PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of medicinal maggots of Lucilia sericata on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The sample comprised 50 adult patients from the clinic of the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. All participants who had at least 1 DFU present for at least 12 weeks, an arterial brachial index value of more than 0.6, and a hemoglobin A1c value of less than 8% were included in this study. METHODS: Subjects were randomly selected for the maggot-treated (treatment) or conventional treatment (control) group. Conventional treatments such as antibiotic therapy, debridement, and offloading were done for both groups, but maggot therapy (MT) was added to the protocol of the treatment group. Bacterial burden was monitored and compared for both groups using cultures collected using swab technique. Wound secretions were measured and compared in both groups. RESULTS: The number of infected cases with S aureus in the treatment group was significantly reduced after 48 hours in comparison with the control group (P = .047). The number of infected cases with P aeruginosa was significantly reduced after 96 hours (P = .002). We also found that wound secretions in the treatment group were significantly higher than in the control group (P < .00). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that MT is a safe and efficacious treatment of DFUs.

This report presents the results of the first faunistic study of hard ticks in Qazvin province of Iran. The primary objective was to determine the species diversity and geographic distribution of hard ticks that parasitize domestic ruminants. Information about the abiotic preferences of these species has been provided. A total of 286 cattle, 1,053 goats, and 2,050 sheep were examined in 13 villages in 28 flocks distributed throughout the studied areas. Total direct body collections of ticks were made from each domestic ruminant. A total of 228 Ixodid specimens belonging to nine species in three different genera were recorded in the areas, including Boophilus annulatus (Say, 1821), Hyalomma anatolicum Koch, 1844, Hyalomma asiaticum (Schulze and Schlettke, 1929), Hyalomma detritum Schulze, 1919, Hyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844, Hyalomma marginatum Koch 1844, Hyalomma schulzei Olenev, 1931, Rhipicephalus bursa Canestrini and Fanz, 1878 and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806). The most abundant species on sheep was R. sanguineus (46.92%), while B. annulatus (6.6%) found only on cattle. A finding of great significance was that R. sanguineus, the main vector of babesiosis, is firmly established throughout the counties. A further objective of the study was to compare the abundance of the major tick species on domestic ruminants. This was carried out at 19 sampling sites. The highest number of ticks was collected in July-August during the hot season.

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Background: The impact of environmental factors and host on Hyalomma spp. community structure and abundance in the main Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) foci of Iran is largely unknown. Methods: Biotic and abiotic factors, including host, temperature, humidity, altitude, Köppen-Geiger climate types, sea­son, and precipitation on Hyalomma spp. community structure and abundances in 11 provinces of Iran were investigat­ed. Additionally, the possible infection of ticks with CCHF virus was evaluated using reverse transcription PCR tech­nique. Results: Species analyses demonstrated the presence of Hyalomma anatolicum, H. marginatum, H. dromedarii, H. asi­aticum, H. detritum and H. schulzei in the study area. Hyalomma anatolicum was the dominant species in the southern and northern parts, whereas H. dromedarii was distributed mostly in central parts of the country. The highest tick infestation was recognized in hot season. Spatial variation in tick relative density was observed between habitat types where more ticks were collected in deserts, semi-deserts, and Mediterranean habitats. Except for H. dromedarii, which was more preva­lent on camel (P= 0.044), there were no significant variations in the frequencies of other Hyalomma species on different hosts. Hyalomma anatolicum, H. dromedarii frequencies had significant positive and negative asso­ciation with tempera­ture and precipitation respectively. Also humidity has positive impact on H. asiaticum frequency. Conclusion: Data presented here will help improve ecological models to forecast the distribution of Hyalomma spp. ticks, to evaluate the risk of CCHF and other tick-borne diseases, and to design proper vector control measures to sup­press Hyalomma populations in Iran.

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Background Leishmaniasis is a major parasitic disease worldwide, except in Australia and Antarctica, and it poses a significant public health problem. Due to the absence of safe and effective vaccines and drugs, researchers have begun an extensive search for new drugs. The aim of the current study was to investigate the in vitro leishmanicidal activity of larval saliva and hemolymph of Lucilia sericata on Leishmania tropica. Methods The effects of different concentrations of larval products on promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of L. tropica were investigated using the mouse cell line J774A.1 and peritoneal macrophages as host cells. The 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and direct observation and counting method were used to assess the inhibitory effects and cell cytotoxicity of the larval products. The effects of larval products on the amastigote form of L. tropica were quantitatively estimated by calculating the rate of macrophage infection, number of amastigotes per infected macrophage cell, parasite load and survival index. Results The 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) value of both larval saliva and hemolymph was 750 µg/ml, and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were 134 µg/ml and 60 µg/ml for larval saliva and larval hemolymph, respectively. The IC50 for Glucantime, used a positive control, was (11.65 µg/ml). Statistically significant differences in viability percentages of promastigotes were observed for different doses of both larval saliva and hemolymph when compared with the negative control (p ≤ 0.0001). Microscopic evaluation of the amastigote forms revealed that treatment with 150 µg/ml larval hemolymph and 450 µg/ml larval saliva significantly decreased the rate of macrophage infection and the number of amastigotes per infected macrophage cell. Conclusion Larval saliva and hemolymph of L. sericata have acceptable leishmanicidal properties against L. tropica.

BackgroundScorpions are usually defined as predatory arachnids having venomous and painful stings. Scorpionism is considered as one of the health and medical problems in undeveloped tropical and subtropical countries in the world that endangers thousands of people annually.ObjectiveThis study was done for identification of scorpion fauna and scorpionism location in a high-risk area in southwest of Iran.MethodsThis study was carried out in Andimeshk district located in Khuzestan province which has the highest frequency of scorpionism in Iran. In total, 4 urban and 15 rural areas with various climates and topography were selected for monthly scorpion collection in 2016. Additionally, clinical data was obtained from questionnaires over a 5-year period (2012 to 2016) which were completed by physicians and health staff in hospitals and health centers. The data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS Version 20.ResultsA total of 850 scorpion samples with the most frequency in rural areas were collected. Eight species belonging to three families; Buthidae, Scorpionidae and Hemiscorpiidae were identified. A. crassicauda was the dominant species followed by H. lepturus. The largest collection due to scorpion’s activity was recorded in summer. The five-year prevalence of scorpion sting were 9.1/1000 inhabitants. The highest frequency of scorpionism was observed in the male age group of 25–34 years. Most cases had been treated with polyvalent scorpion antivenom within 6–12 hours of the sting.ConclusionBased on the findings, six species of medically important scorpions that were previously reported from Iran were also collected and caught in this study area. The findings of this study can be useful for policymakers at the Andimeshk Healthcare Center to prevent scorpionism and provide appropriate treatment for scorpionism cases.

Scorpion sting is a public health problem in south and southwestern parts of Iran, with about 36,000 cases recorded annually. This study aimed to find the spatial distribution of scorpions and their stings in Bandar Abbas County. Monthly scorpion sting cases at the village level were obtained and used for mapping. Scorpions were collected from 14 collection sites using a UV lamp at night and searching under stones during the day time. During the study period, a total of 3,971 cases of scorpion sting were recorded, most of them were found in mountainous areas and affected individuals aged 25-44 yrs. In total, 18 scorpion species belonging to 10 genera were collected and identified. The peak of scorpion sting cases occurred from July to September. The northern part of the mountainous areas had a richer species composition. Hemiscorpius persicus and Hemiscorpius gaillardi were collected for the first time in the area. There were 22 scorpion species in the area across studies; among them, 10 were most dangerous. Hemiscorpius genus is the main etiologic agent in Bandar Abbas County. Mapping dangerous species allows the health system to provide relevant anti-scorpion venom serum accordingly and more cost-effectively.