ABSTRACT
Introduction: Studies of biology and ecology of scorpions in Iran faces with lots of limitations. These studies have to be started with identifying habitats and species of scorpions in a certain region of the country and should be completed with investigation of their biologic and ecologic characteristics. This study aims at identification and characterization of scorpions species in trackless areas of Luristan
Methods: During this descriptive study in 21 trackless nomads areas of Aligudarz and Sepiddasht the spots were sampled. Temperature, humidity and altitude of the sampling places were recorded. In each place, two hours before sunset and within the first hours of night the scorpions were captured with aid of UV flashlight and infra red glasses
Results: A total of 659 scorpions were captured in two areas located in Aligudars and Sepiddasht all of which belonged to Hemiscorpidae and Butidae families . From Hemiscorpidae family: Hemiscorpius leptorus and from family Butidae: Buthotus saulcyi, Mesobuthus eupus, Androctonus crassicauda, Orthochirus iranus, Buthacus macrocentrus species were diagnosed
Conclusion: Butidae family with 5 species had significant diversity and distribution in the study area. B. saulcyi was the most frequent in the areas. H. leptorus in Sepiddasht made up over 32 percent of the scorpions and it is a hazardous scorpion species. Necessary warning should be given to the residents of the area
ABSTRACT
Lysozyme is an antimicrobial protein widely distributed among eukaryotes and prokaryotes and take part in protecting microbial infection. Here, we amplified cDNA of MesoLys-C, a c-type lysozyme from the most common scorpion in Khuzestan Province, Southern Iran. Scorpions of Mesobuthus eupeus were collected from the Khuzestan Province. Using RNXTM solution, the total RNA was extracted from the twenty separated venom glands. cDNA was synthesized with extracted total RNA as template and modified oligo [dT] as primer. In order to amplify cDNA encoding a lysozyme C, semi-nested RT-PCR was done with the specific primers. Follow amplification, the fragment was sequenced. Sequence determination of amplified fragment revealed that MesoLys-C cDNA had 438 bp, encoding for 144 aa residues peptide with molecular weight of 16.702 kDa and theoretical pI of 7.54. A putative 22-amino-acids signal peptide was identified. MesoLys-C protein was composed of one domain belonged to c-type lysosyme/alphalactalbumin. Multiple alignment of MesoLys-C protein with the related cDNA sequences from various organisms by ClustalW program revealed that some of the conserved residues of other c-type lysosymes were also seen in MesoLys-C. However, the comparison suggested that Mesobuthus eupeus of Khuzestan and east Mediterranean Mesobuthus eupeus belonged to different subspecies