Jalil Nejati1, Ehsan Mozafari2, Abedin Saghafipour3, Malek Kiyani4. 1. Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Disease Control & Prevention, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. 2. Department of Medical Entomology & Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. 4. Centre for Disease Control & Prevention, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify the scorpion fauna and classify the epidemiological aspects of scorpionism in an endemic region, Southeast Iran. METHODS: Scorpionism data were collected from health centers and hospitals in Sistan-Baluchestan Province during 2010-2011. Specimens were collected at night, using UV light, between May and October 2012. RESULTS: In total, 246 scorpions were collected from two families (Buthidae and Scorpionidae). Five species including Odontobuthus odonturus, Hottentotta (Buthotus) jayakari, Compsobuthus matthiesseni, Scorpio maurus and Orthochirus scrobiculosus are reported for the first time from this area. Androctonus crassicauda was the dominant species. In total, 3 638 scorpion sting cases were recorded by health system, the majority of which were females. Stings mostly occurred in July and the age group of 15-24 years presented the highest frequency. Scorpionism decreased during 2011 compared with that in 2010 (68.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, scorpionism is a serious health problem in this area and increasing knowledge of residents regarding the prevention methods of scorpion stings is recommended. Additional research on the scorpion fauna, their ecological and molecular variety in this part of the country is needed as well as the correlation between scorpions' species and the clinical signs and symptoms.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the scorpion fauna and classify the epidemiological aspects of scorpionism in an endemic region, Southeast Iran. METHODS: Scorpionism data were collected from health centers and hospitals in Sistan-Baluchestan Province during 2010-2011. Specimens were collected at night, using UV light, between May and October 2012. RESULTS: In total, 246 scorpions were collected from two families (Buthidae and Scorpionidae). Five species including Odontobuthus odonturus, Hottentotta (Buthotus) jayakari, Compsobuthus matthiesseni, Scorpio maurus and Orthochirus scrobiculosus are reported for the first time from this area. Androctonus crassicauda was the dominant species. In total, 3 638 scorpion sting cases were recorded by health system, the majority of which were females. Stings mostly occurred in July and the age group of 15-24 years presented the highest frequency. Scorpionism decreased during 2011 compared with that in 2010 (68.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, scorpionism is a serious health problem in this area and increasing knowledge of residents regarding the prevention methods of scorpion stings is recommended. Additional research on the scorpion fauna, their ecological and molecular variety in this part of the country is needed as well as the correlation between scorpions' species and the clinical signs and symptoms.
Authors: Jalil Nejati; Hasan Vatandoost; Mohammad Ali Oshghi; Masud Salehi; Ehssan Mozafari; Seyed Hasan Moosa-Kazemi Journal: Asian Pac J Trop Biomed Date: 2013-12
Authors: Cleide Maria Ribeiro de Albuquerque; Pedro de Lima Santana Neto; Maria Lucineide Porto Amorim; Sofia Campos Vidal Pires Journal: Rev Soc Bras Med Trop Date: 2013 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 1.581