The Impact of Climatic Factors on Spatial Distribution of Scorpion Stings in Ardabil Province, North-West of Iran; 2012 - 2017

Abstract

Background: Scorpion sting is a major health threatening problem in the world, while most victims in Iran are children. Identification of high-risk areas for scorpion stings and dispersal areas map can help to control, prevent, and take effective measures in a timely manner. Objectives: The current study aimed at investigating the scorpion stings and determining the distribution status and spatial analysis in Ardabil Province, NorthWest of Iran. Methods: The current cross sectional study collected the routine human scorpion stings information from health houses, healthcare centers, and hospitals of Ardabil Province from 2012 to 2017 in standard epidemiological surveillance forms. The current study employed Arc GIS 10.2.3 and the space map projection to provide spatial distribution maps of high-risk areas for scorpion stings. Results: Eight hundred fifteen cases of scorpion stings from all 10 counties of Ardabil Province were reported. During the study period, there was direct significant relationship between the increase of scorpion sting cases and temperature, as with 3°C average annual temperature increase, the incidence rate of scorpion sting increased from 5.45/100,000 in 2012 to 16.32/100,000 in 2017. Two hot zones of scorpion stings were detected in Khalkhal and Germi counties; the Southern and Northern areas of the province, respectively. Conclusions: According to the current study findings, there were some hot zones of scorpion stings in Southern and Northern areas of the province. In addition, since the increase of temperature and reduction of rainfall and humidity coincide with the increase of scorpion stings, it is expected that with the increase of temperature in the next years with regard to the global warming phenomenon, scorpion stings also increase in this province.

Spatial Distribution of Medically Important Scorpions in Iran: A Review Article

“…Iranian scorpion fauna belongs to the three families of Buthidae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Scorpionidae that comprise 66 species (1,2). Scorpion envenomation is one of the most important public health problems in Iran, especially in southern parts (3,4).…”

New data on medically important scorpion species of Iran based on seven physiographic areas

“…In this climatological area of Iran, there are three families (Buthidae, Scorpionidae and Hemiscorpiidae), 14 genera, and 35 scorpion species, among which M. eupeus, M. phillipsii, M. caucasicus, A. crassicauda, O. doriae, H. saulcyi, H. zagrosensis, O. Iranus, C. matthiesseni, and H. lepturus are the most medically important ones. The northern and northwestern parts of this region have a low species composition; the only deadly scorpion in this region is A. crassicauda , but this corner of Iran is not a good place for living Hemiscorpius species, so the death due scorpion sting is very low hence ( Bavani et al., 2017 ; Ghorbani et al., 2018 ; Nazari et al., 2015 ; Mohammadi Bavani et al., 2021 ; Mahshidfar et al., 2017 ; Radmanesh, 1990 ; Moradiasl et al., 2019 ). In the western, central, and southern parts of this region, there are more scorpion species, and the scorpion sting is high in comparison with northern and northwestern parts.…”

Scorpion envenomation in the state of São Paulo, Brazil: Spatiotemporal analysis of a growing public health concern

“…At they are more numerous in the western, northwestern, and northern regions. These regions are part of the western plateau of SP, and have the highest temperatures and lowest rainfall in SP [27], which favors the development of scorpions [25,55]. Ureta et al (2020) [56] also studied the impacts of climate change on scorpions, using ecological niche modeling in Mexico, from whichthey identified the dispersion and geographical redistribution of some scorpion species among the country's regions.…”