How to translate text using browser tools
16 June 2016 Spatial Distribution of Scorpion Sting in a High-Risk Area of Southern Iran
Mehran Shahi, Seyed Hamid Moosavy, Ahamd Ali Hanafi-Bojd, Shahrokh Navidpour, Shahram Zare, Abdolhossein Madani, Javad Rafinejad
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Scorpion sting is a public health problem in south and southwestern parts of Iran, with about 36,000 cases recorded annually. This study aimed to find the spatial distribution of scorpions and their stings in Bandar Abbas County. Monthly scorpion sting cases at the village level were obtained and used for mapping. Scorpions were collected from 14 collection sites using a UV lamp at night and searching under stones during the day time. During the study period, a total of 3,971 cases of scorpion sting were recorded, most of them were found in mountainous areas and affected individuals aged 25–44 yrs. In total, 18 scorpion species belonging to 10 genera were collected and identified. The peak of scorpion sting cases occurred from July to September. The northern part of the mountainous areas had a richer species composition. Hemiscorpius persicus and Hemiscorpius gaillardi were collected for the first time in the area. There were 22 scorpion species in the area across studies; among them, 10 were most dangerous. Hemiscorpius genus is the main etiologic agent in Bandar Abbas County. Mapping dangerous species allows the health system to provide relevant anti-scorpion venom serum accordingly and more cost-effectively.

© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com
Mehran Shahi, Seyed Hamid Moosavy, Ahamd Ali Hanafi-Bojd, Shahrokh Navidpour, Shahram Zare, Abdolhossein Madani, and Javad Rafinejad "Spatial Distribution of Scorpion Sting in a High-Risk Area of Southern Iran," Journal of Medical Entomology 53(5), 1198-1204, (16 June 2016). https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjw043
Received: 2 November 2015; Accepted: 15 March 2016; Published: 16 June 2016
JOURNAL ARTICLE
7 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
GIS
Hemiscorpius
scorpion sting
SOUTHERN IRAN
spatial distribution
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top