Spatial Distribution of Medically Important Scorpions in North West of Iran

Mulood Mohammadi-Bavani; Javad Rafinejad; Ahmad Ali Hanafi-Bojd; Mohammad Ali Oshaghi; Shahrokh Navidpour; Farrokh Dabiri; Mehdi Badakhshan; Esmaeil Ghorbani; Masoomeh Bagheri

Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases (Oct 2017)

Spatial Distribution of Medically Important Scorpions in North West of Iran

Mulood Mohammadi-Bavani,
Javad Rafinejad,
Ahmad Ali Hanafi-Bojd,
Mohammad Ali Oshaghi,
Shahrokh Navidpour,
Farrokh Dabiri,
Mehdi Badakhshan,
Esmaeil Ghorbani,
Masoomeh Bagheri

Affiliations

Mulood Mohammadi-Bavani: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Javad Rafinejad: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ahmad Ali Hanafi-Bojd: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Ali Oshaghi: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shahrokh Navidpour: Razi Reference Laboratory of Scorpion Research, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran
Farrokh Dabiri: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Mehdi Badakhshan: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Esmaeil Ghorbani: Disease Control Unit, Sareyn Health Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Sareyn, Iran
Masoomeh Bagheri: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 3

Abstract

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Background: Scorpions are one of the most important medical arthropods in Iran. This study aimed to determine the fauna, spatial distribution and some morphological characteristics of these venomous arthropods in the study area. Methods: Scorpions were collected using Ultra Violet light, rock rolling and digging methods in West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, and Ardabil Provinces during 2015–2016. The specimens were preserved in 75% ethyl alcohol and transferred to the laboratory for species identification and morphological studies. Results: Distribution maps were produced using ArcGIS 10.3. Totally, 368 specimens from two families of Buthidae (97.1%) and Scorpionidae (2.99%) were collected and identified as Mesobuthus eupeus (80.16%), Androctonus crassicauda (10.60%), M. caucasicus (4.89%), Hottentotta saulcyi (1.35%) and Scorpio maurus (2.99%). Conclusion: The presence of medically important species, including the deadly black one in northwestern Iran requires health educational and control programs for reduction of these public health problems.

Published in Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases

ISSN: 2322-1984 (Print); 2322-2271 (Online)
Publisher: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Country of publisher: Iran, Islamic Republic of
LCC subjects: Medicine: Pathology
Website: http://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad

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Abstract

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