Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 16 2 2023 01 18 1119 1119 Mohammad Ghavami Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Zohreh Alibabaei Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Fatemeh Ghavami Department of Electronics, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tarbiat Modares Univer-sity, Tehran, Iran 2019 05 18 2023 01 17 Background: Androctonus crassicauda is the most medically relevant scorpion and understanding its genetic forms is essential for improvement of anti-venom sera, and risk management of scorpionism. Present study was designed to identify the variations of mitochondrial genes in different populations of A. crassicauda. Methods: Adults of A. crassicauda were collected from Zanjan Province during 2016–2017. Genomic DNA of samples was extracted and fragments of mitochondrial 16S, COI and ND1 genes were amplified and some of the amplicons were sequenced. Haplotype of samples were identified by multiple alignment of sequences, then phylogenetic trees of haplo­types were constructed. Results: Fragments of 352bp, 618bp and 680bp were amplified from 16S, COI and ND1 genes respectively. Nucleotide sequence in COI fragments was conserved, however, five haplotypes with some specific polymorphic sites were detect­ed in 16S and ND1 fragments. Haplotype I was dominant and found in all areas. Other haplotypes were rare and limited to specific regions. Analysis of the phylogenetic trees inferred from 16S and COI genes, confirmed a strong positive correlation between geographic and genetic distance. Conclusion: Mitochondrial COI, 16S and ND1 genes were detected suitable for identifying the population structure. Five genotypes were found using 16S and ND1 genes. To prepare and improve the anti-venoms quality, additional stud­ies are necessary to identify the toxin electrophoretic profile and geographical/ecological niche models of these geno­types in future. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/1119 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/1119/588

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 16 2 2023 01 27 1340 1340 Manijeh Yousefi Behzadi Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran ANDNational Reference Laboratory of Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar-Ahang, Hamadan, Iran Neda Moazzezy Molecular Biology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Rohani Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infec-tious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran, AND Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Saied Reza Naddaf Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Ehsan Mostafavi Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infec-tious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran AND National Reference Laboratory of Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar-Ahang, Hamadan, Iran Ali Mohamadi Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infec-tious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Masoomeh Shams-Ghahfarokhi Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Nasrin Pashootan Department of Mycology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Razzaghi-Abyaneh Department of Mycology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran 2020 09 02 2023 01 23 Background: Ticks are vectors of many pathogens that involve various important diseases in humans and animals, they have several diverse hosts consequently can retain a diverse group of indigenous microbes, from bacteria to fungi. Little is known about the prevalence and diversity of tick microflora colonizing the midgut and their effects on ticks and their interaction. This information is important for development of vector control strategies. Methods: This study was carried out in northern Iran during autumn 2019. Ticks, Ixodes ricinus caught alive on the bodies of domestic animals in the fall. The tick homogenate was prepared. The identification of fungal isolates was car­ried out according to a combination of macro and microscopic morphology and molecular sequencing. Pathogenic bac­teria of the family Borreliaceae, Francisella tularensis, Borrelia burgdorferi and Coxiella burnetii were tested by real-time PCR. Results: A total of 133 mature I. ricinus ticks were collected from domestic animals, including 71.5% cattle and 28.5% sheep. The tick frequency rates were 87.21% for Mazandaran, 8.28% for Golestan and 4.51% for Gilan Provinces. Total prevalence of fungal tick contamination was 53.4% (75/133) of which Trichoderma harzianum (57%) was the most prevalent species followed by Aspergillus spp. (42%), Mortierella alpine (19%) and Penicillium polonicum (14%). All tick samples were negative for three pathogenic bacteria including Francisella tularensis, Coxiella burnetii, and Borre­lia burgdorferi by real-time PCR analysis. Conclusion: These results show a first picture of the microbial diversity of ticks and highlight the importance of micro­biota and their role in host-pathogen interaction. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/1340 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/1340/589

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 16 2 2023 01 18 1388 1388 Rajendra Baharia Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Malaria Research, Field unit, Civil Hospital Nadiad, Gujarat, India Jaspreet Kaur Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka Secctor-8, New Delhi, India Ankita Sindhania Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka Secctor-8, New Delhi, India Gunjan Sharma Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka Secctor-8, New Delhi, India Harish C Srivastava Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Malaria Research, Field unit, Civil Hospital Nadiad, Gujarat, India Chandra S Pant Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Malaria Research, Field unit, Civil Hospital Nadiad, Gujarat, India Manju Rahi Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India Kamaraju Raghavendra Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka Secctor-8, New Delhi, India OM P SINGH Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka Secctor-8, New Delhi, India 2020 12 20 2023 01 16 Background: Gujarat State has been witnessing large scale urbanization, in last two decades, resulting changes in local environment and microclimate may have also influenced the resting, feeding habits and development of Anopheles cu­licifacies sensu 1ato. Therefore, a systematic longitudinal study was undertaken to know the bionomics of An. culicifa­cies s.l. in present study. Methods: The study was conducted in four sentinel villages in Kheda and Panchmahal Districts. The mosquitoes rest­ing indoors and outdoors were collected in early morning hours, using mouth aspirator, pyrethrum space spray and light traps. Mosquito landing collections on human volunteers was carried out from dusk to dawn. Species composition, abundance, seasonal prevalence, resting behavior (Endophily and Exophily), sibling species composition, vector poten­tial and insecticide susceptibility status of malaria vectors was studied. Results: Six Anopheles species were collected, An. subpictus s.l. was the predominant species followed by An. culicifa­cies s.l., a known malaria vector was resting indoor and zoophagic behaviour. Anopheles culicifacies, sibling species B (89%) was found. The sporozoite rate (%) and entomological inoculation rate in Kheda was 2.33%, 3.09 per bite/ per­son/annum and they were 1.05% and 0.475 bite/person/annum in Panchmahal, respectively. Anopheles culicifa­cies s.l. was found possible resistance to alpha-cypermethrin. Conclusion: Anopheles culicifacies s.l. showed endophillic, zoophagic behaviour and found possible resistance to al­pha-cypermethrin. Early biting behaviour of An. culicifacies s.l. in this area is a cause of concern. Therefore, there is need for frequent monitoring and evaluation of vector control measures in order to achieve the elimination target of ma­laria in this area. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/1388 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/1388/590

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 16 2 2023 01 27 1359 1359 Sahar Azarmi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Alireza Zahraei-Ramazani Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Mohebali Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Yavar Rassi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Amir Ahmad Akhavan Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Amrollah Azarm Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Omid Dehghan Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Samira Elikaee Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Rahimeh Abdoli 1Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohsen Mahmoudi Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2020 10 03 2023 01 24 Background: Various arthropods, including Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Ctenocephalides felis felis have been sug­gested as secondary vectors of Leishmania spp. many years ago. This study was conducted to determine zoonotic cuta­neous leishmaniasis (ZCL) PCR positivity of reservoir hosts and their ectoparasites for Leishmania spp. in Segzi plain in Esfahan Province from October 2016 to October 2017. Methods: Microscopic examination and nested PCR were used to detect and identify Leishmania spp. isolated from rodents' ear and ectoparasites, and then, the results were confirmed by two methods, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing. Results: Totally, 93 rodents (92 Rhombomys opimus and one Nesokia indica) and nine different species of ectoparasites (n=527) including fleas, mites, and ticks were collected during different seasons in the study area. Fourteen R. opimus were positive for Leishmania spp. by microscopic examination while one N. indica and 77 R. opimus were positive by nested PCR. The infection rate of rodents with Leishmania major and L. turanica was 39.79% (n=37) and 15.05% (n=14), respectively. Mixed natural infections with L. major and L. turanica were seen in rodents. Moreover, 72.22% of fleas (39/54), 75.0% of mites (5/8), and 100% of tick nymph (1/1) were PCR positive for Leishmania parasites. Conclusions: The highest rate of infection with L. major and L. turanica in R. opimus populations was observed in summer and spring, respectively. It is suggested that the role of L. turanica and the probable role of ectoparasites in the epidemiology of disease should be investigated. A Xenodiagnostic test is recommended for future study. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/1359 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/1359/591

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 16 2 2023 01 18 1207 1207 Saeedeh Ghafari Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Azar Tahghighi Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Khadijeh Shamakhte Department of Biochemistry, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran Hamzeh Alipour Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shi-raz, Iran Naseh Maleki-Ravasan Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Nateghpour Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2019 11 26 2023 01 09 Background: Anopheles stephensi is an important malaria vector mosquito in Iran and other western Asian countries. In many human communities, plant products have been used traditionally instead of synthetic pesticides for mosquito control due to their minimal hazardous effects. Teucrium polium, known popularly as felty germander, has been intro-duced in Persian Medicine (PM) as an insect repellent from a long time ago. Methods: The present study was undertaken to evaluate repellent and larvicidal activity of dichloromethane (DCME-TP) and ethanolic extracts (EE-TP) of T. polium against An. stephensi under laboratory conditions. The possible chemi-cal components of the extracts were also investigated through gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) tech-nique. Results: Based on the results, DCME-TP showed better repellent activity than EE-TP with 56.67 and 28.33 % protec-tion, respectively. Larvicidal activity of DCME-TP with 49.41% mortality was also higher than EE-TP (20.24%). The main identified constituents of DCME-TP were long chain alkanes, phenol, aromatic ester, oxaspiro and triterpenoid. While phenolic and aliphatic acid were only the identified components in EE-TP. It is notable that lupeol was detected in DCME of T. polium for the first time. Conclusion: DCME-TP can be considered as a new herbal candidate to control An. stephensi mosquitoes. Further stud­ies are required on this extract for the fractionation and identification of the active compounds, and the evaluation of their bioactivity in the laboratory and field. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/1207 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/1207/592

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 16 2 2023 01 18 1314 1314 Kourosh Azizi Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Zahra Soltani Control Disease Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Mohsen Aliakbarpou Control Disease Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Hassan Rezanezhad Department of Parasitology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran AND Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran Mohsen Kalantari Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 2020 06 30 2023 01 17 Background: Phlebotomus and Sergentomya are distributed in the old-world regions and transmit leishmaniases through mammalian and reptile hosts. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the most important diseases in Iran. Irani­an sand flies belong to three Oriental, Palearctic, and Afrotropical Regions. Fars Province is located in Palearctic, but southern parts are affected Oriental region situations on phglebotomine population variety. Therefore, a comprehensive study was required on the vectors of the disease in this Province. Methods: Regarding the approved role of the environmental factors in creating the fauna and distribution of living crea­tures, the “de martonne climate method” was used, and the climate was noticed as an important environmental factor for the determination of vector distribution. Accordingly, 14 sampling sites were selected from 10 foci in different climates of Fars Province. 19648 sand flies were collected from the studied areas in this Province during 2016. Background: Phlebotomus and Sergentomya are distributed in the old-world regions and transmit leishmaniases through mammalian and reptile hosts. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the most important diseases in Iran. Irani­an sand flies belong to three Oriental, Palearctic, and Afrotropical Regions. Fars Province is located in Palearctic, but southern parts are affected Oriental region situations on phglebotomine population variety. Therefore, a comprehensive study was required on the vectors of the disease in this Province. Methods: Regarding the approved role of the environmental factors in creating the fauna and distribution of living crea­tures, the “de martonne climate method” was used, and the climate was noticed as an important environmental factor for the determination of vector distribution. Accordingly, 14 sampling sites were selected from 10 foci in different climates of Fars Province. 19648 sand flies were collected from the studied areas in this Province during 2016. Results: Phlebotomus papatasi and Se. antennata were the most frequent species, which were caught from in/outdoor areas. Phlebotomus sergenti and Ph. alexandri were caught from both Palearctic and Oriental zones but were more prevalent in the cold semi-arid climate of the Palearctic zone. Moreover, they were not caught from the hot desert and summer Mediterranean climates of the Oriental zone.   Conclusions: It seems that Ph. papatasi as the main vector of CL could be well distributed in different climates in Fars. Moreover, some species like Ph. sergenti preferred especial climates in the Palearctic zone. Therefore, these data could be helpful to control leishmaniases more efficiently. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/1314 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/1314/593

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 16 2 2023 01 18 1371 1371 EN Nasibeh Hosseini-Vasoukolaei Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Science Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Leila Ghavibazou Research Committee, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Amir Ahmad Akhavan Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ahmad Ali Enayati Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Science Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Elham Jahanifard Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Mahmoud Fazeli-Dinan Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Science Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Jamshid Yazdani-Charati Department of Biostatistics, Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Seyed Hasan Nikookar Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Science Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Zahra Saeidi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Atie Shemshadian Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Science Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran 2020 10 31 2023 01 18 Background: Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania species, the causative agents of leishmaniasis in the world. Present study aimed to evaluate the bioecological aspects of sand flies in different ecotopes in Sari County, north of Iran.        Methods: Sand flies were collected from four villages in mountainous, forest, plain and peri-urban areas monthly using sticky traps in May–October 2016. Mounted specimens were identified using valid identification keys under optical microscope. The Arc GIS 10.5 software was applied for showing the distribution of sand flies. Shannon-Weiner, Simp­son and Evenness species diversity indices were calculated. Results: Generally, 334 specimens were captured and identified, namelly Phlebotomus kandelakii, Ph. papatasi, Ph. major, Ph. sergenti, Ph. longiductus, Ph. halepensis, Ph. tobbi, Sergentomyia dentata, Se. theodori, Se. sintoni, Se. an­tennata and Se. sumbarica. The most common species was Ph. kandelakii (n= 128, 38.32 %). The highest Simpson in­dex (0.81) and abundance (N= 141) were recorded in the mountaineous area. Shannon diversity index was higher in the forest (H'= 1.53) and the highest evenness index was in the plain area (J'= 0.93). The highest richness (S= 9) and Shan­non indices (H'= 1.57) were observed in June. Conclusions: Phlebotomus kandelakii, Ph. sergenti, Ph. tobbi, Ph. longiductus, Se. theodori, Se. antennata and Se. sumbarica were recorded for the first time in the study area. Since some species are incriminated for leishmaniasis transmission, further studies are required in the northern regions of Iran to timely control measures planning. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/1371 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/1371/594

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 16 2 2023 01 18 1550 1550 Haider Abbas Department of Pathobiology (Parasitology Section), KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, Sub-campus of University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore, Pakistan Hafiz Muhammad Rizwan Department of Pathobiology (Parasitology Section), KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, Sub-campus of University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore, Pakistan Muhammad Younus Department of Pathobiology (Pathology Section), KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, Sub-campus of UVAS Lahore, Pakistan Muhammad Sohail Sajid Department of Parasitology, Univesity of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan Shahid Farooqi Department of Clinical Sciences (Medicine Section), KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, Sub-campus of UVAS Lahore, Pakistan Zeeshan Iqbal Department Animal Sciences (Livestock Management Section), KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, Sub-campus of UVAS Lahore, Pakistan Muhammad Imran Department of Animal Sciences (Animal Nutrition Section), KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, Sub-campus of UVAS Lahore, Pakistan Usman Amanat KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, Sub-campus of UVAS Lahore, Pakistan Nida Wazir KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, Sub-campus of UVAS Lahore, Pakistan Muhammad Ahsan Naeem Department of Basic Sciences, KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, Sub-campus of UVAS Lahore, Pakistan 2022 03 05 2023 01 18 Background: Among the blood-borne parasitic infections of dogs, trypanosomosis and babesiosis are highly prevalent in the Indian subcontinent and highly pathogenic. Methods: A six-month-old dog was presented with complaint of lethargy, anorexia and loss of body weight over the previous 15 days on October 11, 2021. A full clinical and targeted haematologic and parasitological examination was undertaken. Results: Wet smears were positive for the motile trypanosomes while stained thin blood smears showed large number of extracellular trypanosomes and intra-erythrocytic ring-like inclusion bodies of Babesia spp. A high burden of Toxo­cara canis was identified on coprological examination. Conclusion: This report describes the clinical manifestation of concurrent infection of haemoparasites and gastrointes­tinal nematodes in Pakistani dogs, and highlights the importance of prompt veterinary intervention. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/1550 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/1550/595