Molecular assay on Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus in ticks (Ixodidae) collected from Kermanshah Province, Western Iran

Background: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a feverous and hemorrhagic disease endemic in some parts of Iran and caused by an arbovirus related to Bunyaviridae family and Nairovirusgenus. The main virus reservoir in the nature is ticks, however small vertebrates and a wide range of domestic and wild animals are regarded as reservoir hosts. This study was conducted to determine the infection rate of CCHF virus in hard ticks of Sarpole- Zahab County, Kermanshah province, west of Iran. Methods: From total number of 851 collected ticks from 8 villages, 131 ticks were selected randomlyand investigated for detection of CCHF virus using RT-PCR. Results: The virus was found in 3.8 of the tested ticks. Hyalommaanatolicum, H.asiaticum and Rhipicephalus sanguineus species were found to have viral infection, with the highest infection rate (11.11) in Rh. sanguineus. Conclusion: These findings provide epidemiological evidence for planning control strategies of the disease in the study area

Susceptibility Status of Anopheles Stephensi Liston the Main Malaria Vector, to Deltamethrin and Bacillus Thuringiensis in the Endemic Malarious Area of Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran

Background & Aims: Anopheles stephensi is one of the most important malaria vectors in Hormozgan province, southern Iran. This species with high density has an effective role in malaria transmission, especially in plain and coastal areas. At present, the country malaria vector control program in areas with local transmission is using deltamethrin 5% and Bacillus thuringiensis as insecticide and larvicide, respectively. The aim of this study was to determine the current susceptibility status of Anopheles stephensi to the mentioned pesticides. Methods: Susceptibility tests to deltamethrin in diagnostic dose (0.05%) and Bacillus thuringiensis granules were conducted against the field strain of Anopheles stephensi collected from Siahoo area in the Bandar Abbas county, and Bashagard district, Iran, as well, using standard methods of World Health Organization. Results: The mortality of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes against deltamethrin was recorded as 97 and 98 percents, for Siahoo and Bashagard strains, respectively. Therefore, both strains were susceptible, although Siahoo strain needs more study. Larviciding test by recommended dose of Bacillus thuringiensis granules after 24 hours showed 63.5 and 39 percent mortality for Siahoo and Bashagard strains, respectively. These values increased to 77 and 56 percent after 48 hours. Conclusion: Targeted insecticide application is recommended to prevent the resistance in malaria vectors, while regular susceptibility tests are advised for monitoring of resistance status. Keywords: Anopheles stephensi, Bacillus thuringiensis, Deltamethrin, Southern Ira

Species composition of Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Nikshahr county, south-eastern Iran

Background & objectives: Sandflies are reported as the vectors of different kinds of leishmaniasis to human.There are foci of the disease in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the fauna and species compositionof sandflies to find the probable vectors of leishmaniasis in Nikshahr county, south-east of Iran, where cutaneousleishmaniasis is endemic.Methods: Sandflies were collected by sticky paper traps from 20 collection stations located in plain andmountainous area of Nikshahr county. The sex ratio and relative abundance of different species were alsodetermined.Results: A total of 11,455 sandflies revealed 23 species collected and identified. Phlebotomus alexandri, P.sergenti, P. papatasi, P. salehi, and P. keshishiani were the most important vector species found in this study.Interpretation & conclusion: During this survey 13 species are identified for the first time from Nikshahrcounty—P. bergeroti, P. eleanorae, P. keshishiani, P. halepensis, S. hodgsoni, S. christophersi, S. mervynae, S.dentata, S. dreyfussi, S. iranica, S. africana, S. grekovi and S. palestinensis, while P. keshishiani is an importantvector of visceral leishmaniasis in south of Iran. These data demonstrate five vectors of leishmaniasis areactive in the study area

A STUDY ON RODENT ECTOPARASITES IN BANDAR ABBAS: THE MAIN ECONOMIC SOUTHERN SEAPORT OF IRAN

Rodents are one of the main health problems in the cities, especially in coastal area. These animals make economic damages and are potential health dangers in Bandar Abbas, the main economic southern port of Iran. In this study, rodents were captured from different parts of the city, before and after a control program during 2003-2004, transferred to the laboratory, identified and examined for ecto-parasites. Totally 105 rodents demonstrating four species: Rattus rattus   (3%), R. norvegicus (78%), Mus musculus   (3%) and Tatera indica   (16%), were captured before the control program. The most frequency was observed in Ayatollah Ghafari quarter, 10 rodents per 24 traps. After 12 months, the duration of control program, rodents were re-captured to assessment the success of control activity. In this stage 35 small mammals demonstrated four species were obtained: R.norvegicus (51.4%), R.rattus (37.1%), T.indica (8.6%) and one weasel (2.9%). We found the most frequency in Khoon-sorkh quarter with 6 rodents per 24 traps. The identified ectoparasites were Xenopsylla buxtoni   , Rhipicephalus sp., Polyplax gerbilli   , Haplopleura captiosa   , Ornithonyssus bacoti   , Laelaps nuttalli   , Dermanyssus americanus   , Dermanyssus sanguineus   , Haemolaelaps glasgowi   and Echinolaelaps echidninus   . The number of rodents reduced to one third after control program, shows the relative success of this program (p<0.05)

Monitoring of insecticides resistance in main malaria vectors in a malarious area of Kahnooj district, Kerman province, southeastern Iran

Background & objectives: Kahnooj district in south of Iran is an endemic area for malaria where Anophelesstephensi (Liston) is a main malaria vector and An. dthali (Patton) a secondary vector. According tothe national strategy plan on monitoring of insecticides resistance, this study was performed on susceptibilityand irritability levels of An. stephensi and An. dthali to different insecticides in the district.Methods: The susceptibility and irritability levels of field strains of An. stephensi and An. dthali at theadult and larval stages to discriminative dose of different imagicides was determined as recommendedby WHO.Results: Using discriminative dose and WHO criteria it was found that An. stephensi is resistant toDDT and dieldrin with 36.1 + 2.3 and 62.2 + 1.95 mortality rates, respectively; but susceptible to otherinsecticides. An. dthali was found to susceptible to all tested insecticides. The larvae of An. stephensi,exhibited 100% mortality for temephos and malathion, but 44 + 4.32 for discriminative dose offenitrothion. The results of irritability level for DDT and pyrethroids showed that permethrin had themost irritancy effect on An. stephensi and An. dthali. DDT and deltamethrin showed the least irritancyeffect against An. stephensi with 0.42 + 0.08 and 0.77 + 0.12 take-offs/min/adult, respectively, however,lambdacyhalothrin had the least irritancy effect against An. dthali with 0.096 + 0.02 take-offs/min/adult. The mean number of take-offs/min/adult with permethrin showed significant difference to DDT,lambdacyhalothrin, cyfluthrin and deltamethrin.Interpretation & conclusion: Pyrethroid insecticides are being used as indoor residual sprays in Iran.Based on our results, the main malaria vectors in the region are still susceptible to pyrethroid insecticides.Therefore, we propose the use of pyrethroids with low irritancy effect in rotation with carbamateinsecticides in two interval seasonal peaks of malaria transmission. Biological control including larvivorousfishes, using of local made Bacillus thuringiensis and larvicides such as chlorpyrifos-methyl arethe main larval control in the region. Result on larval test exhibited the susceptibility of main vectors tosome larvicides, although the 100% mortality was not obtained using fenitrothion and this is postulatedthe use of this insecticide in agriculture pest control. Monitoring and evaluation of insecticides resistancein malaria vectors in the region could provide an essential clue for judicious use of insecticides

Modelling and evaluating the risk of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in selected areas of Kerman Province, south of Iran

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains a public health problem in the world, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical countries. This study aimed to determine the hotspots of CL in Kerman Province of Iran and model their potential for the establishment of new disease foci. All documents related to studies conducted in Kerman Province on CL published between 1978 and 2017 were retrieved and categorized. Spatial distributions of the vector, reservoir and human infection of CL were mapped. MaxEnt ecological model was used to predict the environmental suitability of the vector and reservoir(s) of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). The most hazardous sites with the potential for the establishment of new disease foci were determined for field operations. Statistics of new cases of CL was obtained from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the ministry of health for the period 2011�2016. A total of 6,056 cases of CL were recorded, while we found a decreasing pattern in the incidence of CL from 46.48 per 100,000 inhabitants to 22.97. The best ecological niches for Phlebotomus papatasi are located in the central, western, northwest and southwest regions of the province. Also, environmental suitability for the reservoirs was highest in the central, southern and southwestern regions. The model predicted the gerbils can be present in some foci of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). However, this result should be confirmed through a precise field study, and if validated, plans should be made to prevent the emergence of new foci of ZCL in the risk areas. © 2019 Blackwell Verlag Gmb

Molecular, morphological, and spatial study of galba schirazensis (Pulmonata, lymnaeidae) from southeastern Iran

Background: Snails of the genus Galba are the intermediate hosts of Fasciola species, the etio-logical agents of liver fluke disease, fascioliasis. A genetically different but morphologically very similar species in the genus, G. schirazensis, is sympatrically distributed with G. truncatula in some regions of the world. We aimed to investigate the occurrence of G. schirazensis in Kerman prov-ince, Iran and to characterize genetically G. schirazensis specimens from southeast Iran. Methods: Field-collected snails from four localities in Jiroft, Bam and Faryab, Kerman prov-ince, southeastern Iran were studied. Hydrological variables including temperature and pH were recorded for each habitat. Each specimen was identified using morphological as well as concho-logical characteristics. Genetic characterization was performed using PCR-sequencing followed by phylogenetic analyses on nuclear ITS2 as well as mitochondrial cox1 gene fragments. MaxEnt software was used to predict the most appropriate ecological niches for the targeted species. Results: G. schirazensis was found in 4 out of 28 locations. One ITS2 and two cox1 haplotypes were detected among G. schirazensis populations from the four localities. Habitat study showed that G. schirazensis thrives in habitats with alkaline pH. G.schirazensis from South America were clustered with specimens from Bam, Kerman, Iran; however, north Iranian isolates of G. schira-zensis were strongly correlated with specimens from Jiroft and Faryab. MaxEnt model for the most appropriate ecological niches of the targeted species predicted environmental suitability for this species in western Africa as well as coastal areas in north and southwestern Africa. Conclusion: G. schirazensis is frequently present in southern areas of Kerman Province. At least two genetically different haplotypes are present in southeastern Iran. © 2021 Nasibi et al