فهرست مطالب shahyad azari-hamidian

Iranian mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) include 73 species across eight genera. The fauna of mosquitoes in Guilan Province comprises 34 species classified into seven genera. A faunistic study of mosquitoes was conducted with emphasis on an aggressive biter mosquito reported by local people in Anzali and Rasht Cities of Guilan Province, northern Iran. Collections were made by hand catches using manual aspirators, light traps, BG lure traps and ovitraps during August–November 2023 in all 17 counties of the province. Species identification was carried out using morphological keys and molecular analysis of the barcode region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. In total, 29 larvae and 896 adult specimens were collected which were not recognized as a species previously known to occur in the province. The aggressive biter mosquito was morphologically identified as Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895). The sequences of the barcode region of the COI gene of the species were generated for the first time in the country. This species was collected in 14 counties of the province. Thus, the mosquito fauna of Guilan Province increased to 35 species.

The present article briefly introduces and describes the terminology which is used for ‘non-native’ and ‘invasive’ species. Also, six invasive Aedes species (Diptera: Culicidae) in which two species, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, are recorded in Iran and their medical and veterinary importance are discussed.

Scabies is referred to the infestation of skin by an ectoparasite, Sarcoptes scabiei. Having considerable financial consequences, this disease is a public health concern in several countries. In this review, we aimed to deter mine the current status of scabies in different provinces of Iran.

Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Scientific Information Database (SID), Sci-explore, Civil ica, Magiran, Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology and Elmnet databases were searched to find the related data in the time period within 2000–2022. To have a better insight into the status of prevalence of sca bies in Iran, a meta-analysis and meta-regression was performed.

A total of 943 relevant studies were retrieved from the databases, and 62 eligible studies met all the needed criteria for inclusion in this systematic review. Scabies was investigated and reported in at least 22 and 21 provinces of Iran respectively. Most of the studies were conducted in Tehran, Razavi Khorasan, Hormozgan, Fars and Guilan Prov inces. Positive samples of scabies belonged to humans, sheep, goats, dogs, rabbits, mice and gazelles. Meta-analysis showed that the overall estimated presence of scabies in Iran during 2000–2022 was 7% (95% CI 4.7–10.3%, P< 0.001).

Infestations due to S. scabiei in Iran occur in different geographical locations and different climates. As a neglected tropical disease, the literature about the burden of scabies in Iran is inadequate. The present review highlights the importance of development of comprehensive strategies for the diagnosis and control of scabies, especial ly the provinces with high infestation rates.

Culex theileri (Diptera: Culicidae) is a known vector of pathogens that cause dirofilariasis, Sindbis fever and West Nile fever in Iran. The species is one of the country’s most abundant and widely distributed species.

In order to conduct a faunistic and bionomic study of mosquitoes, larval collection was carried out in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari Province of western Iran using dipping method.

In total, some 2096 larvae of Cx. theileri were identified. Among the larvae, 1024 (48.9%) displayed aberra tions and anomalies in the development of cranial seta 1-C (preclypeal seta). Morphological aberrations and anomalies of seta 1-C in the third- and fourth-instar larvae and abdominal terga of the adults of Cx. theileri collected in Iran are discussed and illustrated.

More studies are needed throughout the distribution of Cx. theileri to analyze the variation of the species, especially using both morphological and molecular data.

Different forms of leishmaniasis are important infectious diseases in Iran. While Rudbar County of Guilan Province has been introduced as a cutaneous leishmaniasis focus, there are few published data about the phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) of the province and their medical importance.

The present study is going to provide a review of sand fly-borne infections in Guilan Province and a checklist of sand flies of the province. Also, a note is presented on the name Sergentomyia murgabiensis sintoni.

Using the main databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Scientific Information Database (SID), IranMedex and Magiran which were searched up to September 2022 and reviewing the literature, the available data about the sand fly-borne diseases of Iran and Guilan Province were extracted and analyzed.

In total, 11 species representing two genera of sand flies, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia, are found in Guilan Province. The checklist and distribution of sand flies of the province have been provided. All species of the genus Phlebotomus in the province are proven or suspected vectors of leishmaniasis. Sand fly-borne leishmaniasis (cutaneous and visceral), sand fly fever and lizard leishmaniasis, which are among the endemic infections of the province, are discussed. Also, a taxonomic note is presented on the name Sergentomyia murgabiensis sintoni.

The prevalence of suspected or proven vectors of sand fly-borne diseases in Guilan Province is noteworthy. The study of the ecology of sand flies and detecting the exact vectors and reservoirs of leishmaniasis and phlebotomine fever by serological or molecular- specific tests in the province are recommended. Moreover, additional samplings of sand flies from localities, where have not been studied, are necessary.

The raccoon, Procyon lotor, is native to North and Central America but has been introduced to several Old World countries including Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites of raccoons in Iran. During 2015–2017, a total of 30 feral raccoons were collected from Guilan Province, northern Iran. The fur of raccoons was examined for the presence of ectoparasites. The collected ectoparasites were preserved in 70% ethanol and microscopically and morphologically identified. In total, 11 fleas and 244 ixodid ticks were collected from 18 (60%) raccoons for the first time in Iran. Two raccoons (6.7%) harbored just fleas, five raccoons (16.7%) both fleas and ticks and 11 raccoons (36.7%) just ticks. Two species of fleas: Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) and Pulex irritans (human flea) were collected from seven raccoons (23.3%). Four species of ixodid ticks: Haemaphysalis concinna, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and R. turanicus were collected from 16 raccoons (53.3%). All ectoparasites, except for cat flea, were found on raccoons for the first time. The prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of ectoparasites and the indices of affinity, association and diversity were calculated. The pair of species H. concinna/I. ricinus showed significant association and the infestation with I. ricinus in cubs was significantly higher than in adults (P ˂ 0.05). The medical importance of zoonotic infections transmittable by raccoons and their ectoparasites is discussed. The investigation of different possible vector-borne infections in raccoons and their ectoparasites in the study area is suggested.

Southeastern Iran has been established as an area with the potential to harbor Asian tiger mosquito popu lations. In 2013, a few numbers of Aedes albopictus were detected in three sampling sites of this region. This field study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various traps on monitoring mosquitoes and status of this dengue vector, in five urban and 15 suburban/rural areas.

For this purpose, four adult mosquito traps (BG-sentinel 2, bednet, Malaise, and resting box trap) were used and their efficacy compared. In addition, large numbers of CDC ovitraps were employed, within 12 months.

A total of 4878 adult samples including 22 species covering five genera were collected and identified from traps. It was not revealed any collection of Ae. albopictus. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in mete orological variables between the two periods, the previous report and the current study. There were significant differ ences in the total number of mosquitoes collected by various traps in the region across different months.

The resulting data collected here on the efficiency of the various trap types can be useful for monitoring the densities of mosquito populations, which is an important component of a vector surveillance system. While the pres ence of Ae. albopictus was determined in this potential risk area, there is no evidence for its establishment and further monitoring needs to be carried out.

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are still a focus of research because of their role in the transmission of diseases and annoying biting behavior. Source reduction is an effective measure to control mosquito populations, which is based on good knowledge of larval habitats. This study was conducted to obtain that basic knowledge in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. This study was carried out in 2011 and 2012. Geographical coordinates, altitude, pH, temperature, and the dissolved oxygen level of larval habitats were recorded by relevant devices, followed by documenting physical attributes by direct observation. In addition, the indices of biodiversity were calculated to analyze the vertical biodiversity of species. Finally, the affinity index was calculated to elucidate species co-occurrence. Eighteen species were recovered from 92 larval habitats. Low- (≤ 1400 m), mid- (1401–2000 m), and high- (≥ 2001 m) altitudes lodged 7, 17, and 14 species, respectively. Further, the indices of the species richness and biodiversity for these altitudinal categories were 0.93, 1.94, and 1.58, as well as 1.54, 2.13, and 1.96, respectively. Larval habitats were mostly natural, temporary, with standing but clear water, muddy substrate, sunlit, and with vegetation. Other physicochemical characteristics and affinity of species were described and discussed as well. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of vertical distribution and biodiversity of mosquito larvae in Iran. The relative uniformity of physicochemical characteristics of larval habitats was attributed to prevailing water resources in the studied area and sampling design. The oviposition site selection of gravid mosquitoes is still an unresolved problem which needs further investigations.

Mosquito-borne arboviruses such as West Nile (WN), dengue, Rift Valley fever, and Sindbis viruses are reported in Iran, but large-scale studies have not been performed on mosquitoes to find their vectors. A molecular study of the adult mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) for flaviviruses was carried out in a focus of WN infection, Guilan Prov ince, northern Iran.

Mosquito collections were carried out in five stations of two counties (Anzali and Rasht) using light traps, hand catch by manual aspirators and night landing catch during August–September 2013 and 2014. Molecular screening of WN virus and more widely for Flavivirus RNA was carried out using specific PCR technique.

In total, 1015 adult mosquitoes were collected including 8 species representing four genera. The most preva lent species were Ae. vexans (33.2%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (22%), Cx. pipiens (20.7%), and An. maculipennis s.l. (15.6%). Molecular screening was carried out on the 1015 mosquitoes after they were organized as 38 pools according to sex, species and trapping location. None of the pools were positive.

Surveillance should be continued while increasing the sampling campaigns due to the presence of wetlands in the region and abundant species which are considered as vectors, feeding both on birds and humans.

Mosquitoes lay eggs in a wide range of habitats with different physicochemical parameters. Ecological data, including physicochemical factors of oviposition sites, play an important role in integrated vector management. Those data help the managers to make the best decision in controlling the aquatic stages of vectors especially using source reduction. To study some physicochemical characteristics of larval habitat waters, an investigation was carried out in Qom Province, central Iran, during spring and summer 2008 and 2009. Water samples were collected during larval collection from ten localities. The chemical parameters of water samples were analyzed based on mg/l using standard methods. Water temperature (°C), turbidity (NTU), total dissolved solids (ppm), electrical conductivity (µS/cm), and acidity (pH) were measured using digital testers. Thermotolerant coliforms of water samples were analyzed based on MPN/100ml. Data were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman Correlation analysis. In total, 371 mosquito larvae were collected including 14 species representing four genera. Some physico­chemical parameters of water in Emamzadeh Esmail, Qomrood, Qom City, and Rahjerd showed significant differ­ences among localities (P< 0.05). The physicochemical and microbial parameters did not show any significant dif­ferences among different species (P> 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the abundance of larvae and the different physicochemical and microbial parameters (P> 0.05). The means of EC, TDS, and phosphate of localities and species were remarkably higher than those of the previous studies. Other parameters seem to be in the range of other investigations.