Culicidae mosquitoes are main vectors of arboviruses that cause arboviral diseases in humans. Studies on fauna, ecology, biology, resting behaviors of Culicidae mosquitoes are important and greatly impacts the control of arboviral diseases that are transmitted by vectors. The aim of the present study was to determine fauna of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) based on morphological and molecular (genomic) identification and their habitats in Lorestan province, Western Iran. Meanwhile mosquito samples were examined for arbovirus infection. Culicidae mosquitoes were caught in 2015 and 2016 from human homes, animal dwellings, storehouses and pit shelters in Lorestan province, Western Iran, using an oral aspirator (hand catch), total catch, human and animal bait and light trap methods. The samples were identified on the genus and species. Six species of Culex and eight species of Anopheles were caught. One complex species ( Cx. pipiens complex) and a hybrid between Cx. pipiens pipiens biotype pipiens and Cx. pipiens pipiens biotype molestus were identified. Among all of the trapped mosquitoes (4211), 94.68% were from genus Culex mosquitoes (3987), which indicate that this genus is the dominant in Lorestan province, Western Iran. Anopheles comprised of 201 individuals out of the total catch. Arboviruses were not detected in these samples.

Background: Mosquito species are highly considering as disease transmission as well as nuisance insects. One of the principal strategy to protect human from the mosquito bites is repellent agents. This study aimed to assess repellency of two organic essential oils, Eucalyptus globulus and Syzygium aromaticum from bites of malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi. Methods: The study was conducted in 2019-2020. The components of essential oils of E. globulus and S. aromaticum was determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The unfed female mosquitoes aged 2-5 d old were used in all experiments. In vivo Klun and Debboun module bioassays were utilized on human-volunteer skin. The essential oils at serial concentrations were used to find repellent efficacy against Anopheles landings and bites. To find the synergistic effect, four combinations of the essential oils were tested. Results: The main composition of E. globulus essential oil was 1,8-Cineol (78.20%), whereas that of S. aromaticum essential oil was 2-methoxy-3-(2-propenyl) (77.04%). Based on minimum effective dose (≤1% biting), 10% (v/v) of E. globulus showed high landing repellency (77.78%), whereas minimum effective dose of S. aromaticum at concentration of 1% had high landing repellency (88.89%). Among four combinations, the ratio of 1:1 of E. globulus (10%):S. aromaticum (1%) showed the most landing repellency (94.44%). Conclusion: The combinations of two essential oils had the most potential repellency effect against landing of mosquitoes. As essential oils are eco-friendly with less irritation for human skin, E. globulus and S. aromaticum essential oils are recommended as effective and safe mosquito repellents.

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Background Mosquitoes play an important role in the transmission of arboviruses including neuroinvasive West Nile virus. (WNV). Despite reports on seroepidemiological evidence and distribution of potential vectors of WNV in Iran, its transmission and dominant lineage(s) in mosquitoes of the Southern region has not been yet investigated. This study was conducted to inventory mosquitoes in Hormozgan province and explore them for WNV infection. Methods A total of 6785 larvae and adult mosquitoes were collected from 11 sites during 2015–2016. The mosquitoes were analyzed for WNV lineage detection by RT-PCR. Results This study revealed vertical transmission of Lineage 1a WNV in five groups including two groups of Cx. pipiens collected in winter and spring as well as three others containing Cx. sitiens, Anopheles stephensi and Cs. longiareolata collected in autumn from Bandar Abbas city. Conclusion The vertical transmission of WNV by effective vectors indicates the incursion of enzootic transmission in the region. The cross-species WNV transmission and prevalence of infected migratory birds coming from Europe and Siberia demand a comprehensive surveillance of WNV infection in hosts and vectors. However, vector-based surveillance remains the most accurate and feasible indicator to assess the impending risk of WNV in Iran. Given the serological and molecular evidences of WNV presence in humans, equines and birds in 26 provinces, the public health authorities should pay more attention to vector control measures to reduce the risk of WNV epidemics in the southern region of Iran.

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