Crimean—Congo hemorrhagic fever:a molecular survey on hard ticks(Ixodidae) in Yazd province,Iran

Objective:To determine the rate of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus(CCHFV) infection in hard ticks(Ixodidae) in Yazd province of Iran.Methods:A molecular survey on hard ticks (Ixodidae) was conducted in Yazd province during 2008 -2009.A total of 140 hard ticks(three genera and 7 species) were collected from randomly selected villages and were exanimate for presence of CCHFV reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) method.Results: CCHFV genome was found in 5.71%of hard ticks.All positive ticks were from Hyalomma genus. Positive ticks including:Hyalomma dromedarii,Hyalomma marginatum,Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma detritum,Hyalomma asiaticum.We were not able to find virus in in Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Dermacentor marginatus.Results exhibited that Hyalomma is the main vector in the study area.Conclusions:Due to the presence of virus in 24 provinces’ out of 31,we recommend the use of acaricides and repellent to prevent disease transmission among humans. Greta care should be taken by the people who are working in slaughter houses.

Evaluation of biological control agents for mosquitoes control in artificial breeding places

Objective:To evaluate the entomological impact of chlorpyrifos-methyl,Bacillus thuringiensis, and Gambusia affinis on mosquitoes control in artificial breeding places.Methods:A Latin square design with 4 replicates was performed in order to evaluate the efficacy of chlorpyrifosmethyl, Bacillus thuringiensis,and Gambusia affinis on larva.The larvicide was applied at the dosage of 100 mg a.h/ha,Bacillus thuringiensis at the recommended dosage and 10 fishes per m^2 were applied at 1×1 m^2 artificial breeding sites.The larval densities for both anopheline and culicine were counted according to larvae /10 dippers prior and 24 h after application.Results: All three control agents are effective for mosquito density reduction,and the difference between the three agents and the control is significant(P【0.05).There is also significant difference among chlorpyrifos-methyl,Bacillus thuringiensis and Gambusia affinis.Bacillus thuringiensis exhibited more reduction on mosquito larval density than fish and larvicide(P【0.05).Conclusions: Bacillus thuringiensis in comparison with two other agents is the appropriate method for larviciding in the breeding places.Although long term assessing for biological activities as well as monitoring and mapping of resistance is required.