Prevalence of allergenic arthropods in domestic dwellings of referrals to an asthma and allergy clinic in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Background: Allergenic arthropods are crucial agents in inducing medically important respiratory diseases like asthma and the inflammation of the respiratory tract worldwide. Aims: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of all arthropods in the dwellings of people referred to the asthma and allergy clinic in Shiraz. Methods: This was was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Participants were 100 allergic patients who had tested positive (roach- and mite-sensitive). Mites were collected from their houses using a vacuum cleaner; other arthropods were caught with sticky traps. Direct observation and flotation methods were used and the samples were stored in 70% ethanol. Mor-phological characteristics were identified using valid taxonomic keys.Results: Overall, 624 specimens were identified belonging to 14 orders (4 orders of mites: Astigmata, Cryptostigmata, Prostigmata and Mesostigmata; and 10 other arthropod orders: Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Thysanura, Thysanop-tera, Entomobryomorpha, Blattodea, Siphonaptera, Pscoptera and Isopoda). The 2 most numerous species collected were Musca domestica and Dermanyssus gallinae. Conclusion: A small number of dwellings were infested with cockroaches; none were infested with the common house dust mites. The allergies induced in these patients could likely be attributed to other arthropods that are not considered main allergens in asthma and allergy clinics in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Health surveillance and prevention of infes-tation for these arthropods could have an immense impact on the control of the allergenic arthropod community, preven-tion of respiratory diseases, and personal health in Shiraz.

Contexte : Les arthropodes responsables de manifestations allergiques sont des vecteurs fondamentaux de maladies respiratoires sévères comme l’asthme et l’inflammation des voies respiratoires partout dans le monde. Objectifs : La présente étude a été menée pour déterminer la prévalence de tous les arthropodes dans les habitations de patients orientés vers le centre spécialisé pour la prise en charge de l’asthme et des allergies à Chiraz. Méthodes : Une étude transversale descriptive a été menée. Les participants étaient 100 patients allergiques ayant eu des tests positifs (sensibilité aux cafards et aux acariens). Des acariens ont été prélevés dans leurs habitations à l’aide d’un aspirateur. Les autres arthropodes ont été attrapés au moyen de pièges adhésifs. Les méthodes de l’observation directe et de la flottation ont été employées, et les échantillons ont été placés dans de l’éthanol à 70 %. Les caractéristiques morphologiques ont été identifiées en utilisant des clés taxonomiques valides. Résultats : En tout, 624 échantillons ont été identifiés. Ils appartenaient à 14 ordres (4 ordres d’acariens : Astigmata, Cryptostigmata, Prostigmata et Mesostigmata ; et 10 autres ordres d’arthropodes : Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Thysanura, Thysanoptera, Entomobryomorpha, Blattodea, Siphonaptera, Pscoptera et Isopoda). Les deux espèces les plus représentées parmi les échantillons étaient Musca domestica et Dermanyssus gallinae. Conclusions : Un petit nombre d’habitations étaient infestées par les cafards. Aucune n’était infestée par les acariens de poussière de maison. Les allergies induites chez ces patients pourraient probablement être attribuées à d’autres arthropodes non considérés comme des allergènes majeurs dans les centres spécialisés pour la prise en charge de l’asthme et des allergies en République islamique d’Iran. La surveillance de santé et la prévention des infestations par ces arthropodes pourraient avoir un énorme impact sur le contrôle de la communauté d’arthropodes responsables de manifestations allergiques, la prévention des maladies respiratoires et la santé personnelle à Chiraz.

Co-detection and isolation of Leishmania and Crithidia among naturally infected Tatera indica (Rodentia: Muridae) in Fars province, southern Iran

Objective: To explore the co-detection of natural infection of Trypanosomatidae parasites such as Leishmania and Crithidia in reservoir hosts of leishmaniasis. Methods: Rodent populations were monitored in two endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis of Fars province, southern Iran from March to October 2016. Rodents were trapped alive in several parts of Shiraz and Kharameh cities. Afterwards, their organs were prepared for detection of Leishmania and Crithidia species by molecular, microscopic, and culture methods. Results: Totally, 115 rodents of five species; Tatera indica (T. indica) (85), Rattus rattus (12), Meriones libycus (9), Mus musculus (7), and Rattus norvegicus (2), were trapped alive and their tissue samples were examined using microscopic, cultivation, and molecular assays. Overall, 59 (51.3%) rodents were positive for Leishmania or Crithidia parasites. The highest rate (61.2%; 52/85) of Leishmania infection was related to the T. indica population. The cultivation, and molecular observations showed that two (2.4%; 2/85) of T. indica (foot-pad, and spleen samples) were positive to Crithidia. Conclusions: This is the first report of Crithidia infection in T. indica in Iran. Consequently, more epidemiological and ecological studies are needed to understand the role of Crithidia and Leishmania in T. indica.

Laboratory based diagnosis of leishmaniasis in rodents as the reservoir hosts in southern Iran, 2012

Objective:To examine the fauna of rodents as zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis reservoir hosts in Zarqan County, Fars Province, south of Iran, during 2012. Methods:During 2012, wild rodents from different parts of this region were caught by Sherman traps and checked by the examination of liver and spleen smears, for Leishmania infection, to see which species were acting as reservoir hosts;the slides were then processed to extract DNA for molecular test using PCR assay. Results:From 108 rodent species caught, 63%were male and 37%identified as female. Meriones libycus was the most abundant species caught (80.5%) and 5.7%of them were found to be smear-positive for Leishmania amastigotes. The other species were Rattus rattus (14.8%) and Mus musculus (4.7%), but none of them were found positive. Leishmania infection was observed in male and female samples microscopically. Moreover, molecular results revealed Leishmania major in three male and two female specimens. Conclusions:Based on our knowledge, Meriones libycus is incriminated as the main reservoir hosts of Leishmania major in the rural area of Zarqan.