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Blood feeding and resting behaviour of malaria vectors are the most influential factors in malaria transmission.To measure blood feeding and resting behaviour, conventional mosquito sampling methods were performed in an area with potential for malaria transmission.Adult mosquitoes were collected monthly from indoor/outdoor places by conventional sampling methods, and larval habitats were investigated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the human blood index (HBI) of the mosquitoes.Anopheles stephensi, Anopheles culicifacies, Anopheles dthali and Anopheles fluviatilis, were collected. Overall, 1249 female Anopheles mosquitoes were captured on human and animal baits, but no human-vector contact occurred indoors. A. dthali, A. fluviatilis and A. culicifacies showed a greater tendency to outdoor resting places in contrast to A. stephensi, which had a propensity to indoor resting places. The seasonal biting activities of all species occurred at average temperatures between 23 and 27°C. HBI was measured as 27.2%, 20.7%, 19.1%, and 23.0% for A. fluviatilis, A. stephensi, A. culicifacies and A. dthali, respectively.Vector control strategy depends upon mosquito behaviour. Therefore, using appropriate sampling methods based on mosquito behaviour is critical for malaria control planning. Exophilic/exophagic habit of mosquito vectors leads to fewer human bites, resulting in biting protection. Exophilic behaviour also requires specific larvicidal operations in order to prevent and control malaria transmission.سلوك اللدغ والراحة لنواقل الملاريا في مقاطعة بندر عباس بجمهورية إيران الإسلامية.عبد الرسول مجاهدي، رضا سفاري، مسعود ياريان، عباس باكاري، أحمد رايسي، حميدة إدالات، موجغان بينيارديلان، عباس بودات، مرتضى زعيم، حميد رضا بصيري.يُعد سلوك الراحة وتغذية نواقل الملاريا على الدم أكثر العوامل تأثيراً في انتقال الملاريا.هدفت الدراسة إلى قياس سلوك الراحة والتغذية على الدم باستخدام طرق تقليدية لأخذ عينات البعوض في منطقة يحتمل فيها انتقال الملاريا.جرى جمع البعوض البالغ شهرياً من الأماكن المغلقة/ المفتوحة بطرق أخذ العينات التقليدية، كما جرى استقصاء موائل اليرقات. واستُخدمت مُقايسة المُمْتَزِّ المناعيّ المُرتبِط بالإِنزيم لقياس مؤشر الدم البشري للبعوض.جُعت الأنوفيلة الاصطفانية، والأنوفيلة البعوضية الوجه، وأنوفيلة دتالي، والأنوفيلة النهرية. وبصفة عامة، التُقط 1249 من أنثى بعوض الأنوفيلة على الطعوم البشرية والحيوانية، ولكن لم يحدث أي اتصال بين البشر والنواقل في الأماكن المغلقة. وأظهرت أنوفيلة دتالي والأنوفيلة النهرية والأنوفيلة البعوضية الوجه ميلاً أكبر إلى الخلود إلى الراحة في الأماكن المفتوحة على النقيض من الأنوفيلة الاصطفانية التي أظهرت ميلاً إلى الخلود إلى الراحة في الأماكن المغلقة. وتحدث أنشطة اللدغ الموسمية لجميع الأنواع في متوسط درجات حرارة تتراوح بين 23 و27 درجة مئوية. وتم قياس مؤشر الدم البشري عند 27.2٪ و20.7٪ و19.1٪ و23.0٪ للأنوفيلة النهرية والأنوفيلة الاصطفانية والأنوفيلة البعوضية الوجه وأنوفيلة دتالي على التوالي.تعتمد استراتيجية مكافحة النواقل على سلوك البعوض. ولذلك فإن اتباع طرق أخذ العينات المناسبة المستندة إلى سلوك البعوض أمر بالغ الأهمية في التخطيط لمكافحة الملاريا. ويؤدي ميل البعوض الناقل إلى التغذية والراحة في الأماكن المفتوحة إلى عدد أقل من اللدغات التي تصيب الإنسان، مما يؤدي إلى الحماية من اللدغ. كما يتطلب سلوك الراحة في الأماكن المفتوحة عمليات محددة لإبادة اليرقات من أجل الوقاية من انتقال الملاريا ومكافحته.Comportement de piqûre et de repos des vecteurs du paludisme dans le comté de Bandar-Abbas (République islamique d’Iran).L’alimentation en sang et le comportement de repos des vecteurs de paludisme sont les facteurs de transmission les plus importants de la maladie.Pour analyser les repas sanguins et le comportement de repos, on a utilisé des méthodes conventionnelles de collecte de moustiques dans une zone exposée au risque de transmission du paludisme.On a prélevé tous les mois des moustiques adultes à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur des habitations en recourant à des méthodes conventionnelles de collecte et des gîtes larvaires ont été étudiés. Un essai d’immuno-absorption enzymatique (ELISA) a été utilisé pour mesurer l’indice d'anthropophilie des moustiques.Les espèces suivantes d’anophèles ont été collectées : Anopheles stephensi, Anopheles culicifacies, Anopheles dthali et Anopheles fluviatilis. Au total, 1249 moustiques anophèles femelles ont été capturés à l’aide d’appâts humains et animaux, mais aucun contact homme-vecteur n’a été recensé à l’intérieur des habitations. A. dthali, A. fluviatilis et A. culicifacies avaient davantage tendance à choisir des lieux de repos extérieurs, contrairement à A. stephensi, qui avait tendance à se reposer à l’intérieur des habitations. Pour toutes les espèces, les activités de piqûres saisonnières ont eu lieu à des températures moyennes comprises entre 23 et 27 °C. L’indice d’anthropophilie a été évalué à 27,2 %, à 20,7 %, à 19,1 % et à 23,0 % pour A. fluviatilis, A. stephensi, A. culicifacies et A. dthali, respectivement.La stratégie de lutte antivectorielle dépend du comportement des moustiques. Par conséquent, il est essentiel d’utiliser des méthodes de collecte adaptées en fonction du comportement des moustiques pour la planification de la lutte antipaludique. L'exophilie et l’exophagie des vecteurs entraînent un nombre moins élevé de piqûres sur l’homme, ce qui se traduit par une protection contre les piqûres. Le comportement exophile nécessite également l’application de traitements larvicides particuliers pour prévenir la transmission du paludisme et lutter contre cette maladie.

Background While Iran is on the path to eliminating malaria, the disease with 4.9 million estimated cases and 9300 estimated deaths in 2018 remains a serious health problem in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region. Anopheles stephensi is the main malaria vector in Iran and its range extends from Iraq to western China. Recently, the vector invaded new territories in Sri Lanka and countries in the Horn of Africa. Insecticide resistance in An. stephensi is a potential issue in controlling the spread of this vector. Methods Data were collated from national and international databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SID, and IranMedex using appropriate search terms. Results Indoor residual spaying (IRS) with DDT was piloted in Iran in 1945 and subsequently used in the malaria eradication programme. Resistance to DDT in An. stephensi was detected in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia in the late 1960s. Malathion was used for malaria control in Iran in 1967, then propoxur in 1978, followed by pirimiphos-methyl from 1992 to 1994. The pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin was used from 1994 to 2003 followed by deltamethrin IRS and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). Some of these insecticides with the same sequence were used in other malaria-endemic countries of the region. Pyrethroid resistance was detected in An. stephensi in Afghanistan in 2010, in 2011 in India and in 2012 in Iran. The newly invaded population of An. stephensi in Ethiopia was resistant to insecticides of all four major insecticide classes. Different mechanisms of insecticide resistance, including metabolic and insecticide target site insensitivity, have been developed in An. stephensi. Resistance to DDT was initially glutathione S-transferase based. Target site knockdown resistance was later selected by pyrethroids. Esterases and altered acetylcholinesterase are the underlying cause of organophosphate resistance and cytochrome p450s were involved in pyrethroid metabolic resistance. Conclusions Anopheles stephensi is a major malaria vector in Iran and many countries in the region and beyond. The species is leading in terms of development of insecticide resistance as well as developing a variety of resistance mechanisms. Knowledge of the evolution of insecticide resistance and their underlying mechanisms, in particular, are important to Iran, considering the final steps the country is taking towards malaria elimination, but also to other countries in the region for their battle against malaria. This systematic review may also be of value to countries and territories newly invaded by this species, especially in the Horn of Africa, where the malaria situation is already dire.

Background: Southeastern Iran has been established as an area with the potential to harbor Asian tiger mosquito populations. In 2013, a few numbers of Aedes albopictus were detected in three sampling sites of this region. This field study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various traps on monitoring mosquitoes and status of this dengue vector, in five urban and 15 suburban/rural areas. Methods: For this purpose, four adult mosquito traps (BG-sentinel 2, bednet, Malaise, and resting box trap) were used and their efficacy compared. In addition, large numbers of CDC ovitraps were employed, within 12 months. Results: A total of 4878 adult samples including 22 species covering five genera were collected and identified from traps. It was not revealed any collection of Ae. albopictus. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in meteorological variables between the two periods, the previous report and the current study. There were significant differences in the total number of mosquitoes collected by various traps in the region across different months. Conclusion: The resulting data collected here on the efficiency of the various trap types can be useful for monitoring the densities of mosquito populations, which is an important component of a vector surveillance system. While the presence of Ae. albopictus was determined in this potential risk area, there is no evidence for its establishment and further monitoring needs to be carried out.

In Iran, there are four pest domestic species of cockroaches: Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus, Blattodea: Blattidae), Blatta orientalis (Linnaeus, Blattodea: Blattidae), Blattella germanica (Linnaeus, Blattodea: Blattidae), and Supella longipalpa (Fabricius, Blattodea: Blattellidae). The aim of this study was to compile and review studies conducted on insecticide resistance of domestic cockroaches in Iran to assess the current knowledge and gaps. Twenty insecticides were used in susceptibility testing of cockroaches. The bioassay methods varied, and included surface contact (exposure tests), topical applications and feeding studies on baits. Resistance ratio (RR) stated in the reviewed studies showed that B. germanica was resistant (RR > 10) to DDT, permethrin, and cypermethrin, while P. americana and S. longipalpa were categorized as low levels of resistance (RR = 1-2). S. longipalpa is newly reported from houses in some areas of Iran, including Tehran, and there are very few studies on its' biology, ecology and insecticidal resistance. Most studies used adult cockroaches, while the susceptibility status of nymphs was evaluated only in few studies. Use of different test methods and lack of a World Health Organization (WHO) updated procedure, including revised/updated insecticide diagnostic dosages and test kits. The lack of susceptible strains of cockroaches was a major challenge in the assessment of data. A comprehensive national program for monitoring susceptibility of household pests to insecticides in Iran is of great concern and is highly recommended.

Background: West Nile Virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, causes a variety of symptoms in human, from asymptomatic infection to neuroinvasive disease. Several studies have been conducted on the seroprevalence of WNV infection in different areas from Iran. This study was performed to find the presence of antiviral antibodies in human serum among some high risk population and awareness of health care staff about symptom of the WNV infection. Methods: Study performed in five geographical districts based on high population of immigrant and domestic birds and prevalence of the antiviral antibodies in horses which was reported previously. Totally 150 human blood samples were collected during 2018. The samples collected from patients referred to the clinics. The ELISA method used to detect IgG and IgM antibody against WNV. Logistic regression models used to analyze the effect of sex, age, keeping birds and urban/rural residence on the risk of infection. The awareness of health care staff about symptom of infection surveyed. Results: From all blood donors, 41 samples (27.33%) showed positive to IgG antibody. From which 56.10% were males and remaining females. None of the mentioned factors had a significant relationship. Health care staff had less attention to the infection. Conclusions: Although the prevalence of antibodies was relatively high, due to the similarity to other viral diseases, health care staff had less attention to the disease. The study showed that people in these areas have been exposed to the virus. Further research activities are recommended for control of this arbovirus.

Background: Zika virus infection has recently attracted the attention of medical community. While clinical manifestations of the infection in adult cases are not severe and disease is not associated with high mortality rates, Zika virus infection can have an impact on fetal development and lead to severe neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Methods: To gain insight into different aspects of Zika virus infection, a comprehensive literature review was performed. With regard to epidemiology and geographical distribution of Zika virus infection, relevant information was extracted from CDC and WHO websites. Results: In this review, we discuss different basic and clinical aspects of Zika virus infection including virology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of disease. Laboratory methods required for the diagnosis of disease together with ethical issues associated with Zika virus infection will also be discussed in detail. Conclusion: Herein, we have tried to provide a multi-faceted view of Zika virus infection, with greater emphasis on disease status in Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, especially, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. About 80% of the cases do not manifest any symptoms, and it is a self-limiting, mild viral infection. In 20% of the cases and only in fraction of those who do show the symptoms, important complications including Guillaine Barre'syndrome and microcephaly may occur. The emergence of Zika in 2016 in Brazil spreading to about 70 other countries prompted the WHO officials to declare the disease a Public Health Emergency with International Concern (PHEIC). This has led to increased concerns in health authorities of almost all countries making them embark on the strengthened human and vector surveillance, vector control and clinical management of the disease. Although the main vectors of the disease have not yet been able to establish in Iran, because of their occurrence in neighboring countries as well as increased global travel and trade, the country established a national advisory committee for capacity building, vector and human surveillance and case management of Aedes-borne diseases. This study aims at performing a literature review about global situation of Zika and Aedes mosquitoes, their distribution, biology and ecology from the past to present and the threat posed to Iran. Aedes aegypti was historically present in the checklist of Iranian mosquitoes and Ae. albopictus has recently been collected from Southern Iran, however, the species has apparently failed to establish in the country as comprehensive follow up entomological surveillance could not reproduce the findings. Although Zika was not detected in Iran, considering the expansion in tourism, travel and trade to and from Zika infected and Aedes infested countries, suitable climate and favorable prediction for establishment of Aedes vectors, Iran may well be at risk of invasion of Aedes vector species and the diseases they carry. Therefore, this review is of value particularly to health authorities in Iran and other WHO Eastern Mediterranean countries for sustained vigilance and preparedness for early detection and response, including vector control.

Spraying of canvas tents with residual pyrethroid insecticide is an established method of malaria vector control in tented refugee camps. In recent years, plastic sheeting (polythene tarpaulins) has replaced canvas as the utilitarian shelter material for displaced populations in complex emergencies. Advances in technology enable polythene sheeting to be impregnated with pyrethroid during manufacture. The efficacy of such material against mosquitoes when erected as shelters under typical refugee camp conditions is unknown. Tests were undertaken with free-flying mosquitoes on entomological study platforms in an Afghan refugee camp to compare the insecticidal efficacy of plastic tarpaulin sprayed with deltamethrin on its inner surface (target dose 30 mg/m2), tarpaulin impregnated with deltamethrin (initially > or = 30 mg/m2) during manufacture, and a tent made from the factory impregnated tarpaulin material. Preliminary tests done in the laboratory with Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae) showed that 1-min exposure to factory-impregnated tarpaulins would give 100% mortality even after outdoor weathering in a temperate climate for 12 weeks. Outdoor platform tests with the erected materials (baited with human subjects) produced mosquito mortality rates between 86-100% for sprayed or factory-impregnated tarpaulins and tents (average approximately 40 anophelines and approximately 200 culicines/per platform/night), whereas control mortality (with untreated tarpaulin) was no more than 5%. Fewer than 20% of mosquitoes blood-fed on human subjects under either insecticide-treated or non-treated shelters. The tarpaulin shelter was a poor barrier to host-seeking mosquitoes and treatment with insecticide did not reduce the proportion blood-feeding. Even so, the deployment of insecticide-impregnated tarpaulins in refugee camps, if used by the majority of refugees, has the potential to control malaria by killing high proportions of mosquitoes and so reducing the average life expectancy of vectors (greatly reducing vectorial capacity), rather than by directly protecting refugees from mosquito bites. Mass coverage with deltamethrin-sprayed or impregnated tarpaulins or tents has strong potential for preventing malaria in displaced populations affected by conflict.

Because pyrethroid, organophosphate, and carbamate resistance is more and more developed in mosquitoes of medical importance, there is an urgent need for alternative insecticides for vector control. Dinotefuran, a new neonicotinoid insecticide commercialized by Mitsui Chemicals (Tokyo, Japan), could be a useful candidate in public health because it shows low mammalian toxicity and great insecticidal activity against a broad range of pests. In this study, the intrinsic toxicity of dinotefuran was evaluated by larval bioassay and topical application against different mosquito strains of Anopheles gambiae Giles, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Aedes aegypti L. having none, one, or several resistance mechanisms, respectively, to insecticides. The results showed that dinotefuran was less toxic than most of the commonly used insecticides (e.g., deltamethrin, carbosulfan, and temephos) against the susceptible mosquitoes tested (between 6- and 100-fold at the LD50 level). However, the toxicity of dinotefuran was not strongly affected by the presence of common resistance mechanism, i.e., kdr mutation and insensitive acetylcholinesterase (resistance ratio [RR] from 1.3 to 2.3). More interestingly, the carbamate-resistant strain of Cx. quinquefasciatus was significantly more affected by dinotefuran than the susceptible strain (RR = 0.70), probably because the insensitive acetylcholinesterase is less efficient to degrade nicotinic substrates than normal acetylcholinesterase. Despite the relatively low toxicity of dinotefuran against susceptible mosquitoes, the absence of cross-resistance with common insecticides (pyrethroids, carbamates, and organophosphates) makes neonicotinoids potential candidates for disease vector control, especially in area where mosquitoes are resistant to insecticides.

Bifenthrin, a pyrethroid insecticide already used in agriculture was evaluated in laboratory conditions against susceptible and pyrethroid resistant mosquitoes, as a potential insecticide for treatment of mosquito nets. Two laboratory strains of Anopheles gambiae s.s. Giles, the major malaria vector in Africa, and two of Culex quinquefasciatus Say, a major pest mosquito in urban areas, were used. Compared with other pyrethroids such as permethrin and deltamethrin, the intrinsic toxicity of bifenthrin, measured by topical application with susceptible strains, was intermediate. By forced tarsal contact on filter papers (cylinder tests) or on netting materials (cone tests), bifenthrin was found slightly more effective against A. gambiae than against C. quinquefasciatus, in terms of mortality and knock-down effect. With free flying mosquitoes (tunnel tests), bifenthrin was very efficient in killing mosquitoes and inhibiting blood feeding. Against the two pyrethroid resistant strains, bifenthrin was relatively efficient against A. gambiae but the impact of resistance was greater with C. quinquefasciatus. In tunnel tests, blood feeding remained almost entirely inhibited with the two species despite resistance. The high mortality of susceptible mosquitoes and excellent blood feeding inhibition of susceptible and resistant strains makes bifenthrin a good candidate for treatment of netting materials, particularly in areas where C. quinquefasciatus, the main nuisance in urban areas, is resistant to pyrethroids. The slower knock-down and lower irritant effect also makes this insecticide especially attractive when a mass killing effect on mosquito populations is expected.

The use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) for personal protection against malaria vector Anopheles mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) has become popular during the past decade. With the precautions outlined in this paper, field use of pyrethroids--at concentrations recommended for treatment of mosquito nets--poses little or no hazard to people treating the nets or to users of the treated nets. With frequent exposure to low concentrations of pyrethroids, the risk of toxicity of any kind is remote. Pyrethroids entering the systemic circulation are rapidly metabolized to much less toxic metabolites. Toxicologically, pyrethroids have a useful characteristic--the production of skin paraesthesia--which gives an early indication of exposure. This reversible symptom of exposure is due to transient stimulation of peripheral sensory nerves and not a toxic effect. In the retail market, for home use, the provision of proper packaging and labelling, with clear instructions on safe and effective use of the product are most important. Because many domestic users of pyrethroid 'home treatment kits' for ITNs may not be fully literate, it is essential that 'instructions for use' should be portrayed via pictograms with supporting text in appropriate local language(s).

Pyrethroid resistant mosquitoes are becoming increasingly common in parts of Africa. It is important to identify alternative insecticides which, if necessary, could be used to replace or supplement the pyrethroids for use on treated nets. Certain compounds of an earlier generation of insecticides, the organophosphates may have potential as net treatments. Comparative studies of chlorpyrifos-methyl (CM), an organophosphate with low mammalian toxicity, and lambdacyhalothrin (L), a pyrethroid, were conducted in experimental huts in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa. Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes from the area are resistant to pyrethroids and organophosphates (kdr and insensitive acetylcholinesterase Ace.1 R ). Several treatments and application rates on intact or holed nets were evaluated, including single treatments, mixtures, and differential wall/ceiling treatments. All of the treatments were effective in reducing blood feeding from sleepers under the nets and in killing both species of mosquito, despite the presence of the kdr and Ace.1 R genes at high frequency. In most cases, the effects of the various treatments did not differ significantly. Five washes of the nets in soap solution did not reduce the impact of the insecticides on A. gambiae mortality, but did lead to an increase in blood feeding. The three combinations performed no differently from the single insecticide treatments, but the low dose mixture performed encouragingly well indicating that such combinations might be used for controlling insecticide resistant mosquitoes. Mortality of mosquitoes that carried both Ace.1 R and Ace.1 S genes did not differ significantly from mosquitoes that carried only Ace.1 S genes on any of the treated nets, indicating that the Ace.1 R allele does not confer effective resistance to chlorpyrifos-methyl under the realistic conditions of an experimental hut.