Mohammad Abai - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Mohammad Abai

Research paper thumbnail of Ecology of malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies in a malarious area of Sistan va Baluchestan province, south-east Islamic Republic of Iran

Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de santé de la Méditerranée orientale = al-Majallah al-ṣiḥḥīyah li-sharq al-mutawassiṭ, 2011

A study was done of the bionomics, insecticide susceptibility and irritability status of Anophele... more A study was done of the bionomics, insecticide susceptibility and irritability status of Anopheles culicifacies in Sistan va Baluchestan province. Sampling was performed to determine the following parameters: species identification, seasonal activity, adult and larval susceptibility tests, irritability tests, anthropophily index and sporozoite rate. An. culicfacies adults were susceptible to all tested pyrethroid insecticides. An. culicfacies started to appear indoors in late May, showing 2 peaks in June and September. Fenitrothion, cyfluthrin and permethrin had the least irritancy effect and DDT the highest. Only 2/860 females tested were infected with Plasmodium spp. (sporozoite rate: 0.25%). ELISA testing of 250 blood meals derived from night-biting collections of female mosquitoes from humans and cows revealed that only 12.5% were human-fed.

Research paper thumbnail of Preferential feeding success of laboratory reared Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes according to ABO blood group status

Acta Tropica, 2014

Recent epidemiological evidences revealed a higher rate of O blood group in the residents of mala... more Recent epidemiological evidences revealed a higher rate of O blood group in the residents of malaria-endemic areas suggesting that groups A, B, and AB associated with a higher disease severity and fatality. Also recent data showed the low prevalence of AB group within the malaria-endemic residents in south of Iran and India. The aim of this study was to determine the ABO blood groups preference of Anopheles stephensi which is the main malaria vector in Iran, southwest Asia, and India. An. stephensi mosquitoes were fed either artificially on A/B/O/AB membrane blood feeders or directly on human volunteer hands and forearms of A/B/O/AB groups in a cage under lab conditions. Phenotype and genotype analyzes of 450-blood-fed mosquito specimens using agglutination and multiplex-allele-specific PCR revealed a significant blood preference of An. stephensi to AB group (40%) than other groups of A (24%), B (21%), and O (15%) in combination of both experiments. High preference of An. stephensi to AB group might increase malaria infection and fatality in this blood group and resulted in low frequency of AB group in the residents of malaria endemic areas. The data suggested that malaria vectors, like parasites may have selection pressure on human genotypes.

Research paper thumbnail of Anopheles Peditaeniatus (Leicester) New to the Iranian Mosquito Fauna with Notes on Anopheles Hyrcanus Group in Iran

Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 2006

Anopheles peditaeniatus is reported for the first time in Iran. Species of the Hyrcanus Group pre... more Anopheles peditaeniatus is reported for the first time in Iran. Species of the Hyrcanus Group previously reported in Iran, including An. hyrcanus, An. pseudopictus, and An. nigerrimus, are reviewed.

Research paper thumbnail of MtDNA CytB Structure of Rhombomys opimus (Rodentia: Gerbellidae), the Main Reservoir of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Borderline of Iran-Turkmenistan

Journal of arthropod-borne diseases, 2013

Great gerbils, Rhombomys opimus, are the main reservoir host of zoonootic cutaneous leishmaniasis... more Great gerbils, Rhombomys opimus, are the main reservoir host of zoonootic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran and neighboring countries. Based on morphological traits two subspecies R. opimus sodalis and R. opimus sargadensis have reported in the country. However, variation in infection rate and signs to Leishmania parasites, phenotype, size, and sexual polymorphisms demand more details to elucidate clearly the role of great gerbils in ZCL epidemiology. PCR-RFLP and PCR-direct sequencing were used to analyze mitochondrial DNA cytochrome B (mtDNA-cytB) gene structure of R. opimus collected from Golestan and Khorasan-e-Razavi Provinces in 2011 that are neighbor to Turkmenistan Country where ZCL is endemic in both sides of the borderline. All of the specimens (n= 61) were morphologically or genetically similar to the typical R. opimus sodalis. However, there were 9 (1.5%) DNA substitutions throughout the 583 bp of the Cyt b gene of the samples sequenced comprising six DNA haplotypes....

Research paper thumbnail of Lectin Activity in Gut Extract of Culex pipiens

Journal of arthropod-borne diseases, 2013

The role of lectins is important in interaction between pathogens and mosquito vectors. This stud... more The role of lectins is important in interaction between pathogens and mosquito vectors. This study was performed to identify agglutinin activities of protein molecules on the midgut of Culex pipiens. Culex pipiens was reared in insectray condition and the midguts of males and females (blood fed and unfed) were dissected separately in Tris-HCl buffer. The extracts of midguts were applied for hemagglutinin assay against red blood cells of rabbit, mouse, rat, dog, horse, sheep, guinea pig, cow, human (A, B, AB, O groups). Then, the RBCs with relatively high agglutinin activity were chosen for carbohydrate inhibition assay. D (+) glucose, D (+) galactose, D (+) mannose, D (-) fructose, D (-) arabinose, L (-) fucose, lactose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, sialic acid were used to specify carbohydrate binding lectin. The highest agglutinin activities were found against sheep and rabbits RBCs. Sexual diversity of agglutinin activities was observed among midgut extractio...

Research paper thumbnail of Larvicidal activity of marine algae, Sargassum swartzii and Chondria dasyphylla, against malaria vector Anopheles stephensi

Journal of vector borne diseases, 2011

The objective of this study was to evaluate larvicidal activity of native marine algae against ma... more The objective of this study was to evaluate larvicidal activity of native marine algae against main malaria vector Anopheles stephensi. The total 70% methanol (MeOH) extract and partition fractions of chloroform (CHCl3), ethylacetate (EtOAc), and MeOH from two algae, Sargassum swartzii and Chondria dasyphylla were investigated for larvicidal activities against late III and early IV instar larvae of malaria vector An. stephensi. Among all the fractions tested against larvae, EtOAc fraction of S. swartzii and C. dasyphylla, showed mortality rate of 96 and 95%, respectively. Probit analysis of logarithmic concentration from regression line exhibited the LC50 and LC90 values of 11.75 and 53.47 ppm respectively for S. swartzii and 10.62 and 56.39 ppm respectively for C. dasyphylla. This is the first report of larvicidal activities of two native algae against An. stephensi. We propose that the larvicidal activity of EtOAc fraction is related to the presence of semi- polar compounds. Furth...

Research paper thumbnail of Ecology of malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies in a malarious area of Sistan va Baluchestan province, south-east Islamic Republic of Iran

Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de santé de la Méditerranée orientale = al-Majallah al-ṣiḥḥīyah li-sharq al-mutawassiṭ, 2011

A study was done of the bionomics, insecticide susceptibility and irritability status of Anophele... more A study was done of the bionomics, insecticide susceptibility and irritability status of Anopheles culicifacies in Sistan va Baluchestan province. Sampling was performed to determine the following parameters: species identification, seasonal activity, adult and larval susceptibility tests, irritability tests, anthropophily index and sporozoite rate. An. culicfacies adults were susceptible to all tested pyrethroid insecticides. An. culicfacies started to appear indoors in late May, showing 2 peaks in June and September. Fenitrothion, cyfluthrin and permethrin had the least irritancy effect and DDT the highest. Only 2/860 females tested were infected with Plasmodium spp. (sporozoite rate: 0.25%). ELISA testing of 250 blood meals derived from night-biting collections of female mosquitoes from humans and cows revealed that only 12.5% were human-fed.

Research paper thumbnail of Mosquito genomics. Highly evolvable malaria vectors: the genomes of 16 Anopheles mosquitoes

Science (New York, N.Y.), Jan 2, 2015

Variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among Anopheles mosquito species is determined ... more Variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among Anopheles mosquito species is determined by many factors, including behavior, immunity, and life history. To investigate the genomic basis of vectorial capacity and explore new avenues for vector control, we sequenced the genomes of 16 anopheline mosquito species from diverse locations spanning ~100 million years of evolution. Comparative analyses show faster rates of gene gain and loss, elevated gene shuffling on the X chromosome, and more intron losses, relative to Drosophila. Some determinants of vectorial capacity, such as chemosensory genes, do not show elevated turnover but instead diversify through protein-sequence changes. This dynamism of anopheline genes and genomes may contribute to their flexible capacity to take advantage of new ecological niches, including adapting to humans as primary hosts.

Research paper thumbnail of Preferential feeding success of laboratory reared Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes according to ABO blood group status

Acta Tropica, 2014

Recent epidemiological evidences revealed a higher rate of O blood group in the residents of mala... more Recent epidemiological evidences revealed a higher rate of O blood group in the residents of malaria-endemic areas suggesting that groups A, B, and AB associated with a higher disease severity and fatality. Also recent data showed the low prevalence of AB group within the malaria-endemic residents in south of Iran and India. The aim of this study was to determine the ABO blood groups preference of Anopheles stephensi which is the main malaria vector in Iran, southwest Asia, and India. An. stephensi mosquitoes were fed either artificially on A/B/O/AB membrane blood feeders or directly on human volunteer hands and forearms of A/B/O/AB groups in a cage under lab conditions. Phenotype and genotype analyzes of 450-blood-fed mosquito specimens using agglutination and multiplex-allele-specific PCR revealed a significant blood preference of An. stephensi to AB group (40%) than other groups of A (24%), B (21%), and O (15%) in combination of both experiments. High preference of An. stephensi to AB group might increase malaria infection and fatality in this blood group and resulted in low frequency of AB group in the residents of malaria endemic areas. The data suggested that malaria vectors, like parasites may have selection pressure on human genotypes.

Research paper thumbnail of Geographical distribution and ecological features of the great gerbil subspecies in the main zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci in Iran

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2010

ObjectiveTo reveal subspecies composition of Rhombomy opimus (R. opimus) in Iran.

Research paper thumbnail of ANOPHELES PEDITAENIATUS (LEICESTER) NEW TO THE IRANIAN MOSQUITO FAUNA WITH NOTES ON ANOPHELES HYRCANUS GROUP IN IRAN

Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 2006

Anopheles peditaeniatus is reported for the first time in Iran. Species of the Hyrcanus Group pre... more Anopheles peditaeniatus is reported for the first time in Iran. Species of the Hyrcanus Group previously reported in Iran, including An. hyrcanus, An. pseudopictus, and An. nigerrimus, are reviewed.

Research paper thumbnail of Interleukin 4 (IL-4) gene promoter polymorphisms in Rhombomys opimus, the main reservoir of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cytokine, 2014

Great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) are the most common gerbils in center to northeast of Iran as we... more Great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) are the most common gerbils in center to northeast of Iran as well as central Asia and serve as reservoirs for the zoonotic agents, including Leishmania major, the principal etiologic agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). The outcome of L. major infection in gerbils is not uniform. Among several immune-related factors including cytokine genes, the polymorphism in interleukin 4 (IL-4) promoter gene showed a great impact on outcome and pathological symptoms of L. major infection at least in mouse model. In this study gerbils' IL-4 promoter gene polymorphism is assessed. Specific primers were designed to develop a PCR-based assay to amplify IL-4 promoter gene to possibly define IL-4 promoter gene polymorphism in great gerbil populations with a range of Leishmania infection and symptoms collected from different foci of the central, north and northeast regions of Iran. The results showed that the designed primers amplify 689bp of the promoter gene. Sequence analysis of the promoter gene revealed five polymorphic sites assembly six haplotypes among the gerbil populations. Further studies are needed to assess whether or not the five polymorphisms cause different outcome phenotypes following infection with L. major in great gerbils. The data might be used to characterize the immune responses of R. opimus against L. major infection.

Research paper thumbnail of Mitochondrial DNA diversity in the populations of great gerbils, Rhombomys opimus, the main reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Acta Tropica, 2011

Accurate identification of animal reservoirs of transmissible diseases is an absolute requirement... more Accurate identification of animal reservoirs of transmissible diseases is an absolute requirement to any epidemiological survey of zoonoses and is essential for predicting species-specific population outbreaks and therefore to develop accurate ecological control strategies. The systematic status of the great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) remains unclear, despite the fundamental role of these rodents as the main known reservoir hosts of the protozoan parasite Leishmania major in the epidemiology of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in central and south Asia. In the present work, we represent molecular evidence supporting the identification of at least two major lineages (subspecies) within the species of R. opimus in Iran. Analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene, revealed a range of 1-10% genetic variation among populations, which were well associated with biogeographic origins and subspecies. Results of laboratory cross hybridization between the subspecies and finding sympatric haplotypes of the two subspecies suggested that no pre-or post-zygotic barriers exist between the subspecies indicating that they still belong to a single taxon. However, the amount of genetic variations between populations/subspecies is high enough to lead them to speciation in future. Implications of such findings on the eco-epidemiology of ZCL in Iran are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of International Journal of Acarology Field efficacy of flumethrin pour-on against livestock ticks in Iran

Ticks play an important role in the transmission of a variety of diseases in Iran. High prevalenc... more Ticks play an important role in the transmission of a variety of diseases in Iran. High prevalence of tick-borne diseases,
such as relapsing fever and Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), has been reported in the study area. The aim of
this study was to determine the field efficacy of flumethrin on mortality and deterrence of ticks on tick-infested livestock in
Meshkin Shahr, Iran. Flumethrin was applied to the back of livestock at the rate of 1 ml/10 kg body weight and tick density
was recorded for up to 2 months after application. The deterrent effect of flumethrin was also assessed on cattle sheltered in
the same barn. A total of 3144 hard and soft ticks were collected from 300 cattle and 10% of them were identified. The main
hard ticks include Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Hyalomma detritum and the
soft ticks comprise Ornithodoros lahorensis and Argas persicus. The treatment with flumethrin pour-on provided complete
protection for 2 months. The density of ticks per head of cattle in the control group has not significantly decreased during
the study period. This method of application is useful for livestock owners; government staff are not required for application
and only community education and participation are needed. This pesticide’s efficacy will reduce tick-borne diseases such as
relapsing fever and Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever.

Research paper thumbnail of Ecology of malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies in a malarious area of Sistan va Baluchestan province, south-east Islamic Republic of Iran

Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de santé de la Méditerranée orientale = al-Majallah al-ṣiḥḥīyah li-sharq al-mutawassiṭ, 2011

A study was done of the bionomics, insecticide susceptibility and irritability status of Anophele... more A study was done of the bionomics, insecticide susceptibility and irritability status of Anopheles culicifacies in Sistan va Baluchestan province. Sampling was performed to determine the following parameters: species identification, seasonal activity, adult and larval susceptibility tests, irritability tests, anthropophily index and sporozoite rate. An. culicfacies adults were susceptible to all tested pyrethroid insecticides. An. culicfacies started to appear indoors in late May, showing 2 peaks in June and September. Fenitrothion, cyfluthrin and permethrin had the least irritancy effect and DDT the highest. Only 2/860 females tested were infected with Plasmodium spp. (sporozoite rate: 0.25%). ELISA testing of 250 blood meals derived from night-biting collections of female mosquitoes from humans and cows revealed that only 12.5% were human-fed.

Research paper thumbnail of Preferential feeding success of laboratory reared Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes according to ABO blood group status

Acta Tropica, 2014

Recent epidemiological evidences revealed a higher rate of O blood group in the residents of mala... more Recent epidemiological evidences revealed a higher rate of O blood group in the residents of malaria-endemic areas suggesting that groups A, B, and AB associated with a higher disease severity and fatality. Also recent data showed the low prevalence of AB group within the malaria-endemic residents in south of Iran and India. The aim of this study was to determine the ABO blood groups preference of Anopheles stephensi which is the main malaria vector in Iran, southwest Asia, and India. An. stephensi mosquitoes were fed either artificially on A/B/O/AB membrane blood feeders or directly on human volunteer hands and forearms of A/B/O/AB groups in a cage under lab conditions. Phenotype and genotype analyzes of 450-blood-fed mosquito specimens using agglutination and multiplex-allele-specific PCR revealed a significant blood preference of An. stephensi to AB group (40%) than other groups of A (24%), B (21%), and O (15%) in combination of both experiments. High preference of An. stephensi to AB group might increase malaria infection and fatality in this blood group and resulted in low frequency of AB group in the residents of malaria endemic areas. The data suggested that malaria vectors, like parasites may have selection pressure on human genotypes.

Research paper thumbnail of Anopheles Peditaeniatus (Leicester) New to the Iranian Mosquito Fauna with Notes on Anopheles Hyrcanus Group in Iran

Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 2006

Anopheles peditaeniatus is reported for the first time in Iran. Species of the Hyrcanus Group pre... more Anopheles peditaeniatus is reported for the first time in Iran. Species of the Hyrcanus Group previously reported in Iran, including An. hyrcanus, An. pseudopictus, and An. nigerrimus, are reviewed.

Research paper thumbnail of MtDNA CytB Structure of Rhombomys opimus (Rodentia: Gerbellidae), the Main Reservoir of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Borderline of Iran-Turkmenistan

Journal of arthropod-borne diseases, 2013

Great gerbils, Rhombomys opimus, are the main reservoir host of zoonootic cutaneous leishmaniasis... more Great gerbils, Rhombomys opimus, are the main reservoir host of zoonootic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran and neighboring countries. Based on morphological traits two subspecies R. opimus sodalis and R. opimus sargadensis have reported in the country. However, variation in infection rate and signs to Leishmania parasites, phenotype, size, and sexual polymorphisms demand more details to elucidate clearly the role of great gerbils in ZCL epidemiology. PCR-RFLP and PCR-direct sequencing were used to analyze mitochondrial DNA cytochrome B (mtDNA-cytB) gene structure of R. opimus collected from Golestan and Khorasan-e-Razavi Provinces in 2011 that are neighbor to Turkmenistan Country where ZCL is endemic in both sides of the borderline. All of the specimens (n= 61) were morphologically or genetically similar to the typical R. opimus sodalis. However, there were 9 (1.5%) DNA substitutions throughout the 583 bp of the Cyt b gene of the samples sequenced comprising six DNA haplotypes....

Research paper thumbnail of Lectin Activity in Gut Extract of Culex pipiens

Journal of arthropod-borne diseases, 2013

The role of lectins is important in interaction between pathogens and mosquito vectors. This stud... more The role of lectins is important in interaction between pathogens and mosquito vectors. This study was performed to identify agglutinin activities of protein molecules on the midgut of Culex pipiens. Culex pipiens was reared in insectray condition and the midguts of males and females (blood fed and unfed) were dissected separately in Tris-HCl buffer. The extracts of midguts were applied for hemagglutinin assay against red blood cells of rabbit, mouse, rat, dog, horse, sheep, guinea pig, cow, human (A, B, AB, O groups). Then, the RBCs with relatively high agglutinin activity were chosen for carbohydrate inhibition assay. D (+) glucose, D (+) galactose, D (+) mannose, D (-) fructose, D (-) arabinose, L (-) fucose, lactose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, sialic acid were used to specify carbohydrate binding lectin. The highest agglutinin activities were found against sheep and rabbits RBCs. Sexual diversity of agglutinin activities was observed among midgut extractio...

Research paper thumbnail of Larvicidal activity of marine algae, Sargassum swartzii and Chondria dasyphylla, against malaria vector Anopheles stephensi

Journal of vector borne diseases, 2011

The objective of this study was to evaluate larvicidal activity of native marine algae against ma... more The objective of this study was to evaluate larvicidal activity of native marine algae against main malaria vector Anopheles stephensi. The total 70% methanol (MeOH) extract and partition fractions of chloroform (CHCl3), ethylacetate (EtOAc), and MeOH from two algae, Sargassum swartzii and Chondria dasyphylla were investigated for larvicidal activities against late III and early IV instar larvae of malaria vector An. stephensi. Among all the fractions tested against larvae, EtOAc fraction of S. swartzii and C. dasyphylla, showed mortality rate of 96 and 95%, respectively. Probit analysis of logarithmic concentration from regression line exhibited the LC50 and LC90 values of 11.75 and 53.47 ppm respectively for S. swartzii and 10.62 and 56.39 ppm respectively for C. dasyphylla. This is the first report of larvicidal activities of two native algae against An. stephensi. We propose that the larvicidal activity of EtOAc fraction is related to the presence of semi- polar compounds. Furth...

Research paper thumbnail of Ecology of malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies in a malarious area of Sistan va Baluchestan province, south-east Islamic Republic of Iran

Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de santé de la Méditerranée orientale = al-Majallah al-ṣiḥḥīyah li-sharq al-mutawassiṭ, 2011

A study was done of the bionomics, insecticide susceptibility and irritability status of Anophele... more A study was done of the bionomics, insecticide susceptibility and irritability status of Anopheles culicifacies in Sistan va Baluchestan province. Sampling was performed to determine the following parameters: species identification, seasonal activity, adult and larval susceptibility tests, irritability tests, anthropophily index and sporozoite rate. An. culicfacies adults were susceptible to all tested pyrethroid insecticides. An. culicfacies started to appear indoors in late May, showing 2 peaks in June and September. Fenitrothion, cyfluthrin and permethrin had the least irritancy effect and DDT the highest. Only 2/860 females tested were infected with Plasmodium spp. (sporozoite rate: 0.25%). ELISA testing of 250 blood meals derived from night-biting collections of female mosquitoes from humans and cows revealed that only 12.5% were human-fed.

Research paper thumbnail of Mosquito genomics. Highly evolvable malaria vectors: the genomes of 16 Anopheles mosquitoes

Science (New York, N.Y.), Jan 2, 2015

Variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among Anopheles mosquito species is determined ... more Variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among Anopheles mosquito species is determined by many factors, including behavior, immunity, and life history. To investigate the genomic basis of vectorial capacity and explore new avenues for vector control, we sequenced the genomes of 16 anopheline mosquito species from diverse locations spanning ~100 million years of evolution. Comparative analyses show faster rates of gene gain and loss, elevated gene shuffling on the X chromosome, and more intron losses, relative to Drosophila. Some determinants of vectorial capacity, such as chemosensory genes, do not show elevated turnover but instead diversify through protein-sequence changes. This dynamism of anopheline genes and genomes may contribute to their flexible capacity to take advantage of new ecological niches, including adapting to humans as primary hosts.

Research paper thumbnail of Preferential feeding success of laboratory reared Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes according to ABO blood group status

Acta Tropica, 2014

Recent epidemiological evidences revealed a higher rate of O blood group in the residents of mala... more Recent epidemiological evidences revealed a higher rate of O blood group in the residents of malaria-endemic areas suggesting that groups A, B, and AB associated with a higher disease severity and fatality. Also recent data showed the low prevalence of AB group within the malaria-endemic residents in south of Iran and India. The aim of this study was to determine the ABO blood groups preference of Anopheles stephensi which is the main malaria vector in Iran, southwest Asia, and India. An. stephensi mosquitoes were fed either artificially on A/B/O/AB membrane blood feeders or directly on human volunteer hands and forearms of A/B/O/AB groups in a cage under lab conditions. Phenotype and genotype analyzes of 450-blood-fed mosquito specimens using agglutination and multiplex-allele-specific PCR revealed a significant blood preference of An. stephensi to AB group (40%) than other groups of A (24%), B (21%), and O (15%) in combination of both experiments. High preference of An. stephensi to AB group might increase malaria infection and fatality in this blood group and resulted in low frequency of AB group in the residents of malaria endemic areas. The data suggested that malaria vectors, like parasites may have selection pressure on human genotypes.

Research paper thumbnail of Geographical distribution and ecological features of the great gerbil subspecies in the main zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci in Iran

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2010

ObjectiveTo reveal subspecies composition of Rhombomy opimus (R. opimus) in Iran.

Research paper thumbnail of ANOPHELES PEDITAENIATUS (LEICESTER) NEW TO THE IRANIAN MOSQUITO FAUNA WITH NOTES ON ANOPHELES HYRCANUS GROUP IN IRAN

Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 2006

Anopheles peditaeniatus is reported for the first time in Iran. Species of the Hyrcanus Group pre... more Anopheles peditaeniatus is reported for the first time in Iran. Species of the Hyrcanus Group previously reported in Iran, including An. hyrcanus, An. pseudopictus, and An. nigerrimus, are reviewed.

Research paper thumbnail of Interleukin 4 (IL-4) gene promoter polymorphisms in Rhombomys opimus, the main reservoir of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cytokine, 2014

Great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) are the most common gerbils in center to northeast of Iran as we... more Great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) are the most common gerbils in center to northeast of Iran as well as central Asia and serve as reservoirs for the zoonotic agents, including Leishmania major, the principal etiologic agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). The outcome of L. major infection in gerbils is not uniform. Among several immune-related factors including cytokine genes, the polymorphism in interleukin 4 (IL-4) promoter gene showed a great impact on outcome and pathological symptoms of L. major infection at least in mouse model. In this study gerbils' IL-4 promoter gene polymorphism is assessed. Specific primers were designed to develop a PCR-based assay to amplify IL-4 promoter gene to possibly define IL-4 promoter gene polymorphism in great gerbil populations with a range of Leishmania infection and symptoms collected from different foci of the central, north and northeast regions of Iran. The results showed that the designed primers amplify 689bp of the promoter gene. Sequence analysis of the promoter gene revealed five polymorphic sites assembly six haplotypes among the gerbil populations. Further studies are needed to assess whether or not the five polymorphisms cause different outcome phenotypes following infection with L. major in great gerbils. The data might be used to characterize the immune responses of R. opimus against L. major infection.

Research paper thumbnail of Mitochondrial DNA diversity in the populations of great gerbils, Rhombomys opimus, the main reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Acta Tropica, 2011

Accurate identification of animal reservoirs of transmissible diseases is an absolute requirement... more Accurate identification of animal reservoirs of transmissible diseases is an absolute requirement to any epidemiological survey of zoonoses and is essential for predicting species-specific population outbreaks and therefore to develop accurate ecological control strategies. The systematic status of the great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) remains unclear, despite the fundamental role of these rodents as the main known reservoir hosts of the protozoan parasite Leishmania major in the epidemiology of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in central and south Asia. In the present work, we represent molecular evidence supporting the identification of at least two major lineages (subspecies) within the species of R. opimus in Iran. Analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene, revealed a range of 1-10% genetic variation among populations, which were well associated with biogeographic origins and subspecies. Results of laboratory cross hybridization between the subspecies and finding sympatric haplotypes of the two subspecies suggested that no pre-or post-zygotic barriers exist between the subspecies indicating that they still belong to a single taxon. However, the amount of genetic variations between populations/subspecies is high enough to lead them to speciation in future. Implications of such findings on the eco-epidemiology of ZCL in Iran are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of International Journal of Acarology Field efficacy of flumethrin pour-on against livestock ticks in Iran

Ticks play an important role in the transmission of a variety of diseases in Iran. High prevalenc... more Ticks play an important role in the transmission of a variety of diseases in Iran. High prevalence of tick-borne diseases,
such as relapsing fever and Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), has been reported in the study area. The aim of
this study was to determine the field efficacy of flumethrin on mortality and deterrence of ticks on tick-infested livestock in
Meshkin Shahr, Iran. Flumethrin was applied to the back of livestock at the rate of 1 ml/10 kg body weight and tick density
was recorded for up to 2 months after application. The deterrent effect of flumethrin was also assessed on cattle sheltered in
the same barn. A total of 3144 hard and soft ticks were collected from 300 cattle and 10% of them were identified. The main
hard ticks include Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Hyalomma detritum and the
soft ticks comprise Ornithodoros lahorensis and Argas persicus. The treatment with flumethrin pour-on provided complete
protection for 2 months. The density of ticks per head of cattle in the control group has not significantly decreased during
the study period. This method of application is useful for livestock owners; government staff are not required for application
and only community education and participation are needed. This pesticide’s efficacy will reduce tick-borne diseases such as
relapsing fever and Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever.