Physicochemical characteristics of larval habitats and biodiversity of mosquitoes in one of the most important metropolises of southern Iran.

The present study aimed to investigate the roles of the physicochemical characteristics of larval habitats in biodiversity and other bionomic factors of mosquitoes in Shiraz. The physical parameters of all habitats were recorded separately. The collected mosquito larvae were identified based on morphological characters. The water samples of larval habitats were analyzed for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD, mg/L), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD, mg/L), pH, alkalinity, turbidity, total hardness (mg/L), Electrical Conductivity (EC, µS/cm), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS, mg/L), Cl2 (mg/L), and water temperature (°C). In addition, three main indices were used for surveying biodiversity. A total of 1229 larvae were collected from April to September 2018 and May to August 2019. Seven medically important mosquito species were identified morphologically. Culex quinquefasciatus and Cx. laticinctus had the highest distribution and abundance. Ecological results showed that the richness and diversity of species were higher and more stable in natural sites than in manmade places. The optimum BOD, COD, alkalinity, TDS, EC, pH, and temperature of water for mosquitoes of the studied areas were 140 mg/L, 360 mg/L, 160 mg/L, 420 mg/L, 840 µS/cm, 8.3, and 24 °C, respectively. Most mosquitoes tended to live in manmade, temporary, and sunny larval habitats with turbid water. The results provided a better understanding of the biology and ecology of mosquitoes as the most important group of disease vectors to humans and animals. Hence, they could be used to apply some safer and more environmentally friendly methods for mosquito control.

Therapeutic Potential of Bee and Scorpion Venom Phospholipase A2 (PLA2): A Narrative Review.

Venomous arthropods such as scorpions and bees form one of the important groups with an essential role in medical entomology. Their venom possesses a mixture of diverse compounds, such as peptides, some of which have toxic effects, and enzymatic peptide Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) with a pharmacological potential in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Bee and scorpion venom PLA2 group III has been used in immunotherapy, the treatment of neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. They were assessed for antinociceptive, wound healing, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, and anti-angiogenesis effects. PLA2 has been identified in different species of scorpions and bees. The anti-leishmania, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-malarial activities of scorpion PLA2 still need further investigation. Many pieces of research have been stopped in the laboratory stage, and several studies need vast investigation in the clinical phase to show the pharmacological potential of PLA2. In this review, the medical significance of PLA2 from the venom of two arthropods, namely bees and scorpions, is discussed.

Molecular Characterization and In Silico Analyses of Maurolipin Structure as a Secretory Phospholipase A 2 (sPLA2) from Venom Glands of Iranian Scorpio maurus (Arachnida: Scorpionida).

The venom is a mixture of various compounds with specific biological activities, such as the phospholipase A 2 (PLA2) enzyme present in scorpion venom. PLA2 plays a key role in inhibiting ryanodine receptor channels and has neurotoxic activity. This study is the first investigation of molecular characterization, cloning, and in silico analyses of PLA2 from Iranian Scorpio maurus, named Maurolipin. After RNA extraction from S. maurus venom glands, cDNA was synthesized and amplified through RT-PCR using specific primers. Amplified Maurolipin was cloned in TA cloning vector, pTG19. For in silico analyses, the characterized gene was analyzed utilizing different software. Maurolipin coding gene with 432 base pair nucleotide length encoded a protein of 144 amino acid residues and 16.34 kilodaltons. Comparing the coding sequence of Maurolipin with other characterized PLA2 from different species of scorpions showed that this protein was a member of the PLA2 superfamily. According to SWISS-MODEL prediction, Maurolipin had 38.83% identity with bee venom PLA2 with 100% confidence and 39% identity with insect phospholipase A 2 family, which Phyre2 predicted. According to the three-dimensional structure prediction, Maurolipin with five disulfide bonds has a very high similarity to the structure of PLA2 that belonged to the group III subfamily. The in silico analyses showed that phospholipase A 2 coding gene and protein structure is different based on scorpion species and geographical condition in which they live.

Vector-borne diseases and tourism in Iran: Current issues and recommendations.

Iran is one of the largest countries in the Middle East with lots of historical and natural attractions. This country has always been considered to be one of the most important tourist destinations in the world. Several important vector-borne diseases have been reported from different parts of the country. Thus, having comprehensive and adequate knowledge about the main vector-borne diseases in Iran and their high-risk areas are really important. In this review, different provinces of Iran have been studied in terms of arthropod-borne diseases reported in the last decades. Reports indicated that some vector-borne diseases such as Leishmaniasis and CCHF had the highest incidence rate and they need serious attention. However, some diseases reported from Iran are not endemic, and all cases were imported such as Dengue fever. A group of arthropod-borne diseases was reported only from animals, and the health of travelers is not threatened such as Eyeworm infection.

Morphometric study and sexual dimorphism analyses in an Iranian population of Scorpio maurus (Arachnida: Scorpionidae).

Natural selection and sexual selection are cardinal factors in shaping the body of animals such as scorpions. Scorpio maurus (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) has a worldwide distribution. Sexual dimorphism has been reported from this species in a study in Egypt. Morphometry is used to determine the sexual dimorphism between the two sexes. In the current study, scorpions were collected from six locations of the southern and northern provinces of Fars, Iran. In this study, 53 morphological characters of 15 specimens of each sex of Scorpio maurus were studied based on statistical analyses; however, dimorphism was only observed in 21 morphological characters, including chelicerae and carapace length, pedipalp characters, width of the second segment of metasoma, telson and pectin length, number of left pectin teeth, and some of the leg's segments. It means that these characters are in the control of sexual and natural selection. This study was performed for the first time on Scorpio maurus species in Iran.

A comprehensive entomological survey and evaluation of the efficacy of different therapies on a suspected delusional parasitosis case.

OBJECTIVE: Delusional parasitosis (DP) is one type of psychotic disorders. It is a multifactorial disorder with different etiologies. Given that very little attention is paid to entomological survey in these cases, a comprehensive study was designed and performed for the first time in Iran on a suspected DP case and its home from Shiraz during 2018-2019. METHODS: In this study, entomological survey, dermatological studies, and psychological and psychiatric interventions were done respectively on a 40-year-old man who was referred to as a suspected case of DP. RESULTS: No medical importance arthropods were collected from the patient's home. He was not infected with lice and other ectoparasites. Skin samples were negative for scabies, but he was infected with Demodex folliculorum at low level. Psychiatric studies showed that he was a secondary DP case with depression. No effect and partial remission were reported after treatment with risperidone (2-6 mg/d) and olanzapine (5 mg/d), respectively. Therapeutic effects of hypnotism were also not satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: In Iran, the most important challenges these patients faced with are as follows: the absence of a specific referral center, patients resort to self-treatment or traditional methods, and lack of a certain duration and dosage of antipsychotic for these cases. Comprehensive clinical trials should be done on this rare syndrome at the national level for better understanding the epidemiological profile of DP and finding the best method of treatment for Persian community.

Molecular analysis of the mitochondrial markers COI, 12S rDNA and 16S rDNA for six species of Iranian scorpions.

OBJECTIVES: Annually, 1.2 million humans are stung by scorpions and severely affected by their venom. Some of the scorpion species of medical importance have a similar morphology to species with low toxicity. To establish diagnostic tools for surveying scorpions, the current study was conducted to generate three mitochondrial markers, Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI gene), 12S rDNA and 16S rDNA for six species of medically important Iranian scorpions: Androctonus crassicauda, Hottentotta saulcyi, Mesobuthus caucasicus, M. eupeus, Odontobuthus doriae, and Scorpio maurus. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analyses of the obtained sequences corroborated the morphological identification. For the first time, 12S rDNA sequences are reported from Androctonus crassicauda, Hottentotta saulcyi, Mesobuthus caucasicus and M. eupeus and also the 16S rDNA sequence from Hottentotta saulcyi. We conclude that the mitochondrial markers are useful for species determination among these medically important species of scorpions.

Molecular characterization of Ribosomal DNA (ITS2) of hard ticks in Iran: understanding the conspecificity of Dermacentor marginatus and D. niveus.

OBJECTIVES: Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are ectoparasites of medical and veterinary importance. They are obligate blood-feeding vectors with the ability to transmit a wide variety of pathogens. Standard morphological keys are normally used for the identification of tick species. However, considering the importance of accurate species identification and the determination of bio-ecological characteristics of species, relying on morphological keys alone can be questionable. In this study, two DNA fragments (ITS2 and COI) were selected for phylogenetic evaluation of Iranian hard tick species belonging to the genera Dermacentor, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus. RESULTS: 1229 specimens of Dermacentor marginatus, D. niveus, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus bursa, and R. sanguineus s.l constituting 11 populations were collected from three different climatic and zoogeographical zones in Iran. Morphological studies revealed notable differences in important morphological characteristics between different populations of D. marginatus. The results of ITS2 sequence analysis provided additional evidence which supports the conspecificity of D. niveus and D. marginatus. Contrary to this finding, the sequence analysis of COI and phylogeny favored the separation of the two species. Given the greater importance of COI in identifying and discriminating species, a possibility heterospecificity between the two species should be considered.