ABSTRACT
Plant extracts and oils may act as alternatives to conventional pesticides for malaria vector control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the larvicidal activity of essential oils of three plants of Apiaceae family against Anopheles stephensi, the main malaria vector in Iran. Essential oils from Heracleum persicum, Foeniculum vulgare and Coriandrum sativum seeds were hydro distillated, then their larvicidal activity were evaluated against laboratory-reared larvae of An. stephensi according to standard method of WHO. After susceptibility test, results were analysis using Probit program. Essential oils were separated from H. persicum, F. vulgare and C. sativum plants and their larvicidal activities were tested. Result of this study showed that F. vulgare oil was the most effective against An. stephensi with LC[50] and LC[90] values of 20.10 and 44.51 ppm, respectively. All three plants essential oil can serve as a natural larvicide against An. stephensi. F. vulgare oil exhibited more larvicidal properties
ABSTRACT
Ticks are hematophagous arthropod belonging to the Class of Arachnids. Ticks are also one of the major vectors of pathogens to animal and human. This study was conducted to determine tick infestation rate of sheep in Abdanan during 2007-2008. Sampling was performed seasonally in 19 villages during spring 2007 until winter 2008. A total of 1095 sheep were selected and tested for tick infestation. After collection, all ticks were transported to laboratory of Medical Entomology and were identified with appropriate identification keys. Totally, 864 hard ticks were collected. The ticks were classified into two genera and 5 species including: Hyalomma marginalum [44.67%], Hy. anatolicum [43.17%], Hy.asiaticwn [6.37%], Hy. dromedarii [5.55%], Hea-maphysalis sulcata [0.24%]. The highest seasonal activity was observed in spring [36.46%] and the lowest seasonal was in winter [11.57%]. The rate of tick frequency in mountainous region was 48.15% and it was 51.85% in plateau regions. In this study, tick infestation of sheep was 11.41%. Hy.marginatum has the more frequent density in the study area
ABSTRACT
Pediculus capitis [Anoplura: Pediculidae] or head louse is an obligate ectoparasite transmitted mainly through physical contact. This study was conducted to survey the prevalence of head lice infestation rate and some risk factors in Primary School pupils, in Khajeh City East Azerbaijan Province, Iran We selected 20 primary schools of Khajeh City during 2008 and 2009. Totally 500 pupils including 200 boys and 300 girls from all grade 1-5 were selected by multistage, systematic random sampling in rural areas of Khajeh City and were examined for lice. In addition, a standard questionnaire recorded information about demographic features of each pupil. Results were analyzed by SPSS software. The total prevalence of head lice infestation in this study was 4.8%. and the prevalence rate was significantly higher in girls [6.66%] than in boys [2%]. Epidemiological factors such as: sex, school grade, family size, parent's education, type of house, hair washing [per week], number of using comb per day, were evaluated and results showed significant difference in head lice infestation and sex, school grade, family size, father education, and type of house [P<0.05]. Pediculosis is a public health problem in many parts of the world, and due to the higher prevalence of pediculosis in crowded families, family by lower levels of father's education and socioeconomic status in our study and rural area, it is necessary to give health education for families to prevent of pediculosis in this area
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Insecta , Cross-Sectional Studies , Schools , Epidemiology , Lice Infestations/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Ticks are the main vectors for transmission of different pathogens to human and animals. This survey was carried out distribution of ticks, which infested the domestic ruminants in Yazd Province, central Iran during year 2008-2009. A total number of 30 villages form both mountainous and [20%] plateau[80%] regions of the province were selected randomly. Ticks were colleted from the body of infested animals and transported to the Laboratory of Medical Entomology, School of Public Health, Tehran university of Medical Sciences and then were identified using valid identification key. A total of 583 hard ticks were collected. The ticks were classified into three genera and 7 species including: Hyalomma dromedarii [55.92%], Hyalomma marginatum [13.20%], Hy. anatolicum [9.78%], Hy. detritum [4.98%], Hyalomma asiaticum [3.94%] Rhipicephalus sanguineus [11.84%] and Dermacentor marginatus [0.34%]. The highest seasonal activities occurred in summer. The prevalence of the Ixodidae ticks was more evident in plateaus area in Yazd Province. Among the hosts including: cow, goat, sheep and camel, the ticks that collected from camel was more prevalent. The ratio of male was more than female ticks. Hyalomma dromedarii was the predominant tick species and accounted for 55.92% of the ticks. Some of the collected ticks may play an important role for transmission of vector borne disease to human; therefore, the results of this study will provide a clue for vectors of tick-borne diseases in the region for local authorities for implementation of disease control