Journal of School of Public Health and

Background and Aim: insecticides are widely used for protecting of agriculture and stored products. Organophosphorus insecticides are used more than other pesticides in agriculture. Therefore the residue of these insecticides in environment such as water may be hazardous to human health. Golestan Province is one of the important agricultural zones in north of Iran. In this area, azinphosmetyl and diazinon widely used for pest control. Garaso and Gorganrood are two important rivers of Golestan Province, which are exist in the near of agricultural lands and gardens, and therefore exposed to insecticides pollutions. Determination of this organophosphorus pesticide residue in water of rivers is important in this area.

Materials and Methods:This is a cross-sectional study, was performed for 1 year, during May 2006 to March 2007. In this research 152 samples from two rivers was sampling and tested. Water sampling from 3 detemined stations in among rivers was performed. azinphosmetyl and diazinon extracted from water samples with used of methylene chloride and acetone and so clean up and concentration phase was done. High performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) was used for quantity and quality assay of insecticides.

Results:The residue of Diazinon and Azinphosmetyl in summer is significantly different from others seasons (P<0.05). The most of azinphosmetyl and diazinon residue was determined in summer. Three other seasons (spring, autumn and winter) are not significantly different in azinphosmetyl and diazinon residue (P>0.05). The means of azinphosmetyl residue in Garaso and Gorganrood in summer was 14.56ppm (±SD= 10.59) and 14.9(±11.67), respectively. The means of diazinon in Garaso and Gorganrood in summer was 22.4ppm (±18.62) and 6.74(±6.89), respectively.

Conclusion: The diazinon residue in spring and summer was more than allowed standard limitation in both rivers (Garaso and Gorganrood). But azinphosmetyl residue only in summer in Garaso river was more than allowed standard limitation.

Background and Aim: Some medically important species of Muscidae and Fanniidae families are among synanthropic flies and can be seen in human habitats therefore they can be mechanical vectors of different pathogenic microorganisms. Identification and determination of species of these flies is essential for any control program planning. This study was conducted to determine the faunal diversity of Muscidae and Fanniidae flies in Tehran, Iran.

Methods and Materials: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and taxonomic study, conducted in 2 phases, during 1996-97 (pilot study) and 2000-2002 (complementary study) in Tehran and suburbs. Medically important flies were captured and identified. A net-hashing was used to capture adult flies by the direct observing method. To determine the fauna of flies in different habitats, 4 biotopes, including corpse (human, birds, livestock), garbage and decaying organic matter, animal carcasses, and human indoor habitat, were selected. Big hashing nets (95 cm in diameter) were used for capturing adult flies.

Results: A total of 2418 adult flies belonging to 8 families of Muscidae, Fanniidae, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Tachinidae, Syrphidae, Conopidae, and Anthomyiidae were captured. Among these, 1279 belonged to the Muscidae and Fanniidae families. Four genera and 5 medically important species were identified from two families.

Conclusion: Based on the existing scientific documentation, 2 species of M. stabulans and F. scalaris are reported for the first time from Iran. However, M. stabulans is a common species, the presence of which in Iran seemed probable.

Background and Aim: Fleas are the most important ectoparasites of humans and domestic animals. Their bites are painful, usually accompanied with itching in addition, they transmit diseases such as plague, tularemia, and endemic typhus. The aim of this study was to identify species of fleas in the rural areas and animal farms in Boyerahmad

Materials and Methods: This study, conducted for 6 months, from April to September 2007, included 30 villages of the Boyerahmad District (30 ° 9'-31 ° 32 'N: 49 ° 57'- 50 ° 42'). To collect fleas, the common catch methods, such as fly paper, light trap, etc. were District, Kohgiloye-and-Boyerahmad Province, Iran.

used. The samples collected were kept in 70%-ethanol, and then, after clarifying and dehydration, were identified in the laboratory using valid keys.
Results: A total of 2435 fleas (54% males and 46% females) belonging to two families (Placida and Ceratophylidae), 4 genera and 7 species were collected. The most common species was Xenopsylla buxtoni (24.7%), followed by the dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis (21.4%), the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (18.5%), Xenopsylla astia (14.5%), Xenopsylla nuttalli (7.6%), Pulex irritans (7.2%), and N. fasciatus (6.1%). The fleas abundance (mean ± SE) in human and animal habitats was found to be  0.7±0.06 and 3.4± 0.2, respectively.  

Conclusion: On the whole, the flea species are quite diverse and abundant in the rural areas of Boyerahmad District in human and, particularly, animal habitats. This is a serious problem. Measures should be taken to control the fleas, particularly in rural areas.