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Background and purpose: Aedes mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus, due to their special biological and ecological characteristics, have high adaptability and establishment power in different weather conditions, including Iran, and for this reason, they are called invasive mosquitoes. These mosquitoes, which are known as a serious problem for human health, are very important in terms of transmission of very important arboviral diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika virus, and yellow fever. Considering the importance of these diseases on the health system and human health, as well as numerous reports of the spread of arboviral diseases through Aedes mosquitoes in different countries, various programs have been proposed to control Aedes mosquitoes. As a result, introducing suitable methods to control Aedes mosquitoes can play a significant role in reducing the transmission of these diseases and maintaining human health. Therefore, in this review, we evaluate the use of each of the Aedes mosquito control methods. Materials and methods: This article is a narrative review of the introduction and effectiveness of different methods of controlling Aedes mosquitoes. Collecting information about control methods of A. aegypti and A. albopictus has been compiled without time and language restrictions from international scientific databases including Pub Med, Web of Science, Google Scholar, (ScienceDirect, Scopus, Elsevier, Lilacs) and Internal databases including, Scientific Information Database(SID), Iranian Medical Library(MedLib), Magiran, Civilica. The information collected based on the performance of each of the mentioned methods was extracted, categorized, analyzed, and used in compiling this article. Finally, out of a total of 10202 extracted articles, 123 articles were used in this research considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: In general, the goals related to the use of different methods of controlling Aedes mosquitoes are different depending on the country, epidemiological conditions, resources, and local priorities. But overall, disease prevention, reduction of mosquito population, stopping of disease transmission, prevention of mosquito establishment, disease spread, reduction of nuisances and finally identification of new invasive species are prioritized. The most appropriate methods of controlling Aedes are divided into five categories: 1. Environmental methods that include reducing the habitats and growth resources of mosquitoes 2. Chemical methods that are based on the use of various insecticides chemicals and insect growth regulators 3. Mechanical methods that include the use of various traps 4. Biological methods that include the use of natural enemies 5. Genetic methods include genetic engineering and mosquito sterilization techniques. It should be noted that each of these methods can play a significant role in the establishment of Aedes mosquitoes and the spread of arboviral diseases, and as a result, reducing the number of cases of infection and death in the health system. Conclusion: Considering the introduction of different control methods for A. aegypti and A. albopictus and the priority of each of the control methods presented; it is important to mention that the method of controlling Aedes depends a lot on the environmental conditions of the region, the stage of mosquito establishment, the population phase of mosquitoes and diseases caused by it. Therefore implementation of Aedes mosquito control programs through integrated vector management strategy is recommended, which requires the effective collaboration and coordination of national and local authorities and the general public for cost-effective control and lasting effects.

Background and purpose: Dengue fever has become a major public health problem in many regions of the world due to increased trade and travel and problems in controlling Aedes vectors. The purpose of this policy brief is to review, analyze and present evidence-based policies for dengue prevention and control. Materials and methods: The present research is a systematic review in order to compile a policy brief in Iran, which was carried out in 3 stages according to its methodology. In the first stage, the justification and description of the problem was done in a systematic manner and by examining scientific documents through searching in national and international scientific databases, websites, guidelines and books. In the second stage, a draft of the priority elements related to the policy framework was prepared by the first author and discussed with the other authors. In the third stage, the draft questions were categorized and summarized, and then the policies were compiled in close discussion with all authors. Results: According to the recommendations of the best available evidence in the literature, five policy options were presented for the prevention and control of dengue fever, including 1- development of basic, applied and innovative research 2- Strengthening the capacity and capability of the human, infrastructural and health system in all relevant sectors for the surveillance, control, monitoring and evaluation 3- strengthening inter- and intra-sectoral coordination and collaboration 4- community engagement and mobilization 5- scaling up of functions and integrating tools. Conclusion: In order to increase the long-term impact of policies, it is recommended to use an integrated approach with the continuous support of all stakeholders (local, national, regional).

Background and purpose: The knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare workers are important to reduce the transmission and burden of dengue. There is no standard tool to assess KAP of healthcare workers about dengue in Mazandaran Province, Iran, so this study was conducted to design and assess the validity and reliability of a questionnaire in Persian assessing KAP of healthcare workers about these mosquito-borne viral disease. Materials and methods: In this descriptive analytical study, a preliminary questionnaire containing 81 questions was designed after reviewing articles and interviews with experts. To determine the validity of the scale, quantitative-qualitative face and content validity were measured, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to assess the reliability. Results: In the study of face validity and qualitative content, experts' opinions were applied to the items as minor changes. The Impact Score (IS) of all items were higher than 1.5 (1.5-5) which provided supports for items importance. Content validity, based on the Lawshe table, optimal value of content validity ratio (CVR), and content validity index (CVI) were 0.6 and higher than 0.8, respectively. All items except one that was removed, obtained the desired score and were retained in the scale. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.79 which showed that all items had an acceptable correlation. Conclusion: This study provided a reliable and valid tool in Persian to assess KAP of healthcare workers about dengue in Mazandaran Province, north of Iran and can be used for measuring dengue KAP by Iranian researchers.

Background and purpose: Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are major human ectoparasites. Before planning and implementation of any control measures against bed bugs in prisons, it is essential to determine the infestation rate. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed to determine the prevalence of bed bug infestation in prisons in Mazandaran Province, 2015-2017. A standard checklist was prepared based on the health log of the prisons and was used to collect information on prevalence of bed bugs. Data were analyzed using SPSS V20. Results: The highest rate of infestation (68%) was observed in general ward and the lowest was seen in women's ward (1.23%). Highest infestations were reported at nights (88%) and the highest numbers of bed bugs were collected in metal beds (31%). During three years, there were no reports of bed bugs and their bites in prison 6. The average prevalence was constant in prison 1, while it was descending in prisons 2, 3, 5, and 9 and ascending in prisons 4 and 8. Conclusion: High prevalence of bed bugs in most of the prisons in Mazandaran province could probably be due to their entry into the prisons, re-infestation, and also difficulties in their control. Therefore, continuous monitoring of infestation, monitoring and prevention of bed bugs gaining entry into prisons, revising control measures with collaboration between experts from the Ministry of Health and prison health services are essential to plan for successful bed bug control interventions.

Background and purpose: Control of bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) as important human pests often fails in places where people live in aggregation such as prisons. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of various methods of bedbug control in prisons in Mazandaran province, Iran. Materials and methods: In this descriptive-analytical study performed in 2018, routine control methods of bedbugs including spraying, environmental management, fogging, and flame and combinations of two methods were compared. Data analyses were carried out using two methods. In first method, the number of bites before the control program along with that of four monitoring periods (15 days interval) after the interventions normalized with the population of the prison was analyzed. In second method, we analyzed the data from four monitoring phases after the control operation without considering the population of prisons. Results: Environmental management plus flame were the pair of control intervention with highest impact on bedbug population in prisons. Based on first method of analysis, there was a significant difference in number of individuals bitten between various control methods in all prisons (P0.05). Conclusion: Environmental sanitation of prison wards plus flame was found to have the greatest impact on bedbug population over a period of one month. Where it is not possible to use flame, combined methods, including spraying-environmental sanitation or fogging-environmental sanitation can be used as effective alternatives in reducing bedbug population in prisons.

Background and purpose: The leishmaniases are a group of diseases that appear as cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis, transmitted by different species of sand flies. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is considered as a major public health problem in Iran. The current study was carried out to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of CL in Mazandaran Province, Iran according to Geographical Information System (GIS). Materials and methods: This retrospective descriptive study was carried out according to demographic and epidemiologic data collected from patients diagnosed with CL during 2009-2017 recorded in Health deputy of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The spatial and temporal distribution of CL in different cities of Mazandaran Province was mapped using ArcGIS 10.4 software. Results: The number of patients with CL was 378 during the years studied. The highest and lowest numbers of CL patients were seen in Sari and Abbas Abad, respectively (n=71, n=2, respectively). Most of the cases (n= 182) were reported in east of Mazandaran and the least number of cases (n= 73) were observed in the west of province. The incidence rate in the west of the province was lower than that of the center and east of the province. Conclusion: Distribution of CL in Iran, agricultural activities, livestock breeding, and migratory status in Mazandaran Province call for appropriate planning to control this disease.

Plague is an important and serious zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. This study is a narrative review. The required data for the research were gathered through a search in search engines such as Google Scholar and international scientific databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Elsevier, and Lilacs, as well as Persian databases like the Barakat Knowledge Network System (Barakatkns), the Scientific Information Database (SID), the Iranian Medical Library (Medlib), and Civilica. The search was conducted using both Persian and English keywords, including "Plague," "Yersinia pestis," "Plague outbreak," "Flea," and "Control," through individual and combined searches over a period from 1974 to June 2024. In the present article, the agents and types of plague, its transmission methods, diagnostic approaches, the status of plague in the world and Iran, fleas in Iran, and methods for prevention and control of the disease will be discussed. This disease has caused three major historical pandemics, including the Black Death in the 14th century, which claimed millions of lives in Europe, Asia, and Africa and profoundly affected the populations of the impacted countries. Recently, the highest number of human plague cases has been reported from Madagascar. The main vector of the disease in humans is known as Xenopsylla cheopis worldwide. In Iran, records of human plague date back to the past. Climate change and ecological shifts may influence the distribution of plague vectors and hosts, increasing the risk of its resurgence even in areas where the disease is currently dormant. In Iran, increasing interactions between human communities and wildlife, along with changes in agricultural practices influenced by climatic factors, could facilitate the spread of the plague. Reports of the pathogen in rodents and dogs in western Iran (Kurdistan and Hamadan) underscore the significance of the potential re-emergence of plague in the region. There are three clinical forms of this disease bubonic, septicemic, and pulmonary. The most common type of plague is bubonic plague, which occurs following the bite of a flea that has previously fed on an infected animal. It presents with symptoms including fever, headache, chills, weakness, fatigue, and swollen, inflamed lymph nodes. Delayed treatment increases the risk of mortality associated with the disease. Plague, with a history of horror and devastation, remains a global health challenge. Understanding the current situation of this disease and reviewing its prevention and control is very important to prevent its re-emergence. Considering the current plague situation in Iran, there is a need for continuous monitoring and more detailed studies on the ecology of vectors, as well as the development of effective strategies for disease control and prevention. International cooperation in scientific research and exchanging information about plague outbreaks and control strategies are among the other effective approaches in this field. Finally, strengthening the health infrastructure and developing educational programs for the community is one of the most important requirements to prevent the spread of plague and other infectious diseases in Iran.

Background and purpose: Flies have a high diversity and are able to transmit many pathogens due to their adaptation and close relationship with humans. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the fauna of medically important flies in the city of Joybar in northern Iran. Materials and methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted twice a month in Juybar at selected sites, including hospital landfills, coastal waste, rural waste, municipal waste, and around a slaughterhouse in 2017. The flies were identified using valid identification keys and the species diversity parameters were evaluated based on Shannon index, Margalef index, and Evenness index. Results: In this study, seven species of medically important flies, including Muscina stabulans, Musca domestica, Lucilia caesar, Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vicina, Sarcophaga argyrostoma and Sarcophaga africa were caught from Muscidae, Calliphoridae, and Sarcophagidae families. According to Pearson correlation, the population of flies increases significantly (P