Species Composition and Spatial Distribution of Scorpions Based on Eco-Environmental Variables in Provinces Along with the Oman Sea and the Persian Gulf in Iran: A GIS-Based Approach.

Scorpions are venomous arachnids with major medical health importance in Iran, specifically in the Southwest. In total, three families of scorpions, including Scorpionidae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Buthidae were reported in Iran. This study was conducted on scorpion ecology to determine the species composition and the dispersion of scorpions based on the ecological and environmental variables in combination with the Geographic Information System (GIS) in Khuzestan, Hormozgan, and Bushehr Provinces along with the Oman Sea and the Persian Gulf in Iran. Scorpions were collected from Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and Bushehr Provinces, Iran using the Ultra Violet light. The specimens were then identified according to their morphological characters utilizing reliable keys. To determine the relationship between the eco-environmental variables and the spatial distribution of species, the GPS points of the collected scorpions were recorded, and the scorpion shapefile was overlaid on digital elevation model, slope, land use, temperature, rainfall, soil texture, and bioclimatic maps. Totally, 25 specimens were reported in three families of Scorpionidae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Buthidae. Furthermore, Razianus zarudnyi, Androctonus crassicauda, Buthacus macrocentrus, Mesobuthus eupeus phillipsii, Odontobuthus bidentatus, and Hemiscorpius lepturus were the common species collected from Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and Bushehr Provinces, Iran. The results of the current study showed that a large number of species preferred the sand texture due to ecomorphological adaptation. Moreover, the poor rangeland vegetation cover was preferred by the majority of the scorpion species, including S. maurus townsendi. According to the results, the combination of the ecological factors related to the suitable habitat of different species of scorpion and GIS will provide the dispersal areas of each species. Furthermore, such databases can be comprehensive and valuable guides for health authorities to reduce and manage scorpion envenomation.

Serological and molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Ghaemshahr county in Mazandaran province; Iran.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever disease which is known as an endemic disease within some provinces of Iran. Ticks play an important role in transmission of the disease. As vector and reservoir, ticks transmit CCHF virus from livestock to human. The current study reports the presence of CCHFV in Ghaemshahr county of Mazandaran province, in north of Iran based on the evidences obtained from ELISA and RT- PCR. Based on our results, IgG antibodies against CCHFV were detected in 4(4.8%) out of 84 sheep sera samples. Forty sera were obtained from people who were in close contact with the examined sheep, none of which had IgG antibodies against CCHFV. Using RT-PCR, we confirmed the existence of CCHFV genome in 1.7% of hard tick samples. Sequence analysis demonstrated that CCHFV genomes isolated from ticks were 100% identical to those isolated from the corresponding livestock. This study confirms the presence of the virus in this region; so people in close contact with livestock and health care workers should be alerted.

Wild rodents and their ectoparasites in Baluchistan area, southeast of Iran.

During 2008-2009 a total of 67 individuals of rodents, Tetera indica, Meriones hurrianae, Meriones libycus and Gerbillus nanus were trapped in three areas, Bampor, Daman and Qasre Qand from Iranshahr and Nikshahr districts. There is a significant difference between comparative abundance of four species (P<0.05). A total of 1422 ectoparasites collected including 299 mites (21%), 127 fleas (8.9%), 972 lice (68.4%) and 24 ticks (1.7%). Significant findings amongst the ectoparasites is the lice group with three species identified, Laelaps accuninata, Andralaelaps hermophrodita and Paracheylaellaps pyriformis being the first record in the study areas. All four captured genera of rodents are known as main/ potential reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. The migration habit of rodents may affect the spatial distribution of parasitic ticks and their transmitted diseases like CCHF, which has been reported in recent years from Sistan and Baluchestan province. Monitoring of rodent populations and their ectoparasites will help to predict the potential of zoonotic arthropod-borne diseases.