Expression pattern of ARG1 and iNOS genes in macrophages of Rhombomys opimus, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice exposed to Leishmania major and salivary gland homogenates of Phlebotomus papatasi.

Early interactions between Leishmania-macrophages (MQ) of host and effect of sand fly saliva are central to leishmaniasis outcome. Macrophages are able to kill or act as long-term hosts of parasite depending on host immunity. It proved that immunogenic proteins in sand fly saliva mostly have an exacerbating effect on leishmaniasis by up-regulating cytokines.

Evaluation of the Entomopathogenic Fungus on Different Stages of (Diptera: Psychodidae), Vector of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran.

Background: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major public health problem in Iran with the main vector of . The use of entomopathogenic fungi for biological control of the vector is a potential substitute for the current methods which are being used. The purpose of the current study was to assess the virulence of two local isolates of (OZ and TV) against .

Neutrophil extracellular traps formation: effect of Leishmania major promastigotes and salivary gland homogenates of Phlebotomus papatasi in human neutrophil culture.

Background: Leishmaniasis as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) is caused by the inoculation of Leishmania parasites via the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. After an infected bite, a series of innate and adaptive immune responses occurs, among which neutrophils can be mentioned as the initiators. Among the multiple functions of these fighting cells, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were studied in the presence of Leishmania major promastigotes and salivary gland homogenates (SGH) of Phlebotomus papatasi alone, and in combination to mimic natural conditions of transmission.

A Comparative Study on the Biodiversity and Species Richness of Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Kermanshah and Khuzestan Provinces of Iran.

Background: Leishmaniasis is one of the most important vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases in many parts of the world. The main objective of this study was to determine the biodiversity of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in Khuzestan and Kermanshah Provinces of Iran.

Methods: Sampling was conducted in Khuzestan and Kermanshah Provinces using sticky paper traps and CDC light traps.

Using Ecological Niche Modeling to Predict the Spatial Distribution of s.l. and (Diptera: Culicidae) in Central Iran.

Background: Mosquitoes are very important vectors of diseases to human. We aimed to establish the first spatial database on the mosquitoes of Isfahan Province, central Iran, and to predict the geographical distribution of species with medical importance.

Methods: Mosquito larvae were collected from eight counties of Isfahan Province during 2014.

Designing and Introducing a New Artificial Feeding Apparatus for Sand Fly Rearing.

Background: Due to strict ethical rules, the risk of accidental disease transmission and the most importantly, inconvenience regarding using of live animals, artificial feeding apparatus has been developed for colonization of haematophagous insects. Rearing of sandfly is more difficult than other haematophagous insects.

Methods: In the current study, a new apparatus for membrane feeding of was designed, made and compared with available apparatus in Sand Fly Insectary, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, in 2014.

The Potential Role of Humans in the Transmission Cycle of Leishmania major (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), the Causative Agent of the Old World Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) due to Leishmania major (Yakimoff and Schokhor, 1914) is known as a neglected tropical disease, transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli, 1786) in North Africa and the Middle East. The main reservoirs of ZCL are desert gerbils and the role of humans as a reservoir host of the disease is not clearly defined and is therefore investigated in this study. In order to achieve this objective, Ph.

Rearing and Biology of , the Main Vector of Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran.

Background: Establishment of sand flies laboratory colonies is essential to understand various biological aspects of Phlebotominae sand flies. The aims of the current study were to establish the colony of Parrot (1917), the main vector of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in old world, and to study biological parameters of this species.

Methods: The sand flies were reared at 26-28 °C temperature, 14:10 (light: dark) photoperiod and 70-80% relative humidity.

Assessing the Ovarian Accessory Glands to Determine the Parity of , Vector of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, under Laboratory Condition.

Background: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is a neglected tropical disease prevailed in many rural areas of 17 out of 31 provinces in Iran. The main vector of the disease is and the causative agent is in ZCL foci of Iran. In the current study we investigated the validity of accessory glands secretions as an indicator to recognize parous from nulliparous females under laboratory conditions.