseline susceptibility tests were carried out on field collected strains of P. papatasi and P. sergenti and tested with WHO impregnated papers with DDT 4.0% and deltamethrin 0.05% in the focus of disease in Dehbakri County during summer 2010. The values of LT50 and LT90 were determined using probit analysis and regression lines. The LT50 value of DDT 4.0% and deltamethrin 0.05% against P. papatasi was 20.6 and 13.6 minutes re­spectively. The same data for P. sergenti were ranged between 21.8 and 17.7 minutes. The results of tests will provide a guideline for implementation of vector control using pesticides such as impregnated bed nets, indoor residual spraying and fogging.

Relapsing fever caused by Borrelia persica, is an acute tick-borne disease which is transmitted by soft ticks of Ornithodoros tholozani to human. Value of PCR and xenodiagnosis for detection of B. persica in O. tholozani ticks was compared. Sixty-four Bor­relia-free ticks were fed on infected guinea pigs and used for the experiments. For xenodiagnosis, a group of 32 ticks in subsequent blood meal were fed on sterile guinea pigs and the indication of B. persica in the animal blood was tested 5-14 days later by dark-field microscopy. For PCR, all 64 ticks were subjected to PCR against B. persica rrs gene (16S-rDNA). Also sensitivity of PCR in terms of minimum detectable number of spirochetes as well as the effects of tick sex and post digestion was tested. PCR revealed B.persica DNA in 98.4% ticks, in which B. persica were found in 25.0% by xenodiagnosis. PCR was enough sensitive to give positive results for DNA of 1 spirochete. PCR success rates were similar for male or female ticks. Course of time did not affect the efficacy of PCR and similar results were observed for ticks of immediately fed, semi- or completely gravid or completely digested blood ones. Our results indicate that due to very low specificity and time consuming, xenodiagnosis is not a useful method whereas PCR method has advantages for study the Borrelia prevalence in ticks.

The aim of his study was to determine development time and thermal requirements of three myiasis flies including Chrysomya albiceps, Lucilia sericata, and Sarcophaga sp. Rate of development (ROD) and accumu­lated degree day (ADD) of three important forensic flies in Iran, Chrysomya albiceps, Lucilia sericata, and Sarcophaga sp. by rearing individuals under a single constant temperature (28° C) was calcu­lated using specific formula for four developmental events including egg hatching, larval stages, pupation, and eclosion. Rates of development decreased step by step as the flies grew from egg to larvae and then to adult stage; however, this rate was bigger for blowflies (C. albiceps and L. sericata) in comparison with the flesh fly Sarcophaga sp. Egg hatching, larval stages, and pupation took about one fourth and half of the time of the total pre-adult development time for all of the three species. In general, the flesh fly Sarcophaga sp. required more heat for development than the blowflies. The thermal constants (K) were 130–195, 148–222, and 221–323 degree-days (DD) for egg hatching to adult stages of C. albiceps, L. sericata, and Sarcophaga sp., respectively. This is the first report on thermal requirement of three forensic flies in Iran. The data of this study provide preliminary information for forensic entomologist to establish PMI in the area of study.

Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania infantum, transmitted to humans by bites of phle­botomine sand flies and is one of the most important public health problems in Iran. To identify the vector(s), an investiga­tion was carried out in Bilesavar District, one of the important foci of the disease in Ardebil Province in northwest­ern Iran, during July-September 2008. Using sticky papers, 2,110 sand flies were collected from indoors (bedroom, guestroom, toilet and stable) and outdoors (wall cracks, crevices and animal burrows) and identified morphologically. Species-specific amplifica­tion of promastigotes revealed specific PCR products of L. infantum DNA. Six sand fly species were found in the district, including: Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus, P. pa­patasi, P. tobbi, P. sergenti, Sergentomyia dentata and S. sintoni. Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus was the domi­nant species of the genus Phlebotomus (62.8%). Of 270 female dissected P. perfiliewi transcuacasicus, 4 (1.5%) were found naturally infected with promastigotes. Based on natural infections of P. perfiliewi transcaucasicus with L. infantum and the fact that it was the only species found infected with L. infantum, it seems, this sand fly could be the principal vector of visceral leishmani­asis in the region.

A molecular survey was conducted to investigate the presence of pathogenic Borrelia persica species caus­ing the tick borne relapsing fever (TBRF) in Takistan district Qazvin Province, western Iran. A number of 1021 soft ticks were collected from 31 villages including previously reported infected and none-infected TBRF cases and individually examined for the presence of B. persica DNA by conventional PCR target­ing the 16S rRNA. A total of 1021 soft ticks of three species of Ornithodouros tholozani (120: 11.75%), O. lahorensis (461: 45.15%) and Argas persicus (440: 43.1%) were collected and tested against Borrelia infection. Soft ticks were more preva­lent (67%) in infected areas than none infected areas. The rate O. tholozani in infected areas was much greater (29 times) than none infected areas. Ninety seven percent of soft ticks in none infected areas were of O. tholozani. Six­teen (16.7%) ticks of tested (n=95) O. tholozani were infected with B. persica. Three (1.3%) out of 205 soft ticks of O. lahorensis were positive for Borrelia sp., and no infection was observed in A. persicus. TaqI RFLP analysis and se­quence analysis of the positive PCR products showed the presence of B. persica. The RFLP analysis showed that the positive ticks of O. lahorensis were infected with unknown Borrelia species. This study showed that although there were no TBRF cases in Takisan, but still infected O. tholozani, the known vector of TBRF, presented in the region. Control measures needs to be fulfilled in Thakisan.

Regarding to the significant of the possibility of the malaria epidemic and nuisance of mosquitoes dur­ing the active season, the fauna and some ecological activities of mosquitoes in related to tree holes were investi­gated from April to December 2009 in Neka county of Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. Larval collection was carried out from natural, artificial breeding places, and tree holes inside the forest in Neka County, Mazandaran Province in 2009. In addition, human bait net trap collection was conducted using suction tube several times during this investigation. Four genera and five species were found in tree holes. Anopheles plumbeus, Culiseta annulata, Culex pipiens, and Ochlerotatus geniculatus were collected by larval collection whereas, Ochlerotatus pulcritarsis was found by adult collection. Overall Cx. pipiens 44.6%, Oc. geniculatus 32.6%, An. plumbeus 22.5%, and Cs. annulata 0.3% were collected by larval collection. During the bait net collection five specie were identified including: Oc. genicula­tus 55.87%, Oc. echinus 1.33%, Oc. pulchritarsis 8.8 %, Cx. pipiens 33.8%, and An. plumbeus 0.2%. Cs. annu­lata larvae was detected for the first time with a low abundance in tree cavity. Tree holes were found the main habitat for the species of Oc. geniculatus. The species of Cs. annulata was found in tree holes

Ticks are hematophagous arthropod belonging to the Class of Arachnids. Ticks are also one of the major vectors of pathogens to animal and human. This study was conducted to determine tick infestation rate of sheep in Abdanan during 2007–2008. Sampling was performed seasonally in 19 villages during spring 2007 until winter 2008. A total of 1095 sheep were selected and tested for tick infestation. After collection, all ticks were transported to laboratory of Medi­cal Entomology and were identified with appropriate identification keys. Totally, 864 hard ticks were collected. The ticks were classified into two genera and 5 species including: Hyalomma marginatum (44.67%), Hy. anatolicum (43.17%), Hy.asiaticum (6.37%), Hy. dromedarii (5.55%), Hea­maphysalis sulcata (0.24%). The highest seasonal activity was observed in spring (36.46 %) and the lowest seasonal was in winter (11.57%). The rate of tick frequency in mountainous region was 48.15% and it was 51.85% in plateau regions. In this study, tick infestation of sheep was 11.41%. Hy.marginatum has the more frequent density in the study area.

Biting habit of mosquitoes plays an important role in the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitoes use a set of elaborate sensory modalities to find their preferred hosts by exploiting cues emanating from a nearby host. It has been suggested that the chemical profile of skin can provide further support for anthropophilic mosquito species to find their suitable hosts. This study aimed at revealing the value of skin emanation for a zoophilic species like Anopheles stephensi as a model. Skin emanations of a man, a cow and a Guinea pig were collected by ethanol soaked cottons. Upwind responses of mosquitoes to 100 and 200 2l of filtered skin materials were non-competitively explored in a dual-choice olfactometer. L-lactic acid and other chemical content of the skin samples were identified by an enzymatic kit and GC-MS, respectively. Unexpectedly, only human skin emanation was resulted in the statistically significant activation and attraction responses of An. stephensi in the wind tunnel. L-lactic acid content of this skin sample was 10 and 29 times more than the cow and the Guinea pig, respectively. The possible role of lactic acid and a few other identified compounds have been discussed here. An. stephensi showed higher and more specific upwind responses to human skin emanation in the olfactometer. Undoubtedly, the thorough explanation of this unexpected finding needs further investigation. But, if new data verify this result, then, it may be necessary to reconsider the role of skin emanation and thence the human blood index and vectorial capacity of this zoophilic mosquito.

Ticks are the main vectors for transmission of different pathogens to human and animals. This survey was performed to find out distribution of ticks, which infested the domestic ruminants in Yazd Province, central Iran during year 2008-2009. A total number of 30 villages from both mountainous (20%) and plateau (80%) regions of the province were selected randomly. Ticks were colleted from the body of infested animals and transported to the laboratory of Medical Entomology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and then were identified to space level using valid identification key. A total of 583 hard ticks were collected. The ticks were classified into three genera and 7 species including: Hyalomma dromedarii (55.92%), Hy. marginatum (13.20%), Hy. anatolicum (9.78%), Hy. detritum (4.98%), Hy. asiaticum (3.94%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (11.84%), and Dermacentor marginatus (0.34%). The highest seasonal activities occurred in summer. The prevalence of the Ixodidae ticks was more evident in plateaus area in Yazd Province. Among the hosts including: cow, goat, sheep and camel, the ticks that collected from camel was more prevalent. The ratio of male was more than female ticks. Hyalomma. dromedarii was the predominant tick species and accounted for 55.92% of the ticks. Some of the collected ticks may play an important role for transmission of vector borne disease to human; therefore, the results of this study will provide a clue for vectors of tick-borne diseases in the region for local authorities for implementation of disease control.

We report a case of human nasal myiasis caused by flower fly larva in a 14-year-old rural girl in Central Province of Iran. Entomological studies on larva showed the larva as Eristalis tenax which is a rarely cause of nasal myiasis. This is the first reported case of E. tenax larva causing human nasal myiasis in Iran.

Shiraz district is one of the important foci of urban and rural cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran and any precise study wasn’t carry out in relation to sand flies fauna in this district. The purpose of this study, investigation and determination of probable vectors of the urban and rural cutaneous leishmaniasis had been in this district. This study is a descriptive study. The sand flies were collected by sticky trap in June, July and September of 2007 in various local of Shiraz city and villages around of Shiraz city. The preyed sand flies were identified by Nadim & Javadian key. From 1322 collected sand flies, one sub genus from Sergentomyia genus (Grassomyia spp) and 10 species consist of 3 species of dependent on Phlebotomus genus (P. papatasi, P. tobbi, P. sergenti) and 7 species of dependent on Sergentomyia genus were identified. P. papatasi in 8 regions, P. sergenti in 2 regions and S. sintoni in 1 region from 11 investigated regions were determined as predominant species. P. papatasi was predominant in outskirt of Shiraz and it’s around villages that this is implicating the existence of P. papatasi as the probable vector of rural cutaneous leishmaniasis and P. sergenti was predominant in urbanite regions of Shiraz city that this is implicating the existence of P. sergenti as the probable vector of urban cutaneous leishmaniasis in these regions. In order to determine of principal vectors of urban and rural cutaneous leishmaniasis, this need to molecular surveys of vectors.

The adult female sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the subgenus Larroussius are important vectors of Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida: Tripanosomatidae) in Meshkinshahr district, Northwest of Iran. Four Phle­boto­mus (Larroussius) species are present in this area, i.e. Phlebotomus (Larroussius) kandelakii, P. (La.) major, P. (La.) perfiliewi and P. (La.) tobbi. The objective of the present study was to identify and distinguish the females of P. per­filiewi, P. major and P. tobbi, in this district. Adult sand flies were collected with sticky papers, CDC light traps, and aspirator in 2006. Individual sand flies of this four species from thirty different locations were characterized morphologically and by comparative DNA se­quences analyses of a fragment of mitochondrial gene Cytochrome b (Cyt b) and nuclear gene Elongation Factor 1- al­pha (EF-1α). PCR amplification was carried out for all three species P. major, P. perfiliewi and P. tobbi in the sub­ge­nus Larroussius. Phylogenetic analyses of P. major populations in this study displayed two different populations and genetic di­ver­sity. Spermathecal segment number, pharyngeal armature and other morphological characters of these three spe­cies were examined and found to present consistent interspecific differences. According to our findings, the phylogeny of Cyt b and EF-1α haplotypes confirms the relationships be­tween P. major, P. tobbi and P. perfiliewi as already defined by their morphological similaritie

We aimed to develop a PCR-RFLP assay based on available sequences of putative vertebrate hosts to iden­tify blood meals ingested by field female sand fly in the northwest of Iran. In addition, the utility of PCR-RFLP was compared with ELISA as a standard method. This experimental study was performed in the Insect Molecular Biology Laboratory of School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2006-2007. For PCR-RFLP a set of conserved vertebrate prim­ers were used to amplify a part of the host mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene followed by digestion of the PCR products by Hae III enzyme. The PCR-RFLP and ELISA assays revealed that 34% and 27% of field-collected sand flies had fed on hu­mans, respectively. Additionally, PCR-RFLP assays could reveal specific host DNA as well as the components of mixed blood meals. Results of PCR-RFLP assay showed that the sand flies had fed on cow (54%), human (10%), dog (4%), human and cow (21%), dog and cow (14%), and human and dog (3%). The results can provide a novel method for rapid diagnosis of blood meal taken by sandflies. The advan­tages and limitations of PCR and ELISA assays are discussed.

Ectoparasites of mammalian hosts play an important role for transmission of diseases from the host res­ervoirs to human. The aim of this study was to determine the species composition and infestation parameters for para­sitic arthropods associated with Rhombomys opimus. Ectoparasites of R. opimus were collected from seven endemic district of ZCL in Iran including Shirvan and Sfaraysen in North Khorasan Province, Kalaleh in Golestan Province, Damghan and Shahrood in Semnan Prov­ince, and Badrood and Habibabad in Isfahan Province. The areas of study were mainly desert and plain. Rodents were captured using Sherman life traps during active seasons from May to November 2008. Captured rodents were trans­ported to laboratory and their ectoparasites were picked up using brushing against the fur of the rodents. Ecto­parasites were stored in 70% ethanol for their preservation and then identified based on morphological characters. Ectoparasites belonged to one flea species of Xenopsylla nuttalli and one mite species of Ornithonussus ba­coti. The flea species with 75.3% was more common than the mite. O. bacoti might play an important role in trans­mission of rat mite dermatitis among R. opimus colony. Results will provide an essential clue for combating zoonotic diseases in the region.

An epidemiological study was carried out on the vector(s) and reservoir(s) of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural areas of Kalaleh District, Golestan Province during 2006 - 2007. Totally 4900 sand flies were collected using sticky papers and were subjected to molecular methods for de­tection of leishmanial parasite. Phlebotomus papatasi was the common species in outdoor and indoor resting places. Employing PCR tech­nique showed only 1 out of 372 P. papatasi (0.3%) was positive to parasite due Leishmania major. Sixteen ro­dent reservoir hosts were captured by Sherman traps and identified as Rhombomys opimus. Microscopic investiga­tion on blood smear of the animals for amastigote parasites revealed 6(37.5%) infected rodents. Infection of these ani­mals to L. major was then confirmed by PCR against rDNA loci of the parasite. This is the first molecular report of parasite infection of both vector (P. papatas) and reservoir (R. opimus) to L. major. The results indicated that P. papatas was the primary vector of the disease and circulating the para­site between human and reservoirs, and R. opimus was the most important host reservoir for maintenance of the para­site source in the area.

The aim of this study was to assess Leishmania infection in sand fly species from areas where leishmaniasis is endemic. This is important for prediction of the risk and expansion of the disease. In this cross-sectional study we used a PCR-based method for detection of Leishmania minicircle DNA within individual sand flies from Orzoieh, a new endemic leishmaniasis focus in southern Iran. We detected minicircle DNA in 6 of 92 (6.5%) Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi collected indoor, while all of previous microscopic examination of sand flies specimens was negative for Leishmania promastigotes in the region. The species were identified as Leishmania (Leishmania) major by comparison of PCR products with a L. major positive control. All the Leishmania-positive sand flies were confirmed as P. (P.) papatasi by using a morphological key of Iranian sand flies. Since PCR method is relatively easy and can process a large number of samples, it will be a powerful tool for the rapid identification of Leishmania species as well as monitoring the infection rate in sand fly populations in areas of low endemicity of leishmaniasis.

Ecology of Anopheles dthali was studied in Bandar Abbas County, where there is indigenous malaria. Anopheles dthali plays as a secondary malaria vector in the region. It is active throughout the year in mountainous area with two peaks of activity, whereas in coastal area it has one peak. There is no report of hibernation or aestivation for this species in the re gion. Precipitin tests on specimens from different parts showed that 15.6-20.8% were positive for human blood. This species usually rests outdoors. It has different larval habitats. Insecticides susceptibility tests on adult females exhibited susceptibil ity to all insecticides recommended by WHO. LT50 for the currently used insecticide, lambda-cyhalothrin, is measured less than one minute. The irritability tests to pyrethroid insecticides, showed that permethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin had more irritancy compared to deltamethrin and cyfluthrin. Larval bioassay using malathion, chlorpyrifos, temephos and fenithrothion did not show any sing of resistance to these larvicides at the diagnostic dose. It is recommended that all the decision makers should consider the results of our study for any vector control measures in the region.

The members of Anopheles maculipennis subgroup (Diptera: Culicidae) are the most important vectors of malaria in the north, west, and central plateau of Iran. This study was carried out to differentiate the species composition of this subgroup based on morphometric variation seta 2-IV and V (antepalmate hair) among 149 larval specimens that were deposited at the Medical Arthropods Museum, the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences by using the light micro scope. The mean numbers of larval seta 2-IV and V of the specimens belong to different locations of Iran, were calculated by SPSS (11.5) software package, followed by cluster analysis, and four different groups (clusters) were identified. The means were compared with the similar and available published data. After analyzing, four clusters recognized. The first cluster was fitted in ten localities in Esfahan, East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, Khorassan, Kurdistan, and Mazandaran Provinces with its mean and standard deviation (SD) of 14.89±1.13 (n= 79); the second group with one location in Gilan Province (11±1.58, no= 5); the third one with two locations in Fars and Western Azarbaijan Provinces (27.43±0.31, n=20), and the final group with four locations in Khuzestan, West Azarbaijan, and Qazvin Provinces (36.84±1.91, n= 45) were identified and corresponded to Anopheles messeae, An. atroparvus, An. melanoon, and An. sacharovi respectively. This work provides comparative information on the Maculipennis Subgroup based on morphometric examination at the larval stage in Iran.

Abstract: Identification of host blood meal in haematophagous arthropods is an important element in their rule in transmission of vector borne diseases. The effects of post ingestion and physical conditions that killed mosquitoes are stored on the success of detecting blood meal DNA of Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasiatus was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification at the human mitochondrial DNA cytochromeB (CytB) gene. Host DNA extracted from the blood meal up to 33 h post ingestion in both species acts as an efficient template for PCR amplification. However more DNA concentration needs for meals digested longer time. Successful PCR amplification among meals digested for 36 h dropping to a faint band. There were no differences between PCR success rate for sampled stored at +4° C or -20° C, but less successful products were observed in samples kept at 4° C for periods longer than 30 h digestion. The results of this study is important in malaria epidemiological studies to provide valuable information about the degree of contact between human hosts and mosquito vectors, impact of vectors controls such bed nets and repellents, and the transmission dynamics of human malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

Mutations in the GJB2 gene encoding Connexin 26 (Cx26) protein are a major cause for autosomal recessive non syndromic and sporadic deafness in many populations. In this study we have investigated the prevalence of the GJB2 gene mutations using nested PCR pre screening strategy and direct sequencing method. Two hundred and sixty autosomal recessive non syndromic and sporadic deaf subjects from 199 families in two provinces of Iran (Gilan and Khorasan) were studied. Altogether 14 different genetic variants were identified from which 2 were novel variant (327delG+G109G and 431insC). Eight GJB2 mutations including 35delG, 235delC, W77X, R127H, M34T, V27I+E114G, L90P and delE120 were also found in 54 of 199 families (27%). Four polymorphysms V27I, S86T, V153I and G160S also were detected. Thirty two of 199 families were observed to have GJB2 mutations in both alleles (16%). The most common mutation was 35delG so that 43 out of 55 GJB2 mutations (78.2%) contained 35delG mutation.

Repellet effect of extracts and essential oils of Citrus limon (L.) Burm.F., (lemon) and Melissa officinalis, (balm) were evaluated against Anopheles stephensi in laboratory on animal and human and compared with synthetic repellent, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (Deet) as a standard. Results of statistical analysis revealed significant differences between oils and extracts (P< 0.05) against the tested species, thus oils were more effective than extracts. There was no significant difference between Deet and lemon oil, whereas the difference between lemon and melissa oils was significant. Relative efficacy of lemon oil to Deet was 0.88 whereas it was 0.71 for melissa oil. The results were found marginally superior in repellency for animals than human. Due to advantages of botanic compounds to synthetic compounds we recommend lemon essential oil as an effective alternative to Deet with potential as a means of personal protection against mosquito vectors of disease.