Species Composition and Geographic Distribution of Culicinae Mosquitoes and Their Possible Infection with West Nile Virus in Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran

Background

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that causes a febrile disease and may cause a fatal neurological illness in humans. We aimed to investigate the geographic distribution of Culicinae mosquitoes and their possible infection with WNV in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran.

Methods

Field studies were carried out from June 2017 to May 2019. Different mosquito sampling methods were used monthly to collect mosquitoes from 22 sites. The Real-Time PCR technique was used to detect the virus infection in the mosquitoes.

Results

Overall, 6165 mosquitoes were caught. The species were Culex theileri (33.25%), Cx. pipiens (20.45%), Cx. quinquefasciatus (10.51%), Aedes caspius (6.33%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (5.82%), Ae. vexans (4.10%), Cx. sinaiticus (3.62%), Cx. antennatus (3.29%), Culiseta longiareolata (2.81%), Cx. perexiguus (2.03%), Cs. subochrea (1.95%), Cx. mimeticus (1.49%), Cx. pusillus (1.38%), Cx. univittatus (1.27%), Cx. modestus (1.14%), and Cx. sitiens (0.57%). The molecular detection of virus infection in mosquitoes found to be negative for WNV.

Conclusion

The presence of many species of mosquito vectors and high population traffic increase the risk of disease transmission is very high. Therefore, the way to restrict WNV infection factors is increasing the knowledge for personal protection measures to prevent mosquito bites.

Baseline susceptibility of a wild strain of main vectors of leishmaniasis to WHO-recommended insecticides in southeastern Iran

BACKGROUND

In Iran, both cutaneous leishmaniases (CL) and visceral leishmaniases (VL) are endemic, recording one of the 10 highest CL prevalence in the world. Parasites are transmitted by the bite of infected Phlebotomus sand fly females. Several sand fly species have been identified as vectors in the studied region of Kerman province. Residual spraying to control adult sand flies, is the only way to decrease the spreading of the diseases but, following control treatment against malaria vectors in endemic areas in Iran, resistance or tolerance to insecticides emerged in some sand fly species. The objective of this study was to survey insecticides susceptibility levels of 3 vector species in wild sand fly populations in different foci of the diseases in Kerman province. Ph. sergenti, and Ph. papatasi respectively vectors of anthroponotic and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniases and for the first time Ph. alexandri one of the anthroponotic visceral leishmaniases vector were tested against: deltamethrin 0.05%, malathion 5%, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) 4%.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In leishmaniases endemic areas species specific sand fly sites were selected in Kerman province, and specimens were collected by manual aspirators at different time intervals during the spring and summer 2019. All the susceptibility tests were performed according to the WHO tube test recommended procedure.

RESULTS

Twenty five blood-fed female sand flies from the region's prevalent species were used in each pooled test replicates. All wild specimens died within 60 min of exposure to DDT 4%, malathion 5%, and deltamethrin 0.05%, but the mortality rate for Ph. papatasi exposed to malathion and DDT was 91.6% and 66.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

According to current study results, Ph. sergenti and Ph. alexandri are highly susceptible to all the evaluated insecticides in the study areas. However, Ph. papatasi was susceptible to deltamethrin (100% mortality), possibly resistant or tolerant to malathion (91.6% mortality), and confirmed to be resistant to DDT (66.6% mortality).

Investigating the Attitude and Behavior of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences Students Regarding Prayer in 2020-2021

Background and Objectives: The three main elements of the home, study environment, and mass media have a fundamental role in the tendency and attitude of adolescents and young people to pray. This study was conducted to determine students’ attitudes toward prayer, the causes of their tendency toward it, and its impact on various aspects of their lives. Methods: This descriptive study was performed among 192 students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan City, Iran. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire through the press line system. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 18 using an independent t-test and One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: A total of 60.9% of students reported that they perform daily prayers. The Mean±SD score of students’ attitude about praying is 121.99±199.97 out of 165. A significant correlation was observed between the mean score of attitude and behavior. A significant relationship was also found between the mean score of students’ attitudes and the variables of father’s education, father’s and mother’s occupation (P<0.05). The students believed that prayer brings peace and vitality to the soul, order and discipline in life, good mood, family unity, and reduced anxiety and stress. Conclusion: Considering the role and impact of family and university environment on students’ prayer and students’ beliefs on the impact of prayer on various life issues, paying attention to the results of this type of research to institutionalize prayer among students can be useful.

Monitoring and Mapping of Insecticide Resistance in Medically Important Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Iran (2000-2020): A Review

BACKGROUND

Mosquitos due to their role in the transmission of different pathogens to humans are considered as an important group in the phylum Arthropoda. According to the WHO and FAO guideline different groups of insecticide applied for controlling pests in both the agricultural and public health sectors.

METHODS

All the data published about resistant status of the mosquitoes Anopheles, Culex, Aedes and Culiseta species were searched on PubMed, Elsevier, Web of Science, Magiran and google scholar. The objectives of this study was to review the trend of resistance to insecticides during 2000-2020 in medically important mosquitoes in Iran. The criteria for resistant are followed according to WHO guideline.

RESULTS

The Results showed that there are widespread, multiple resistances in the country to different organochlorine, organophosphates, carbamate and pyrethroids insecticides in the mosquitoes.

CONCLUSION

The effect of pesticide residues on the environment could be a cause for selection pressure on mosquitos and lead to insecticides resistance to them. Insecticides resistance is main challenge of the vector control program. Also result will provide a guideline for control of the mosquito-borne diseases in the country as well as the world.

Molecular Assay on Detection of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) Virus in Ixodid Ticks Collected from Livestock in Slaughterhouse from South of Iran

Background:

Ticks are vectors of a wide variety of pathogens that can be transmitted to humans, and tick-borne diseases are a significant public health issue worldwide. The present study was carried out on the hard tick infestation of livestock transported to Rafsanjan slaughter house in the southeast of Iran.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was carried out biweekly from April to September 2016 to determine tick infestation of the meat-producing animals. All the livestock included in our study were thoroughly inspected for the presence of hard ticks on different parts of their bodies.

Results:

A total of 258 hard ticks were collected from the body of livestock hosts. The ticks that were sampled were classified into two genera and five species: Hyalomma marginatum, Hy. anatolicum, Hy. asiaticum, Hy. dromedarii, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Hyalomma dromedarii was the most abundant species in the study area. More than 50 percent of the sampled ticks were collected from the body of camels brought to the slaughter house however molecular analysis showed no Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus infection in tick specimens. The Sex ratio of the sampled hard ticks shows that female tick infestation was more common among the study livestock.

Conclusion:

Due to the crucial role of hard ticks in the transmission of different pathogens to humans, additional investigations are necessary to determine the risk of consumption of infested meat-producing animals in the study area.

Synergists action of piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate on toxicity of carbamate insecticides against Blattella germanica

OBJECTIVE

To determine the synergists action of piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) on toxicity of carbamate insecticides against Blattella germanica in Tehran city.

METHODS

In the current study, German cockroach strains were collected from several hospitals and dormitories in Tehran. At the beginning, different concentrations of bendiocarb and carbaryl (insecticides belong to carbamate group) were determined by surface contact on a susceptible strain. Then, the level of susceptibility and type of resistance mechanisms in the collected strains from contaminated sites to the aforementioned insecticides were studied by using PBO and DEF synergists with different insecticide ratios to synergist (1:0, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3).

RESULTS

The DEF synergist along with bendiocarb and carbaryl completely eliminated the resistance in all strains but PBO did not completely eliminate the resistance in the strains of Mofid, Alvand, Valiasr hospitals and Shariati dormitory. Generally, the impact of DEF was observed in the removing resistance more than PBO.

CONCLUSIONS

In most of these strains, resistance to bendiocarb and carbaryl is completely eliminated by DEF, showing a very high role of estraze enzymes in resistance to bendiocarb and carbaryl. But in most strains PBO does not remove the resistance because other mechanisms, such as reduced cuticle penetration and insensitivity to the acetylcholine esterase enzyme, may be involved.

Assessment of workload effect on nursing occupational accidents in hospitals of Kashan, Iran

Background: Nurses often experience occupational accidents and injuries. The mental workload is one of the factors that often cause tiredness. Perilous behaviors possibly occur more in tired persons resulting in injuries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between mental workload and nursing occupational accidents in public hospitals of Kashan, as well as factors affecting them. Methods: The analytic-descriptive study described herein consisted of nursing staff from public hospitals of Kashan, Iran. Information was collected using a three-part questionnaire from a selected clustery of 406 nursing personnel in 2016. The questionnaire was used to collect demographics, assess mental workload (per the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX)), and assess frequency of accidents. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Results: A total of 455 occupational accidents were recorded for 2016 with about 2.27±1.21 accidents per nurse. The minimum and maximum scores for frustration and effort were 47.82 ± 30.91 and 78.61 ± 18.15, respectively. The mental workload mean was calculated as 69.49 ± 15.69. In total, 120 (32%) nurses experienced occupational accidents. There was a significant positive correlation between mental workload, mental need and physical need with occupational accidents (P<0.05). Conclusion: Occupational accidents are affected by mental workload. Taking actions to decline mental workload may result in a decrease of occupational accidents.