An overview and mapping of Anopheles in Iran

Mapping distribution of endemic diseases with their relations to geographical factors has become important for public health experts, especially in the study of vector-born protozoan diseases with emphasis on spatial or geographical epidemiology. This study was carried out to provide distribution maps of the geographical pathology vectors of Malaria in Iran. A systematic literature review was preformed and the data and/or metadata were used for evaluation of findings. All available articles and books were used for mapping vectors. Scientific names of vectors with collection details were arranged as a shapefile in ArcGIS software and were mapped. About 30 different Anopheles species are found in Iran. Seven maps provided for the main vectors in the country including Anopheles culicifacies, An. fluviatilis, An. stephensi, An. dthali, An. sacharovi, An. maculipennis and An. superpictus. Distributional maps of Malaria had compatibility with distributional maps of main vectors. There are similarities between malaria transmission conditions in Iran and many tropical and subtropical countries. Such information on vectors, incidence of all cases and environmental factors can be used to set a Malaria Early Warning System and help to prevent and control of malaria