Anthropophily of Malaria Vectors in Kahnouj District, South of Kerman, Iran

This study was conducted to investigate hematophagic tendencies of the malaria vector based on a seasonal basis as well as by geographical region in a malaria endemic area in Kahnouj, southern Iran. This study was carried out for 14 months from Apr/ 2002 up to the end of May 2003. Female anophelines were collected from different shelters in hilly and plain regions of Kahnouj district and their blood meal was tested using ELISA test methods. The five vectors that were active in the study area consisted of An. fluviatilis, An. stephensi, An. dthali, An. culicifacies, and An. superpictus. The dominant Anopheline in hilly areas was An. fluviatilis sibling species T. This species was active during whole year and reached a peak in December. In contrast the dominant species in flat regions was An. stephensi which showed strongly endophilic behavior with two seasonal activity peaks. The anthropophilic index for An. fluviatilis and An. stephensi was estimated at 2.68% and 0.5%, respectively. The population of other species was too low and they did not show a propensity for human blood. The most malaria cases occurred in the hilly area where An. fluviatilis is the active dominant species. It seems that An. fluviatilis is responsible for transmission of malaria in hilly districts of Kahnouj. Thus malaria transmission in this study area is much influenced by resident’s rest habits while a wild vector, An. fluviatilis shows exophilic behavior and uses microclimate shelters with high incidence of human blood feeding. Thus, adapting people to use personal protection such as a bed net instead of residual spraying may be considered as an effective measure in malaria control in hilly regions

Identification of Leishmania species isolated from human cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Gonbad-e-Qabus city using a PCR method during 2006-2007

"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1":*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is endemic in plenty of Iranian provinces. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological status of the cutaneous Leishmaniasis outbreak, isolation and identification of the parasite using a PCR method in burden rural areas of Gonbad-e-Qabus County, north Iran. "n"nMethods: Data was collected on the prevalence of scars and ulcers over a period of three months among 6990 inhabitants of five villages around Gonbad-e-Qabus county, north Iran, during 2006-2007. Cultured promastigotes were identified using PCR technique. ITS1 and ITS2 of Non Coding Transcribed region at ribosomal DNA of 46 Leishmania isolates were amplified and the PCR products were separated by electrophoresis in 1.5% agarose gel (200 mA, 140 V), visualized by staining with ethidium bromide, and photographed. To confirm the PCR findings, six Leishmanis isolates were injected individually into two BALB/c mice."n"nResults: Among 6990 inhabitants of the five villages, 62.9% had scars and 0.5% had active lesions. The most highly infected age group was 0-10 years and nobody was infected in individuals more than fifty years of age. Individuals 11 to 20 years of age were the most highly infected age group. The results showed that from 46 isolates, all (100%) were L. major in comparison to reference strains and all of them could produce ulcer at the base tail of BALB/c mice, 4-12 weeks after inoculation."n"nConclusions: According to this study, cutaneous Leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major is endemic in Gonbad-e-Qabus county, north Iran. The results were confirmed by active lesions induced in BALB/c mice

Identification of Leishmania species isolated from human Cutaneous leishmaniasis in gonbad-e-Qabus city using a PCR method during 2006-2007

Background: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is endemic in plenty of Iranian provinces. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological status of the cutaneous Leishmaniasis outbreak, isolation and identification of the parasite using a PCR method in burden rural areas of Gonbad-e-Qabus County, north Iran. Methods: Data was collected on the prevalence of scars and ulcers over a period of three months among 6990 inhabitants of five villages around Gonbad-e-Qabus county, north Iran, during 2006-2007. Cultured promastigotes were identified using PCR technique. ITS1 and ITS2 of Non Coding Transcribed region at ribosomal DNA of 46 Leishmania isolates were amplified and the PCR products were separated by electrophoresis in 1.5% agarose gel (200 mA, 140 V), visualized by staining with ethidium bromide, and photographed. To confirm the PCR findings, six Leishmanis isolates were injected individually into two BALB/c mice. Results: Among 6990 inhabitants of the five villages, 62.9% had scars and 0.5% had active lesions. The most highly infected age group was 0-10 years and nobody was infected in individuals more than fifty years of age. Individuals 11 to 20 years of age were the most highly infected age group. The results showed that from 46 isolates, all (100%) were L. major in comparison to reference strains and all of them could produce ulcer at the base tail of BALB/c mice, 4-12 weeks after inoculation. Conclusions: According to this study, cutaneous Leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major is endemic in Gonbad-e-Qabus county, north Iran. The results were confirmed by active lesions induced in BALB/c mice