Potential Risk Areas of Aedes albopictus in South-Eastern Iran: A Vector of Dengue Fever, Zika, and Chikungunya.

The possibility of the rapid and global spread of Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and dengue fever by Aedes albopictus is well documented and may be facilitated by changes in climate. To avert and manage health risks, climatic and topographic information can be used to model and forecast which areas may be most prone to the establishment of Ae. albopictus. We aimed to weigh and prioritize the predictive value of various meteorological and climatic variables on distributions of Ae. albopictus in south-eastern Iran using the Analytical Hierarchy Process. Out of eight factors used to predict the presence of Ae. albopictus, the highest weighted were land use, followed by temperature, altitude, and precipitation. The inconsistency of this analysis was 0.03 with no missing judgments. The areas predicted to be most at risk of Ae. albopictus-borne diseases were mapped using Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing data. Five-year (2011-2015) meteorological data was collected from 11 meteorological stations and other data was acquired from Landsat and Terra satellite images. Southernmost regions were at greatest risk of Ae. albopictus colonization as well as more urban sites connected by provincial roads. This is the first study in Iran to determine the regional probability of Ae. albopictus establishment. Monitoring and collection of Ae. albopictus from the environment confirmed our projections, though on-going field work is necessary to track the spread of this vector of life-threatening disease.

Bionomics of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) in an endemic focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in central Iran.

Following an epidemiological survey of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in several villages of Badrood, a rural district north of the city of Natanz, central Iran, Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi Scopoli were found to be naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) major zymodeme MON-26. Sand flies were collected and dissected biweekly from rodent burrows from May to October 2001. Leptomonad infection rates varied between 6.7% and 22.0%, being greatest in September, coinciding with peak activity of P. papatasi, two-three months before the highest incidence of ZCL human cases in November-December. The leptomonad infection rate was 1.1% of the 94 P. papatasi captured indoors. In ELISA testing of 520 P. papatasi blood meals during Sept. 2001 and Aug. 2002, the proportion giving positive reactions for human, sheep, cow, goat, rodent, and bird were 31.2%, 69.6%, 63%, 38.8%, 24.7%, and 21.8%, respectively. This report thus incriminates P. papatasi as the vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in this part of Iran.

A new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiological status of the cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreak, isolation and identification of the parasite and preparation of a control program in a recently identified focus located in the Province of Yazd, Central Iran. METHODS: This study was conducted in 124 classrooms of primary school children and among 139 households of an infected quarter in the city of Yazd during 1999-2000. All the students and members of the households were questioned and examined for the presence of ulcer(s) or scar(s). For each case a form was completed and necessary information were recorded. Smears were prepared from the edge of the ulcer and examined for the presence of amastigotes. Leishmania stocks from human lesions were isolated. Cultured promastigotes were identified using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA-Polymerase Chain Reaction. Stray dogs were shot in the city and examined for the presence of any ulcer(s) or scar(s). RESULTS: An endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica was detected in Yazd City, Central Iran. Examination of 3176 students aged 6-16 years old in 124 primary schools showed a rate of 0.7% for scars and 0.2% for active lesions. There was no significant differences between the sexes in the prevalence of active lesions or scars. A study of prevalence among 139 households with a total population of 572 persons in Darvazeh Ghassabha quarter showed a prevalence of 13.5% for scars and 0.5% for ulcers. The most highly infected age group was 5-9 with a rate of 1.8%. Males and females were equally infected. Forty-six stray dogs were examined and none of them appeared to be infected. CONCLUSION: According to this study, cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania tropica is endemic in the city of Yazd, Central Iran. Humans are considered to be the main reservoir and the transmission is believed to be from human to human by Phlebotomus sergenti. This focus now can be added to the list of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci in the country. Any residual insecticide spraying is not recommended during the next year due to the low prevalence of the disease.