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Olfaction and visual play are an important role in many insect behaviors, including host-seeking behavior, and blood-feeding. Identification of molecular mechanism of these kinds of behaviors is a crucial issue that should be considered to find new methods in controlling vector-born diseases. Previous studies on arrestin 1 from Anopheles gambiae (main malaria vector in Iran, Indian subcontinent and China) have shown that this gene plays a prominent role in the visual process of this mosquito. Despite its importance, this gene and its protein have not yet been identified and characterized in Anopheles stephensi (main malaria vector in Iran, Indian subcontinent and China). In this study, we used Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) technique to identify total cDNA of this gene, applied real time PCR to evaluate expression level of this gene in different stages of mosquito development, and characterized it using bioinformatics tools. The result showed that arrestin 1 from Anopheles stephensi (arr1As) gene and its protein are remarkably similar to that of the arrestin 1 gene from Anopheles gambiae (arr1Ag) and is expressed during all stages of mosquito development in Anopheles stephensi except for the embryo stage. Although it needs to further test the determining function of arrestin 1, based on the similarity of sequences (cDNA and amino acid) and expression pattern of this gene between Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles gambiae, it seems that it has the same function in Anopheles stephensi.

Malaria is still a serious disease, killing hundreds of thousands of people every year. Previous studies on the Aminopeptidase N1 (APN1) protein from Anopheles gambiae (the main malaria vector in Africa) revealed that it is a receptor for sexual stage of Plasmodium falciparum in midgut of this mosquito and can be inhibited by polyclonal antibodies, producing against the N-terminal of this protein. Despite its importance this gene and its protein have not yet been characterized in Anopheles stephensi (the main malaria vector in Eastern Mediterranean Regions and Indochina). In this paper, total cDNA of APN1 from Anopheles stephensi (APN1As) was identified by using Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE), real-time PCR was applied to evaluate amount of mRNA level after blood-feeding, and several bioinformatics tools were used for more characterization of identified sequences. Result showed that this protein has highly similarity that of aminopeptidase N1 from Anopheles gambiae , especially in N-terminal part of this protein. Also, expression level of this gene significantly increases after blood-feeding. Therefore, as this gene and its protein have high similarity that APN1Ag, if biological tests confirm, it could be a candidate for transmission blocking vaccines in malaria endemic countries.

We report a case of urinary myiasis occurring in a 60-yr-old Iranian male patient with urinary tract problems and a history of travel to Thailand who was referred to Shafagh Medical Laboratory in Tehran (Iran). Larvae excreted in the patient's urine were confirmed by morphological identification key and DNA barcoding to belong to the species Megaselia scalaris Loew, which is known as the scuttle fly. Based on the patient's history, he was infected with M. scalaris in Thailand. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of urinary myiasis caused by M. scalaris in Thailand.

The current study aimed to provide further evidence on the status of species composition, insecticide resistance, and vectorial capacity within the members of Anopheles (Anopheles) Hyrcanus Group in Ardebil, Giulan, and Khuzestan provinces of Iran. Sequencing the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of ribosomal DNA gene led to identification of two members of Hyrcanus complex: Anopheles hyrcanus Pallas and a new species/form, hereafter called Anopheles hyrcanus sp(IR) as a world record. Furthermore, we identified and compared partial sequences of exons I and II and the whole intron I region of insecticide resistance-related voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene in populations of Hyrcanus Group and other main old world Anopheles species. The ITS2 and vgsc sequences in members of Hyrcanus Group and other Anopheles species were used for construction of phylogenetic tree, which demonstrated the evolutionary relatedness among Western and Eastern Palearctic taxa within the Hyrcanus Group. A nested polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of Plasmodium species revealed the infection of Plasmodium falciparum within An. hyrcanus collected from Fooman district in Guilan province. The data from this study led to the introduction of a new member/form within the Hyrcanus Group, identification and definition of the status of knockdown resistance related to pyrethroids and DDT in their vgsc gene, detection of Plasmodium infection, and further evidence on genetic relatedness within these taxa. The overall results may suggest reconsidering the role ofAn. hyrcanus in malaria transmission, which would be useful for implementation and evaluation of malaria control programs in Western Palearctic region.

Eimeria species from poultry breeder farms without previous exposure to anticoccidial vaccines in five distinct geographical regions of Iran were examined for genetic relatedness by the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay. Eight different oligonucleotide decamers with arbitrary DNA sequences were tested as primers to amplify DNA from five isolates of each E. acervulina, E. tenella, and E. maxima. Depending on the species/isolate-primer combination, between 1 and 14 DNA fragments ranging in size from 240 to 3000 bp were amplified. The two isolates originated from Northeast and North parts of Iran showed minor differences and two isolates originated from Northeast and Southwest of Iran showed major differences in their amplified DNA patterns. The intra-specific similarity coefficient within five isolates of each species of, E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. maxima was 74, 82 and 72%, respectively. The distance indices observed between species were greater than those found between isolates (80-90%) with all examined primers. The inferred phylogenetic tree on the fingerprinting of all species revealed that the RAPD-PCR can easily differentiate within and between species and could be a useful and valuable tool in future epidemiological studies, designing and developing of vaccines against avian coccidosis, here in Iran and neighboring countries.

Anopheles (Cellia) stephensi Liston 1901 is known as an Asian malaria vector. Three biological forms, namely "mysorensis", "intermediate", and "type" have been earlier reported in this species. Nevertheless, the present morphological and molecular information is insufficient to diagnose these forms. During this investigation, An. stephensi biological forms were morphologically identified and sequenced for odorant-binding protein 1 (Obp1) gene. Also, intron I sequences were used to construct phylogenetic trees. Despite nucleotide sequence variation in exon of AsteObp1, nearly 100% identity was observed at the amino acid level among the three biological forms. In order to overcome difficulties in using egg morphology characters, intron I sequences of An. stephensi Obp1 opens new molecular way to the identification of the main Asian malaria vector biological forms. However, multidisciplinary studies are needed to establish the taxonomic status of An. stephensi.

This study compared basic microscopy with molecular detection of Plasmodium species. According to thick-film microscopy, 100% of 142 malaria cases in Pars-Abad, Ardebil province, were infected with a single species, P vivax. However, nested polymerase chain reaction [PCR] detected mixed species infections of both P. vivax and P. falciparum in 7.0%. In Maz and eran province, 2/20 blood films were diagnosed with only P. falciparum and 18/20 with only P. vivax. However, nested PCR detected 17/20, 2/20 and 1/20 with P. vivax only, P. falciparum only and mixed species respectively. The unexpected presence of P. falciparum urges prompt investigation and immediate treatment of malaria cases in this region

International audience; Malaria is a serious vector-borne infectious disease in Iran and Anopheles stephensi has long been suspected as a main malaria vector. However, opinions about its vectorial capacity in supporting Plasmodium species and strains are not clear. This study investigates the susceptibility of an Asian main malaria vector, An. stephensi, to Plasmodium vivax isolates, collected from tropical region of Iran. P. vivax gametocytes which used in ex vivo assay to An. stephensi infection were genotyped by using PCR-RFLP and sequencing. A 650-bp fragment was amplified from patients, followed by RFLP analysis using Alu I restriction enzyme determined the presence of P. vivax VK210 variants. Sequence analysis also showed 100% similarity with the previously reported VK210 sequences of haplotype B from Iran. This is the first study that reports An. stephensi mysorensis is susceptible to P. vivax VK210 haplotype, VK210B. This finding help in useful in better understanding the composition and interaction of Anopheles-Plasmodium and its implication in targeting the main malaria vector for control and elimination programs in Eastern Mediterranean region.