Morphological Aberrations of the Dirofilariasis, Sindbis Fever and West Nile Fever Vector Culex Theileri (Diptera: Culicidae) in Iran

Shahyad Azari-Hamidian; Seyed-Mohammad Omrani

doi:10.18502/jad.v16i3.12036

Shahyad Azari-Hamidian Research Center of Health and Environment, School of Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Seyed-Mohammad Omrani Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jad.v16i3.12036

Keywords: Anomalous; Abnormal; Character; Morphology; Variation

Abstract

Background: Culex theileri (Diptera: Culicidae) is a known vector of pathogens that cause dirofilariasis, Sindbis fever and West Nile fever in Iran. The species is one of the country’s most abundant and widely distributed species.

Methods: In order to conduct a faunistic and bionomic study of mosquitoes, larval collection was carried out in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari Province of western Iran using dipping method.

Results: In total, some 2096 larvae of Cx. theileri were identified. Among the larvae, 1024 (48.9%) displayed aberrations and anomalies in the development of cranial seta 1-C (preclypeal seta). Morphological aberrations and anomalies of seta 1-C in the third- and fourth-instar larvae and abdominal terga of the adults of Cx. theileri collected in Iran are discussed and illustrated.

Conclusion: More studies are needed throughout the distribution of Cx. theileri to analyze the variation of the species, especially using both morphological and molecular data.