Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases
Volume:6 Issue: 1, Jun 2012

Sand fly research has a long history in Iran beginning with the work of Adler, Theodor and Lourie in 1930 and followed by Mesghali’s foundational taxonomic work on sand flies in 1943. Since then, research has continued unabated throughout the country and official publications report the existence of at least 44 species of sand flies (26 of the genus Phlebotomus and 18 of genus Sergentomyia) in Iran. So far, seven Phlebotomus species and one Sergentomyia species have been collected and described by Iranian researchers for the first time. Natural promastigote infection have been repeatedly found in 13 species of sand flies and modern molecular techniques are used routinely to characterize Leishmania parasite isolates from endemic areas of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Because of anthropogenic environmental modifications or human population movements, data on phlebotomine sand flies should be regularly updated and verified at least every five years by fieldwork and taxonomy in foci of leishmaniasis, to incriminate vector species of relevance to the ecology of transmission and to support development and implementation of control programs.

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is an increasing health problems in many rural areas of Iran. The aim of this study was to introduce a new alternative rodenticide to control the reservoirs of ZCL, its effect on the vector density and the incidence of the disease in hyperendemic focus of Esfa­han County, central Iran. The study was carried out from January 2011 to Janu­ary 2012. In intervention areas, rodent control operation was conducted using zinc phosphide or Coumavec®. Active case findings were done by house-to-house visits once every season during 2011–2012. To evaluate the effect of rodent control operation on the vector density, sand flies were collected twice a month using sticky traps. The reduction rate of rodent holes in intervention areas with Coumavec® and zinc phosphide were 48.46% and 58.15% respectively, whereas in control area results showed 6.66 folds intensification. The Incidence of ZCL significantly reduced in the treated areas. Totally, 3200 adult sand flies were collected and identified in the inter­vention and control areas. In the treated area with zinc phosphide, the density of Phlebotomus papatasi was higher in outdoors in contrast with the treated area by Coumavec® which the density of the sand fly was higher in indoors. Both rodenticides were effective on the incidence of ZCL and the population of the reservoirs as well. Coumavec® seems to be effective on the outdoor density of the vector. This combination of rodenticide-insecticide could be a suitable alternative for zinc phosphide while bait shyness or behavioral resistance is occurred.

Melaleuca cajuputi essential oil in aerosol spray was evaluated against the dengue vectors Aedes ae­gypti and Ae. albopictus at low cost housing flats in Section 10, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Essential oil in aerosol viz: 5% and 10% of concentrations were sprayed for 5 seconds each towards hung mos­quitoes in 5 cylindrical net cages. Aerosol weights were recorded before and after spraying to determine dis­charge rates. Knockdown and mortality number were observed and compared to MS standard aerosol which contain 0.07% prallethrin and 0.05% d-phenothrin as positive control and aerosol contain 40% kerosene and 60% LPG was used as negative control. High knockdown and mortality was observed in both species of mosquitoes towards MS standard aerosol. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) of mortality and knockdown between 5% and 10% of essential oil aero­sol and 5% and 10% essential oil between MS standard. For 5% essential oil, mean percentage (%) of knockdown and mortality of Ae. aegypti displayed slightly higher compared to Ae. albopictus. Spraying with 5% M. cajuputi essen­tial oil aerosol indicated a knockdown of Ae. aegypti 5.60±1.18 and mortality of 22.90±4.22 while Ae. albopic­tus showed 4.60±0.89 knockdown and 20.00±2.85 mortality. The 10% essential oil concentration gave 23.60±1.68 knock­down and 48.05±0.37 mortality for Ae. aegypti. Ae. albopictus gave 23.00±3.16 knockdown and 44.20 ± 2.10 mortal­ity respectively. Extracts of essential oils does possessed an adulticidal effects and could be considered and utilized for fu­ture dengue vectors control.

Considering the importance of ticks as a main group transmitting pathogen organisms, this study de­signed to recognize immunogenic proteins in different tissues of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus tick and to find out if there are common proteins in these tissues. Seven cattle were experimentally infested with about 10000 R. annulatus larvae and their humoral im­mune response to extracts of salivary gland and ovary of adult ticks and larval extracts during infestation were deter­mined by ELISA and Western blot analysis. Measurements of serum antibodies level recorded weekly, from week 0 to week 9. Using Western blot analysis, 15 fractions from soluble antigens extracted from salivary gland and larvae, and 14 fractions in the larval extracts were recognized. These findings illustrate the recognition of common antigens with molecular weight of 170, 117, 100, 70, 37, 33 and 30 kDa from different antigens by resistant cattle sera. Common antigens are present in different tissues of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, which can be used as a target in immunization against ticks.

Organophosphorus pesticides are one of the most consumable poisons. Such poisons can enter water sources by different routes. Since consuming some drinking water containing an amount of poison higher than the standard level, causes undesirable effects on human health. This research aimed to study the effectiveness of elimi­nating malathion from water by ultraviolet irradiation (UV) mercury lamp with a medium pressure. In this experimental- applied study, variants of initial pHs and initial concentrations and exposure times were investigated. Initial concentrations of malathion were 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/l. The samples were then exposed to UV irradiation interruptedly the time periods of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes. The UV lamp used in the reactor was medium pressure (irradiation intensity= 200 W/m2). The amounts of malathion were determined before and after the irradiation by HPLC instrument. Moreover, the results obtained from the study were analyzed using SPSS software and ANOVA and t-test statistical trials. The minimum reduction occurs at 10 min (%46) and the maximum reduction in 60 min (% 87.25) (P< 0.05). In addition, the effectiveness of irradiation process decreases with increasing the poison concentration (P< 0.001). However, the efficiency of the process increases with pH increase. The results show the most effectiveness were achieved at 60 min and 0.5 mg/l and pH= 9. Therefore, the application of UV reactors could be considered as an appropriate method.

There is very little information about the mosquito fauna of Qom Province, central Iran. By now only three species; Anopheles claviger, An. multicolor, and An. superpictus have been reported in the province. To study mosquito fauna and providing a primary checklist, an investigation was carried out on a collection of mosquitoes in this province. To study the mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) fauna, larval collections were carried out from different habitats on 19 occasions using the standard dipping technique during spring and summer 2008 and 2009. In total, 371 mosquito larvae were collected and morphologically identified including 14 species representing four genera: Anopheles claviger, An. marteri, An. turkhudi, An. superpictus, Culex arbieeni, Cx. hortensis, Cx. mimeticus, Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens, Cx. territans, Cx. theileri, Culiseta longiareolata, Cs. subochrea, and Ochlerotatus caspius s.l. All species except for An. claviger and An. superpictus were collected for the first time in the province. All larvae were found in natural habitats. The association occasions and percentages of the mosquito larvae in Qom Province were discussed. There are some potential or proven vectors of different human and domesticated animal pathogens in Qom Province. The ecology of these species and the unstudied areas of Qom Province need to be investigated extensively.

Scorpion sting is a public health problem in Khuzestan, South-West Iran. The aims of the current study were to monitor the hospitalized children, due to scorpion sting, and releasing more clinical and epidemiologic data related to scorpionism in this Province. In this retrospective study, the data of scorpion sting victims, among the hospitalized children in Abuzar Children Hospital of Ahvaz Jundi Shapur University of Medical Sciences, was analyzed from the points of epidemi­ological and clinical aspects in 2006. The scorpion species of 18 files out of 57 were recognized accurately, using Farzanpay key of Iranian scor­pions, as Androctonus crassicauda (Scorpionida: Buthidae) and Hemiscorpious lepturus (Scorpionida: Hemiscorpii­dae). The most scorpionism emergencies among the children in the Khuzestan should be paid to those spe­cies. However, H. lepturus sting emergencies are in the top of attention among the children.

The objective was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations in referred companion dogs to veterinary hospital of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, from 2009 to 2010. A total of 126 dogs were sampled for ectoparasites and examined by parasitological methods. The studied animals were grouped based on the age (<1 year, 1–3 years and >3 years), sex, breed and region Thirty six out of 126 referred dogs (28.57%) were positive for external ectoparasites. The most common ectoparasites were Heterodoxus spinigera, which were recorded on 11 dogs (8.73%). Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Sarcoptes scabiei, Otodectes cynotis, Xenopsylla cheopis, Cetenocephalides canis, Cetenocephalides felis, Hip­pobosca sp. and myiasis (L3 of Lucilia sp.) were identified on 9 (7.14%), 7 (5.56%), 6 (4.76%), 3 (2.38%), 3 (2.38%), 2 (1.59%), 2 (1.59%) and one (0.79%) of the studied dogs respectively. Mixed infestation with two species of ectoparasites was recorded on 8 (6.35%). Prevalence was higher in male dogs (35.82%; 24 out of 67) than females (20.34%; 12 out of 59), age above 3 years (31.81%; 7 out of 22) and in the season of winter (30.95%; 13 out of 42), but the difference was not significant regarding to host gender, age and season (P>0.05). Apparently this is the first study conducted in companion dogs of Ahvaz District, South-west of Iran. Our results indicated that lice and ticks were the most common ectoparasites in dogs of this area. The zoonotic nature of some ectoparasites can be regard as a public health alert.

Pediculosis capitis is cosmopolitan health problem. In addition to its physical problems, its psycho­logical effects especially on pupils are more important. This study was conducted to determine the Pediculosis capitis among primary school pupils and also find out the role of probable related risk factors in Urmia city, Iran 2010. 35 primary schools of Urmia City according to the defined clusters randomly have been selected during 2010. 2040 pupils (866 boys and 1174 girls) were included and examined individually and privately by experts. Presence of adult or immature lice or having nits less than 1 cm from the hair basis were defined as positive.Data about demographic features and factors which their effect should be determined were recorded in standard questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software with proper statistical test. Infestation was determined around 4%. Girls show significantly greater infestation. The availability of suit­able warm water for bathing and hair length (separately in girls and boys) are significantly related to infestation load as well as infestation among different age groups. There was no significant relation between parent’s education and job and infestation as well as bathing repetition per week and the kind of energy source which they have. Also there is no significant correlation between educational grades and head lice infestation. The head louse pediculosis is a health problem and remains a health threatening for school chil­dren.Effective risk factors should be determined carefully and regionally. Proper training plays a great role in order to prevent and control the problem.

A case of myiasis due to Musca domestica describes in Pseudocerastes persicus for the first time. The snake was found in Bari Karafs, Kashan, Iran, with a lesion on its body. Fourteen live larvae of M. domestica removed from its wound. This is the first report of a new larval habitat of M. domestica.