Background: Malaria, a life-threatening parasitic disease, exhibits diverse clinical manifestations influenced by para­site species, host immunity, and treatment access. Emerging evidence suggests that individual biological factors, such as ABO blood group and liver enzyme status, may also affect disease severity. This study investigates the relationship between blood type, liver enzyme levels, and malaria severity in affected patients.
Methods: A case-control study was conducted on malaria patients at the National Malaria Laboratory, Tehran Univer­sity of Medical Sciences, from May 2022 to October 2024. Blood samples were analyzed for ABO blood grouping and liver enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Malaria severity was classified according to WHO criteria. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and logistic regression, evaluated associations between blood group, liver enzyme levels and disease severity.
Results: A total of 100 participants were included: 50 malaria-positive patients and 50 healthy controls, with a mean age of 38.10±16.40 years. Malaria patients showed significantly higher AST, ALT and ALP levels compared to controls (p= 0.001). No significant association was found between ABO blood group and liver enzyme levels in either group (p> 0.05). Liver enzyme levels correlated significantly with parasitemia (p< 0.001), with higher parasite loads linked to greater hepatic dysfunction.
Conclusion: This study highlights the significant impact of parasitemia levels on liver function in malaria patients, while the ABO blood group appeared unrelated to liver enzyme alterations. Liver enzyme profiles may serve as valuable biomarkers for assessing malaria severity and guiding clinical management.

Background: Anopheles stephensi is an important vector for malaria, while Aedes aegypti transmits dengue, chikungu­nya, Zika, and yellow fever. With the increasing replacement of natural insecticides for conventional ones, it is essential to investigate mosquito resistance to these insecticides and assess the larvicidal potential of new alternatives and their comparison to standard larvicides like temephos.

Methods: The alcoholic extracts of Mentha piperita and Capsicum annuum were prepared using the maceration meth­od. Mosquitoes were bred at the Bandar Abbas research station in 2024. Biometric tests were performed following the World Health Organization protocol, and the data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 and GraphPad Prism 10.

Results: The lethal concentration 50% (LC₅₀) of M. piperita extract was 4.047 ppm against An. stephensi larvae and 9.9 ppm against Ae. aegypti larvae. Similarly, the LC₅₀ of C. annuum extract was 5.872 ppm for An. stephensi larvae and 11.752 ppm for Ae. aegypti larvae. The larvicidal values of temephos were found to be 0.003 ppm against An. stephensi larvae and 0.002 ppm against Ae. aegypti larvae.

Conclusion: Mentha piperita and C. annuum extracts possess measurable larvicidal activity against An. stephensi and Ae. aegypti. However, their effectiveness remains substantially lower than that of temephos. These findings should be considered preliminary evidence rather than an indication of operational readiness. These extracts may represent a promising starting point for future research, but further studies on formulation, environmental persistence, non-target impacts, and field performance are required before use for management programs.

Background: Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), with their blood-sucking behavior, are known important vectors of certain pathogens. Since no research has been done on the habitat characteristics of mosquito larvae in Andimeshk County of Khuzistan Province, southwestern Iran, this study aimed to determine these features in the county during 2019–2020.
Methods: The third- and fourth-instar larvae were collected from natural and artificial habitats by the dipping method, from nine localities. Physical characteristics of larval habitats, including habitat situation (permanent/temporary, run­ning/stagnant), sunlight situation, vegetation status, water turbidity, substrate type and habitat type (natural/artificial), were recorded. The collected specimens were kept in vials containing lactophenol and the microscope slides were prepared using Berlese’s fluid. The larvae were identified using valid identification keys.
Results: In total, 1363 larvae, including four genera and 15 species, were identified. Eleven species were new to the county and one species, Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, was new to the province. The most common species were Culex theileri (17.2%) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (15.6 %), respectively, and the least species were Anopheles dthali (0.7%) and An.  multicolor (0.4%). The most abundant mosquito larvae were in spring (44.2 %) and June (22.6%). Most of the larvae were caught from natural (75.6%), temporary (51.5%), without vegetation (57.5%) and full sunny (64.7%) habitats. Approxi­mately, 85.2%, 56.5% and 78.1% of habitats had clear water, stagnant water with mud substrate, respectively. The affinity index of the species was calculated. 
Conclusion: Regarding the medical importance of the abundant species, the investigation of adult ecology is suggested for future studies.

Background: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is a significant vector-borne disease in northeastern Iran, strong­ly affected by climatic conditions. Maraveh Tappeh County in Golestan Province is an endemic area with considerable annual case numbers. This study aimed to predict monthly ZCL trends and identify key bioclimatic factors influencing disease occurrence using ARIMA and SARIMA time series models.
Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study used monthly confirmed ZCL case data from 2003 to 2018, obtained from the Maraveh Tappeh County Health Center. Climatic variables, including temperature indices, relative humidity indices, total monthly precipitation and number of rainy days, were collected from the local meteorological office. Sta­tionarity was assessed using the Augmented Dickey–Fuller test and autocorrelation patterns were evaluated through ACF and PACF plots. ARIMA (AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average) and SARIMA (Seasonal AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average) models were developed, with the optimal model selected based on AIC and BIC criteria. Cross-correlation analysis examined associations between climatic variables and ZCL incidence at lags of 0–5 months.
Results: A total of 1,301 ZCL cases were reported over the 16 years, with marked monthly and seasonal variability. Incidence peaked in November and reached its lowest level in June. The ARIMA (2,0,2)–SARIMA (0,0,1)₁₂ model demonstrated the best predictive performance. Significant positive correlations were observed between ZCL incidence and relative humidity, precipitation and number of rainy days at short lags (0–2 months), while inverse associations appeared at longer lags (5 months) (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Relative humidity and precipitation are key drivers of ZCL dynamics in Maraveh Tappeh. Incorporating SARIMA models into surveillance systems may improve outbreak prediction and support timely prevention and control strategies.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected disease whose lesions may cause severe scarring and psy-chosocial impact. Current treatments often face poor patient adherence due to side effects and dosing. Electrospinning enables the incorporation of low-cost, bioactive compounds. Ozonated sunflower oil has shown potential to accelerate wound healing. This study aimed to evaluate electrospun fibers containing ozonated sunflower oil combined with standard anti-Leishmania therapy in lesions caused by Leishmania amazonensis in an animal model.
Methods: BALB/c mice (n=5/group) were infected with L. amazonensis (MHOM/BR/1977/LTB0016). Treatments in-cluded: meglumine antimoniate alone (MA), MA plus electrospun fiber with ozonated sunflower oil (MOO), MA plus fiber with non-ozonated sunflower oil (MNO) and an untreated control (CTRL). After 30 days, lesion size, parasite load, histology and systemic/local immune parameters were evaluated.
Results: All the groups exhibited lesion growth (MA 12±0.8%, MOO 24±0.4%, MNO 30±0.8 and CTRL 34±0.9%), but the MA group exhibited less growth. However, in the culture of the paws after the treatment, only in the MOO group, promastigotes did not grow, while the other groups reached titers of 1/6 (MA), 1/192 (MNO) and 1/384 (CTRL). Mac­roscopically, the MA and MOO groups showed complete healing of the lesion. Histologically, the MA group had a thicker epidermis (p<0.05) and the MA and MOO groups presented the lowest amount of cellular infiltration.
Conclusion: Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in a mouse model with an electrospun fiber containing ozo­nated oil improved drug treatment, ameliorating lesions and could be explored as an alternative treatment for this para­sitic disease.

Background: More than half of the global population resides in urban areas. Urban waste, landfills and leachate provide abundant food and habitat for houseflies. Various control methods are employed for pest management. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated pest management approach for controlling houseflies at a large-scale waste-processing and disposal facility.
Methods: This study was conducted from May to October 2022 at Iran's largest waste processing and disposal facility. Sticky traps were used to monitor infestation levels before and after each intervention. Chemical interventions included a cypermethrin-chlorpyrifos combination in processing halls; a cypermethrin-chlorpyrifos-diflubenzuron mixture in the compost area; and Ajita poison bait in office buildings. Physical controls included installing nets and air curtains, using large adhesive banners, and environmental sanitation measures like washing halls and managing compost.
Results: The dominant fly species was Musca domestica. For monitoring, sticky traps were the most efficient (49% of captured flies), while pheromone traps were the least efficient (4%). The highest infestation intensity occurred before interventions in April-May, averaging 191 flies per 10 traps. The lowest intensity was observed in September-October, with an average of 6 flies per 10 traps. Significant reductions were observed in fly numbers when comparing the peak infestation period (April-May) with subsequent months, indicating the effectiveness of the interventions.
Conclusion: An integrated pest management approach can significantly reduce the severity of housefly infestations in municipal waste facilities. This strategy is crucial for preventing the development of insecticide resistance and minimizing negative environmental impacts.

Background: The German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Blattaria: Ectobiidae), is a worldwide urban pest. Due to limitations of conventional insecticides, alternative controls are needed. Entomopathogenic fungi-based biopesti­cides offer a promising solution. This study evaluated the pathogenicity of the indigenous Beauveria bassiana Rasht strain (Mcb₁₈) against the German cockroach.
Methods: A laboratory colony of B. germanica was maintained under controlled conditions. The toxicity of four spore concentrations (1.5×10², 1.5×10⁴, 1.5×10⁶, 1.5×10⁸ conidia/ml) of B. bassiana was evaluated against adult cockroaches using the direct immersion bioassay. Daily mortality was recorded for 21 days using three replicates of 20 cockroaches each (n=60 per concentration). The lethal concentration (LC₅₀ and LC₉₀) values were estimated us­ing probit analysis.
Results: Beauveria bassiana caused dose-dependent mortality. The highest cumulative mortality (100%) was ob­served at 1.5×10⁸ conidia/ml, while the lowest (15.79%) occurred at 1.5×10² conidia/ml. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ were estimated as 4.23×10³ conidia/ml and 1.59×10⁶ conidia/ml, respectively. The LT₅₀ decreased with increasing concen­tration, reaching 8.475 days at 1.5×10⁸ conidia/ml. Conidiation on cadavers increased with concentration but re­mained lower than mor­tality, indicating that death often occurred before external sporulation. One-way ANOVA revealed significant differ­ences in mortality rates (F=74.942, df=(3, 8), p<0.001). Post-hoc Tukey's HSD test showed that the two highest concen­trations (1.5×10⁶ and 1.5×10⁸ conidia/ml) were not significantly different from each oth­er (p>0.05), although both caused significantly higher mortality than lower concentrations (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Experimental findings confirmed B. bassiana as an effective entomopathogen against B. germanica, caus­ing significant mortality through cuticular penetration and internal proliferation.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease transmitted by vectors, ranking among the top 10 infectious diseases globally in terms of morbidity and mortality. The cutaneous form (CL) is the most common and is endemic in 19 of Iran's 31 provinces. In non-endemic regions, however, both physician familiarity and patient encounters with the disease are rare.
Methods: This study reports a case of CL in a nine-year-old boy from Sardasht County, West Azerbaijan Province, a non-endemic area for ​​CL in Iran and with no history of travel to endemic areas. The patient presented with purulent wounds on his hands and feet that did not respond to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Diagnosis was confirmed by identify­ing the vacuolated amastigote forms of Leishmania parasites through Giemsa staining. For species identification, DNA was extracted from the slide scraping according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Bioneer, Korea). The species of the Leishmania parasite was determined using PCR-RFLP, Fast Digest BsuR1 enzyme, ITS1 and Kinetoplast genes.
Results: The parasite was identified as Leishmania major. Treatment with Meglumine antimoniate and cryotherapy, in accordance with the Iranian CL surveillance guideline, led to full recovery after 2 months, with no relapse at 9 months post-treatment. Extensive local screening found no additional cases, indicating a likely sporadic infection.
Conclusion: This case highlights the need for rapid and accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and ongoing surveil­lance to prevent the emergence of leishmaniasis in non-endemic regions. More attention must be paid to this disease by the healthcare system and physicians, even in non-endemic areas.