Species Composition and Spatial Distribution of Medically Important Scorpions in the Northern Part of Kerman Province, Iran

Mohammad Amin Gorouhi; Arman Izadian; Mulood Mohammadi Bavani; Alireza  Sanei-Dehkordi; Amir Mohammad Habibi; Godwin Nutifafa Gidiglo; Abbas Aghaei Afshar; Seyed Massoud  Madjdzadeh; Saideh Yousefi; Leila Shirani-Bidabadi; Yaser Salim Abadi; Hossein Barahoei; Ismaeil Alizadeh

doi:10.18502/jad.v17i4.15295

Mohammad Amin Gorouhi Research Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Arman Izadian Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mulood Mohammadi Bavani Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Alireza Sanei-Dehkordi Department of Biology and Control of Disease Vectors, Faculty of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Amir Mohammad Habibi Department of Vector Biology and Control, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Godwin Nutifafa Gidiglo Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abbas Aghaei Afshar Research Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Seyed Massoud Madjdzadeh Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Saideh Yousefi Department of Public Health, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran
Leila Shirani-Bidabadi Department of Vector Biology and Control, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Yaser Salim Abadi Department of Health services and Health Promotion, School of Health, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
Hossein Barahoei Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Agricultural Research Institute, Research Institute of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
Ismaeil Alizadeh Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jad.v17i4.15295

Keywords: Fauna; Scorpionism; Hemiscorpiidae; GIS; Kerman

Abstract

Background: Kerman Province is one of the endemic foci of scorpionism in southeastern Iran. Totally 17 species are reported for Kerman Province fauna. The current study seeks to determine the fauna of medically important scorpions in northern parts of this province.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2019 to March 2021. The specimens were captured from different areas, by rock-rolling during day and using Ultraviolet light at night. The specimens were preserved in ethanol (80%) and then identified using reliable identification keys for scorpions.

Results: Totally, 499 specimens were captured from eight cities in northern Kerman. In total, 11 species belonging to three families were identified. Buthacus sp. is reported for the first time from Kerman Province. Buthacus sp., Hottentotta cf. juliae, and Hottentotta cf. schach, were the lowest in frequency of occurrence, against Mesobuthus navidpouri as the highest frequency.

Conclusion: The results of this study are useful for the preparation of regional or monovalent antivenom for the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute. Additionally, the obtained data are useful for the effective planning of scorpion control programs in the northern parts of Kerman Province, Iran.