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 .

Rodents as vehicle for delivery of transgenic bacteria to make paratransgenic sand fly vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in field condition.

Vector-borne diseases, among them leishmaniasis, cause more than 700,000 deaths annually. The lack of an effective vaccination and the increasing resistance of sand flies to insecticides require the urgent development of innovative approaches to contain the disease. The use of engineered bacteria that express anti-parasite molecules (paratransgenesis) shows much promise.

Correction to: An outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major in an endemic focus in central Iran.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s12639-022-01474-6.].

Molecular and Biochemical Detection of Insecticide Resistance in the Leishmania Vector, Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) to Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and Pyrethroids, in Central Iran.

The aim of the present study was to explore resistance markers and possible biochemical resistance mechanisms in the Phlebotomine sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi in Esfahan Province, central Iran. Homogenous resistant strains of sand flies were obtained by exposing P. papatasi collected from Esfahan to a single diagnostic dose of DDT.

Evaluation of Susceptibility Status of , the Main Vector of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, to Different WHO Recommended Insecticides in an Endemic Focus, Central Iran.

Background: Among neglected zoonotic diseases, leishmaniases caused by parasite through infected female sand fly bite, are a group of diseases found in 98 countries and territories representing a critical burden of disease worldwide. Vector management plays a crucial role in reducing the burden of vector-borne diseases by WHO's global plan. The objective of the current study was to assess the susceptibility status of wild phlebotomine sand flies from Esfahan Province, central Iran, to the recommended insecticides by WHO.

An Eco-Epidemiological Study on Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Central Iran.

Background: Leishmaniasis is an expanding neglected tropical disease in the world reporting from 98 countries including Iran. This study focused on eco-epidemiological determinants of the disease following a rapid and unexpected increase of leishmaniasis incidence in a strategic residential district in North-East of Isfahan County, Iran.

Methods: This study was accomplished from Apr 2012 to Jan 2014 in a strategic residential zone in North-East of Isfahan County, Esfahan, Iran.

Emerging of Cutaneous Leishmaniais Due to in a New Focus in Esfahan Province, Central Iran.

Background: Esfahan Province is considered as one of the main focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran. Recently, ZCL distribution is expanding through this province leading to report of new cases in non-endemic areas. In the current study epidemiological aspects of ZCL has been investigated in Naein County in Esfahan Province.

Rodenticide Comparative Effect of Klerat® and Zinc Phosphide for Controlling Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Central Iran.

Background: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is a neglected disease with public health importance that is common in many rural areas of Iran. In recent years, behavioral resistance and/or bait shyness against the common rodenticide among reservoir hosts of ZCL have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Klerat® and zinc phosphide against natural reservoir of ZCL.

Differential expression profiles of the salivary proteins SP15 and SP44 from Phlebotomus papatasi.

Background: Sand fly saliva has been shown to help parasite establishment and to induce immune responses in vertebrate hosts. In the current study, we investigated the pattern of expression of two Phlebotomus papatasi salivary transcripts in specific physiological and seasonal conditions at a hyperendemic area of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran.

Methods: Sand flies were collected during 2012-2013, and grouped according to physiological stages such as unfed, fed, semi-gravid, gravid, parous, nulliparous, infected or non-infected with Leishmania major and also based on the season in which they were collected.

Seasonal and Physiological Variations of Phlebotomus papatasi Salivary Gland Antigens in Central Iran.

Background: Sand fly saliva helps parasite establishment and induce immune responses in vertebrate hosts. In the current study, we investigated the modulation of Phlebotomus papatasi salivary gland antigen expression by seasonal and biological factors.

Methods: Sand flies were grouped according to physiological stages such as unfed, fed, semi-gravid, gravid, parous, nulliparous, infected or non-infected with Leishmania major and based on the season in which they were collected.

Biodiversity of Aquatic Insects of Zayandeh Roud River and Its Branches, Isfahan Province, Iran.

Background: Aquatic insects are the major groups of arthropods that spend some parts of their life cycle in the water. These insects play an important role for transmission of some human and animal diseases. There is few information about the aquatic insects fauna of Iran.

Epidemiological study on sand flies in an endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis, bushehr city, southwestern iran.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most important health problem in the city of Bushehr, southwestern Iran. The objective of the study was to determine some ecological aspects of sand flies in the city during 2010-2011. Sand flies were collected monthly from outdoors and indoors by sticky traps at four selected districts of the city.

Aerobic bacterial flora of biotic and abiotic compartments of a hyperendemic Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) focus.

Background: Identification of the microflora of the sand fly gut and the environmental distribution of these bacteria are important components for paratransgenic control of Leishmania transmission by sand flies.

Methods: Biotic and abiotic bacterial communities of four compartments of a hyper-endemic focus of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) were investigated using 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing and phylogenetic tree construction. These compartments include Phlebotomus papatasi's gut, skin and intestinal tract of great gerbil Rhombomys opimus, the gerbil nest supplies, and plant food sources of the vectors and reservoirs.

Laboratory Evaluation of a Rodenticide-insecticide, Coumavec®, against Rhombomys opimus, the Main Reservoir Host of Zoonotic Cutaneouse Leishmaniasis in Iran.

Background: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis is a growing health problem in many rural areas of Iran. Rhombomys opimus, the great gerbil, is the main animal reservoir of ZCL in the northeast and central part of Iran. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the rodenticidal effect of Coumavec® (a mixture of Coumatetralyl 0.

Molecular epidemiological study of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the focus of bushehr city, southwestern iran.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) represents the most frequent vector borne parasitoses in Iran. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiological features of CL including human infection and the reservoir host in the city of Bushehr, Bushehr Province, Iran during 2010-2011.

Methods: Studies on human infection was carried out on 2962 school children aged 7-14 years old from 60 primary schools and among 400 households with a total population of 1568 in four infected districts of the city in December 2010.

Sand Flies of the Subgenus Adlerius (Diptera: Psychodidae) in an Endemic Focus of Visceral Leishmaniasis and Introduction of Phlebotomus (Adlerius) comatus as a New Record for Iran.

Background: Sand flies of subgenus Adlerius has a wide geographical distribution in Iran and are mostly found in wild form in mountainous areas. They are always considered as probable vectors of visceral leishmaniasis. The objective of this study was to determine the Adlerius species and its composition in an endemic focus of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in northwest of the country.

Leishmania species: detection and identification by nested PCR assay from skin samples of rodent reservoirs.

Many rodent species act as reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in endemic areas. In the present study a simple and reliable assay based on nested PCR was developed for the detection and identification of Leishmania parasites from rodent skin samples. We designed Leishmania-specific primers that successfully amplified ITS regions of Leishmania major, Leishmania gerbilli and Leishmania turanica using nested PCR.