Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 11 3 2017 10 08 354 362 EN Helen Hoosh-Deghati Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Navid Dinparast-Djadid Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Vahideh Moin-Vaziri Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hoda Atta Malaria Control, Word Health Organization/Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt Abbas Ali Raz Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Seyyed Javad Seyyed-Tabaei Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Naseh Maleki-Ravasan Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Hamzeh Alipour Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Sedigheh Zakeri Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Eznollah Azar-Gashb Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2017 05 27 2017 05 27 Background: Malarious areas in Iran are close to Afghanistan and Pakistan that urge the researchers to extend their knowledge on malaria epidemiology to the neighboring countries as well. Vectorial capacity differs at species or even at population level, the first essential step is accurate identification of vectors. This study aimed to identify Anopheles species composition in selected malarious areas of Afghanistan and Iran, providing further applied data for other research in two countries. Methods: Adults Anopheles spp. were collected from four provinces in Afghanistan (Badakhshan, Herat, Kunduz, Nangarhar) by pyrethrum spray catch, hand collection methods through WHO/EMRO coordination and from Chaba­har County in Iran by pyrethrum spray catch method. Identification was performed using reliable identification key. Results: Totally, 800 female Anopheles mosquitos, 400 from each country were identified at species level. Anophe­les composition in Afghanistan was An. superpictus, An. stephensi and An. hyrcanus. Most prevalent species in Ba­dakhshan and Kunduz were An. superpictus, whereas An. stephensi and An. hyrcanus were respectively found in Nangarhar and Heart. Anopheles species in Chabahar County of Iran were An. stephensi, An. fluviatilis, An. culicifa­cies and An. sergentii. The most prevalent species was An. stephensi. Conclusion: Current study provides a basis for future research such as detection of Plasmodium infection in col­lected samples which is on process by the authors, also for effective implementation of evidence-based malaria vec­tor intervention strategies. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/669 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/669/348