ABSTRACT
Background: Pediculosis capitis is a continuous common health problem worldwide. Pediculus capitis d istributes q uickly i n overcrowded regions. The goal of the present research was to determine some epidemiological features of head lice infestation in Khorram-shahr County, southwestern Iran
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on the patients with head lice infestation who referred to the Khorram-shahr Health Center during 2006 to 2009. The gold standard in the diagnosis of infestation was the detection of living nymphs, adults and/or nits on the scalp and hair. After the visual inspections with using a lens and the aid of an ordinary comb, cases were asked to complete a data gathering form containing some questions about demographic and epidemiologic features. The collected information was evaluated using SPSS software, version 11.5
Results: Totally, 1091 patients were infested with pediculosis capitis. The overall prevalence of head lice infestation during the four- year period was 0.73%. Girls were significantly more infested [87.2%] than boys [12.8%]. Pediculosis capitis infestations were highest [46.2%] in subjects aged 6-10 and lowest in those aged less than six [6.4%]. The majority of cases lived in the rural areas. The percentage of infestation in rural and urban patients was 59.2% and 40.8%, respectively. Nearly, 11.8% of the patients with head lice had a history of infestation. Most of the cases were found in the Autumn [35.8%]
Conclusion: Girls were more frequently infested with Pediculus capitis than boys. It can also be concluded that head lice infestation is not highly prevalent in Khorram-shahr
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine ecology and characteristics of the larval habitats of the genus Anopheles (Dipetra: Culicidae) in Aligudarz County, western Iran.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This descriptive cross-sectional research was carried out to study the anopheline larvae ecology in seven rural districts, Aligudarz County, from late April to late November 1997. Larvae were captured using the dipping method. Larval breeding places characteristics were noted according to water situation (turbid or clean, stagnant or running), substrate type, site type (man-made or natural), sunlight situation, site situation (transient or permanent, with or without vegetation).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 9 620 3rd and 4th instar larvae of Anopheles from 115 breeding places in 22 villages were captured, which belonged to the following species: Anopheles stephensi, Anopheles d'thali, Anopheles apoci, Anopheles superpictus (forms A and B), Anopheles marterii sogdianus, Anopheles turkhodi, Anopheles maculipennis S.L and Anopheles claviger. Anopheles stephensi, Anopheles maculipennis S.L and Anopheles apoci were collected for the first time in this county. Anopheles superpictus (93.18%) was the most prevailed one and dispersed over the entire region. Larval habitats consisted of nine natural and three artificial larval habitats. The most important larval habitats were river edges (54.8%), rice fields (12.2%), and grassland (8.7%) with permanent or transient, stagnant or running and clean water, with or without vegetation, sand or mud substrate in full sunlight area.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Regarding this research, river edges and rice fields are the most important breeding places of malaria vectors in Aligudarz County. It is worthy of note in larvicidal programs.</p>
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine brucellosis's epidemiologic, laboratory, diagnostic and public health features considering brucellosis is endemic in Azna County, western Iran. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was investigated on 43 patients with brucellosis in Azna County. The subjects were the patients with symptoms correspondent with brucellosis and positive Wright and 2ME tests. A questionnaire about demographic, epidemiological and laboratory findings was filled in. Afterwards, patients were treated using usual antimicrobial drugs regimen. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16. Results:Forty-three subjects were found to be positive in laboratory tests. Incidence of Brucellosis was 59.31 per hundred thousand population. About 34.9% of patients were female and 65.1% male. Nearly 95.2 % of human cases were living in rural and 4.8 % in urban areas. Around 20.9% of patients had history of animal contact. The commonest transmission was unpasteurized dairy products (79.1%). The most contagious seasons were summer and spring (60.3%). The most common age group was 15-24 (27.9%), and about 60.5% of the patients were between 15-44 years old. Disease was more common among housewives (30.2%) and farmers (20.9%). The majority of the patients had Wright test titre=1:320 (54.1%) and 2ME test titre=1:160 (56.1%) in serological titration. Doxycycline with Rifampin was used for treatment of the greatest of patients (60.4%). Conclusions:In order to control this zoonotic disease, close cooperation of health and veterinary organizations is necessary.
ABSTRACT
Objective: There is abundant opportunity for house fly, Musca domestica, to become contaminated and, in turn, to contaminate the patient environment. This study has been conducted with the aim of isolating and identifying the probable pathogenic inoculations of the flies in three hospitals in Ahwaz County, Khuzestan province, south-west of Iran. Methods: Adult flies were collected by means of insect net and then transferrs to lab for microbiological process.Results:Totally on all house fly samples the bacteria genus Pseudomonas and Esherichia coli had the significantly highest rate of infection (P<0.05). The genera Klebsiella, Bacillus, and Diphtroid has significant lowest rate of infection. Hot and humid weather of the Khuzestan province which is host of patients coming from far localities for hospitalization, provide suitable conditions for housefly activities during the year. Conclusions: Thus suitable and applicable control methods such as environmental sanitations should be implemented for hospital environment in Ahwaz County.
ABSTRACT
Study on ecology and larval habitats of anopheline mosquitoes are important in terms of some aspects such as, vector control through manipulation and modification of these habitats that can reduce the burdens of mosquito-borne diseases. Given the likelihood of malaria epidemy, this work has been conducted to study anopheline mosquito fauna, larval habitat features and seasonal activity of the genus Anopheles in the Mahroo and Sepid - Dasht rural districts, Luristan province. This descriptive cross-sectional investigation was done from April to November 2001-2002. Larvae were collected by means of dipper and dropper from breeding places using the standard dipping technique, every two weeks. The third and fourth instar anopheline larvae were preserved in Lactophenol and identified into species using morphological characters. Larval habitat characteristics were recorded. A total of 4376 Anopheles larvae were collected. Five species and two morphological forms were found which include Anopheles superpictus Grassi form A [76.3%], A. dthali Patton [9.7%], A.turkhudi Liston [8.5%], A. marteri Senevet and Prunelle [4%], A. superpictus Grassi form B [1.1%] and A. apoci Marsh [0.4%]. In these districts, anopheline larval activity began in early May and ended in early November. In this paper, the characteristics of larval habitats of any species have been discussed separately. The main larval habitats of important vector of the region, A. superpictus, were determined river sides, stream margins and rice fields. The findings of this research can be used to manage control of vectors.
ABSTRACT
Leishmaniasis is one of the main health problems in Iran. The purpose of this study was to determine species composition, sex ratio and relative abundance of sandfliesas vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Chabahar, Iran. Sandflies were caught using sticky traps. Traps were installed in 21 rural and urban areas. A total of 17859 sandflieswere caught. Species caught including Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli, P. salehi Mesghali, P. sergenti Parrot, P. alexandri Sinton, P. kazeruni Theodor and Mesghali, P. bergeroti Parrot, P. mesghali Seyedi-Rashti and Nadim,P. elaenorae Sinton, Sergentomyia clydei Sinton, S.sintoni Pringle, S. tiberiadis Adler, Theodor and Lourie, S. baghdadis Adler and Theodor, S. hodgsoni Sinton, S. dentate Sinton, S. africana Newstead, S. dreyfussi Theodor and Mesghali,S. mervynae Pringle, S. iranica Lewis and Mesghali and S. christophersi Sinton. Seven species, including P. elaenorae, P. kazeruni, S. hodgsoni, S. dreyfussi, S. mervynae, S. iranica and S. christophersi are reported for the first time in Chabahar. P. papatasi and P. salehi respectively play the role of primary and secondary vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Chabahar city, due to their high abundance, presence in all the monthly activities, presence in all areas affected with oriental sore and finding leptomonad infection in them.
ABSTRACT
Scorpion stings cause a serious problem all over the globe. This study aimed to trace the epidemiological profile of scorpion stings and some common clinical symptoms in Dezful County. Our work is an analytical cross-sectional study of scorpion stings based on medical files of stung patients referred during 2007- 2008. During 2007-2008, 820 cases were registered. 59.9% of the cases were from rural areas. The stings had the most frequency in spring months, particularly in June, when yearly temperature was favorable. Based on the results of this study, scorpion sting envenomation is of clinical importance in this area.
ABSTRACT
Cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] is a zoonotic disease that is caused by various species of the genus Leishmania. The disease is considered a major health problem in different areas of Iran and is an endemic disease in rural areas of Mirjaveh, Chabahar, and Konarak Counties, Sistan Va Baluchistan Province. The aim of this study was to identify Leishmania species that was isolated from potential sand fly vectors by molecular analysis in Chabahar County. To collect Sand flies, sticky traps were placed at the entrance of rodents burrows in Dashtiyari division of Chabahar County, where CL is endemic. Freshly collected Sand flies were identified with regard to species, dissected in normal saline using binocular, and examined for leptomonads under a microscope. Leptomonads from the Sand flies were used to inoculate the base of Balb/c mice tails subcutaneously; after an incubation period and the development of lesions, the parasites were transferred to NNN + LIT medium culture. The harvested Leishmania parasites were subjected to DNA extraction and analyzed by random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction [RAPD-PCR]. DNA from Leishmania species from Phlebotomus papatasi and P. salehi Sand flies produced distinctive patterns of bands of L. major with all primers. However, the products at approximately 2100 bp and 800 bp that were amplified with primer 329 were stable and reproducible in all assays. This is the first report on the isolation and identification of L. major in P. salehi from Iran and P. papatasi from Sistan va Baluchistan. The study shows that P. papatasi and P. salehi Sand flies play a major role in the maintenance and transmission of disease to humans in this area.