DEADLY SCORPION HABITATS OF IRAN

ABSTRACT Scorpions are among the most dangerous arthropods in Iran. These animals bite a large number of people in all over the country every year, especially in warm and humid regions of South and South-west, resulting in clinical complications and death. This study is to introduce deadly scorpions' habitats of Iran such as Hemiscorpiuslepturus, Odontobuthusdoriae and Androctonuscrassicauda. There search is descriptive and tacking samples lasted 20 years, during 1992 to 2012, from some provinces; Khuzestan, Kerman, Isfahan, Qom, Markazi, and Chaharmahal and bakhtiari. Utilizing Black Light, Rock-rolling, excavation, and Digging were the methods used for sampling. The habitats of those perilous scorpions that do not dig, such as Hemiscorpiuslepturus and Androctonuscrassicauda, are in cities and villages, splits and holes of muddy walls, cellar sand basements, splits of streetkerbs, under the construction materials, outside the habitations, under the stones beneath the trees bark, through the holes in damp old muddy walls, and inside the other animals' nests. But the scorpions called Diggers, such as Odontobuthusdoriae, live in the hills lopes, embankments beside the roads or railways, and inside the dugout nests. Survey results show that deadly scorpions, except Odontobuthusdoriae, as opportunist animals live in the holes or under the stones in habitats or the regions pertaining to the deserts. Although, the way you build a house or different kinds of materials you use to construct are effective in exceeding these arthropods

Geographical Distribution, Time Trend, and Epidemiological Characteristics of Animal-Bite Cases in Bardsir, 2010-2014

ABSTRACT Introduction: Animal bites are one of the serious threats to human health, leading numerous consequences such as fatal disease of rabies. Given the importance of animal bite throughout the country, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the geographical distribution, time trend and epidemiological characteristics of animal-bite cases in Bardsir County, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the records of people suffering from animal bite between April 2010 and March 2014 in Bardsir County. Data were analyzed in SPSS v.20 software using descriptive statistics including frequency and percentage, log-linear model and time series model. Arc GIS software was employed to plot the geographical distribution of animal-bite cases. Results: The findings of this study indicated that totally 1,500 cases of animal bite had occurred during the study period. Mashiz district (with 695 cases of bite) had the most animal bites. In terms of time, animal-bite cases had no particular trend. The results showed that the incidence rate of bite in men was 2.12 times more than in women (p<0.001). In the age group of 31- 45 years compared to the reference age group (0-6 years), the rate of bite was 5.98 times greater (p<0.001). In the homemakers compared to the reference group (children) the incidence rate of animal bite was 4.96 times greater (p<0.001). Among the biting animals, dogs were responsible for the most bites (76.9%). In terms of bitten organs, limbs were bitten frequently (52.8%). The majority of victims had received the vaccine in accordance with the three-dose immunization schedule (91%). Conclusion: It seems that the determinants regarding high incidence of animal bite in Bardsir County are the type of activities and occupations. Therefore, special and preventive educational programs might be useful in high-risk groups. Keywords: Animal Bite,Time Trend, Bardsir, Ira