BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma affecting billions of people globally. Since information on its prevalence in general population is mandatory for formulating effective policies, this population based serological survey was conducted in Sistan and Baluchistan, where no previous epidemiological data were available. ME...

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) are the biological vectors of leishmaniasis all around the world. In 1997, sand flies were collected in 14 cities and villages of Khash County in southeastern Iran, using 848 sticky traps (castor oil-coated white papers 20 × 30 cm). In this study, a total of 4673 sand flies, with 25.23% females and 74.77% males, were collected and identified to s...

Anopheles superpictus Grassi is one of the most widespread malaria vectors in Iran. Two morphologically independent forms of this mosquito, both at larval and adult stage as well as a great diversity in its mtDNA loci have been previously described in Iran. Because of existence of mtDNA haplotypes, co-occurrence of two forms in diverse climates as well as different roles of populations played i...

BACKGROUND There are different and controversial reports about zinc deficiency in patients with major thalassemia. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate zinc status in patients with major thalassemia in Sistan and Baluchistan province, southeastern Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study was performed in Ali Asghar Hospital, a specialized governmental hospital located in Zahedan, Ir...

The wheat thrips, Haplothrips tritici, is known from across eastern Europe and adjoining areas of Asia into western Europe and north Africa, and is widely regarded as a pest of cultivated cereal crops, particularly of Triticum but also of Hordeum (Özsisli 2011). The identity of this thrips species is not in doubt, but a closely similar species, Haplothrips cerealis, was described from Egypt (Pr...

BACKGROUND Parasitological investigations on paramphistomosis were carried out over a 12-month period in the southeast of Iran to determine the prevalence and intensity of this disease. METHODS A total of 1000 cattle, Sistani breed (n= 450) and Brahman breed (n= 550) of all sex and age groups were inspected at random for the presence of paramphistomidae flukes in Zabol slaughterhouse from Dec...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Malaria is the most important mosquito-borne disease in Iran. It is endemic in south to southeastern part of the country. Knowledge about bio-ecology of vectors will support authorities for appropriate management of the disease. Bashagard district is one of the main endemic areas for malaria in south of Iran. This study was conducted to determine anopheline fauna, divers...