Larvicidial effects of essential oil and methanol extract of Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch (Asteraceae) against Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae), a malaria vector

Background: Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of many pathogens and parasites and consequently serious diseases in humans. Currently, application of plant derivatives has been suggested as an alternative bio-control technique for these medically important vectors. Methods: In this study the essential oil and methanol extract of Achillea wilhelmsii were tested against late-3rd or young-4th instar larvae stages of mosquito vector, Anopheles stephensi, under laboratory condition. The larval mortality was calculated after 24 h of the exposure period. Data were subjected to Probit analysis in order to estimate the lethal concentration for 50% and 90% of mortality values. Results: Results showed that the essential oil induced 100% larval mortality of An. stephensi larvae after 24 h with a dosage of 160 ppm, However, a dosage of 320 ppm of methanol extract was required to reach 100% larval mortality.The essential oil methanol extract exerted significant larvicidal activity with LC50 values of 39.04 and 115.73 ppm, respectively. Conclusion: Our finding suggests that A. wilhelmsii oil is a potential source and has valuable larvicidal compounds for mosquito larval control. © 2017, Kerman University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF): A survey among butchers community in Kerman city

This study aims to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice of butchers about Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Kerman city. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2018 to March 2019 in Kerman city, southeast of Iran. A total of 127 butchers took part in interview. Collected data were analyzed by using SPSS version 22. Totally, 127 butchers were interviewed in Kerman, that all participants in the study were man. The mean of age and professional work experience of participants in the study were 38.88 ± 10.47 and 18.14 ± 11.45, respectively. The results showed that 47 of the participants in this study had less than diploma education and 53 had diploma. Most participants (76.4) knew about the CCHF. In generally the results of this study showed that, the butchers in Kerman have good knowledge, attitude and practice regarding CCHF. Given that Kerman city is on the way of livestock imported from the eastern borders of the country, and is one of the most high risk areas. For CCHF, it is suggested that more studies conducted on other risk groups such as farmers, health personnel, and people living in this area also other endemic areas. © 202

Risk Factors of Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Among Residents in Endemic Communities in Southeast of Iran in 2019

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to identify the risk factors associated with the incidence of A.C.L in three endemic areas of Kerman City. Moreover, the residents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards A.C.L were assessed. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 195 residents of three endemic areas in Kerman City involved by A.C.L disease from January to March 2019. The risk factors for A.C.L were recorded using a checklist. Structured questionnaire was administered for data collection. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, correlation analysis, and linear regression via SPSS version 22. Results: The main risk factors for A.C.L identified in the study areas included construction waste, presence of old and dilapidated houses, poor sanitary conditions, refugee and immigration, as well as the presence of domestic animals in close physical proximity to humans. The response rate of this questionnaire was 100 . Among the respondents, 41.5 were males and 58.5 were females. Majority of the respondents (61) claimed that they had heard about A.C.L and were familiar with this infectious disease. Only 25, 66.7, and 32 of the respondents had good knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards A.C.L, respectively. No significant association was found between the participants' gender and their levels of knowledge (P = 0.827), attitudes (P = 0.446), and practices (P = 0.603). Conclusions: The residents of endemic areas had a weak level of knowledge towards A.C.L. So, educational programs should be implemented in order to improve the residents' knowledge in Kerman City. © 2021. All Rights Reserved

Phytochemical Profile and Mosquito Larvicidal Activity of the Essential Oil from Aerial Parts of Satureja bachtiarica Bunge Against Malaria and Lymphatic Filariasis Vectors

Mosquitoes play an important role in transmission of large number of diseases including malaria, filariasis and arboviral diseases. Increasing application of synthetic insecticides may be resulted in resistant to insecticides. Furthermore, it may have adverse effects on the environment and human health. Currently, one of the most effective alternative approaches under the biological control programs is using of natural larvicidal agents derived from plants. The larvicidal properties of essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of an indigenous plant, Satureja bachtiarica was evaluated against two mosquito vector, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. In addition, the analysis of essential oil was investigated by Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Forty-one compounds, representing 98.42% of the essential oils have been identified. The main constituents were carvacrol (22.66%), p-cymene (15.89%), borneol (14.05 %), 1,8-cineole (10.45%) and thymol (7.27%). Five different concentrations of essential oil were evaluated against the late 3rd and early 4th instars larvae of An. stephensi and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The LC50 and LC90 values against An. stephensi larvae were 24.27 and 54.24 ppm and for Cx. quinquefasciatus were 44.96 and 114.45 ppm after 24 hours of exposure, respectively. In conclusion, results of study clearly indicated that the essential oils of S. bachtiarica possessed remarkable larvicidal properties and could serve as an alternative to synthetic insecticides for control of mosquito larvae

Chemical Composition and Mosquito Larvicidal Properties of Essential Oil from Leaves of an Iranian Indigenous Plant Zhumeria majdae

The use of natural products derived from plants in mosquitoes control is an alternative method for minimizing the side effects of chemical pesticides on the environment. In the current study chemical composition of essential oil extracted from an indigenous plant, Zhumeria majdae was determined and identified by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. In addition, the larvicidal activity of essential oil was evaluated against two important mosquito vectors, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. Thirty constituents, representing 97.86 of the oil, were identified. The main constituents of the oil were camphor (38.84 ), linalool (31.18 ) and camphene (7.73 ). Z. Majdae volatile oil showed significant toxicity against larvae of both species. The LC50 and LC90 values against An. stephensi larvae were 61.34 and 135.81 ppm and for Cx. quinquefasciatus were 88.51 and 191.56 ppm after 24 hours, respectively. Our findings indicated that the essential oil from Z. majdae leaves may be explored as a potential mosquito bio-larvicide. © 2016 Har Krishan Bhalla & Sons

Anopheline species composition in borderline of Iran-Azerbaijan

Malaria is still one of the most important health-problems in the world and is endemic in Iran. Since 1994, after collapse of former Soviet Union, a new threat of malaria importation emerged from those countries into the northern Iran. This work was carried out to provide further evidence on the status of anopheline species composition, the malaria parasite species, and natural infectivity of mosquitoes distributed in Pars-Abad district, on the borderline of Azerbaijan in northwestern Iran. Mosquitoes were collected from May to December 2008 in anopheline seasonal activity and were identified at the species level. The genus- and species-specific primers against Plasmodium ssrDNA gene were used for specific amplification on female mosquito head. +. thorax. Members of the Anoheles maculipennis complex were identified by sequence analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer II (ITS2-rDNA). Morphological character-based identification showed that out of 1455 anopheline female specimens, 1121 (77) were of A. maculipennis s.l. and 334 (23) were of Anoheles hyrcanus. Molecular analysis of the species complex indicated the presence of Anoheles sacharovi 984 (67.6) and A. maculipennis 137 (9.4) in the region. None of themosquito's head-thorax was found to be naturally infected by malaria parasite. Results of this study, particularly high dominance of A. sacharovi, suggest a potential risk of malaria epidemic in the region, and the need for a continuous epidemiological surveillance. © 2011 Elsevier B.V

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

Detection of bendiocarb and Carbaryl resistance mechanisms among German cockroach Blattella germanica (Blattaria: Blattellidae) collected from Tabriz Hospitals, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran in 2013

Background: Insecticide resistance is one of the serious problems for German cockroach control program. This study was conducted to determine the bendiocarb and Carbaryl resistance mechanisms in German cockroaches using the piperonyl butoxide (PBO). Methods: Bioassay tests were conducted with 4 to 6 different concentrations of both insecticides with four replicates of 10 susceptible strain cockroaches per concentration to determine of discriminative concentration. After determining discriminative concentration, the result was compared to wild strain. The levels of susceptibility and resistance ratio (RR) and synergism ratio (SR) were calculated for each five wild strains. Moreover resistance mechanisms in wild strains were determined using PBO synergist in vivo. Results: Hospital strains showed different levels of resistance to bendiocarb and carbaryl compared to susceptible strain. The bendiocarb and carbaryl resistance ratios ranged from 2.11 to 7.97 and 1.67 to 2 at LD50 levels, respectively. The synergist PBO significantly enhanced the toxicity of bendiocarb and carbaryl to all strains with different degrees of synergist ratio, 1.31, 1.39, 3.61, 1.78, 1.62 and 2.1 fold for bendiocarb, 1.19, 1.18, 1.12. 1.29, 1.45 and 1.11- fold for carbaryl, suggesting monooxygenase involvement in bendiocarb and carbaryl resistance. Conclusion: The synergetic effect of PBO had the highest effect on bendiocarb and resistance level was significantly reduced, which indicates the important role of monoxidase enzyme in creating resistance to Bendiocarb. Piperonyl butoxide did not have a significant synergistic effect on carbaryl and did not significantly break the resistance