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J -Borne Dis, September 2017, 11(3): 433–440 R Dehghani and H Kassiri: Geographical …

Short Communication Geographical Distribution of doriae in Province, Central

Rouhullah Dehghani 1, *Hamid Kassiri 2

1Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center, University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran 2Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, School of Health, Ahvaz, Iran

(Received 13 Sep 2016; accepted 21 Aug 2017)

Abstract Background: are among the world’s venomous , they sting humans every year, suffering pain- ful symptoms or losing their lives because of the venom. Thorell 1876 (Arachnida: Scorpi- onida: ) is a scorpion of medical importance and therefore its geographical distribution in has been studied. Methods: This descriptive cross–sectional study was designed between Mar and Jun in 2012 and 2013 in Province of Isfahan, central Iran. Overall, 164 O. doriae scorpions were collected from their natural habitat by identifying the dug burrows. This arthropod’s burrows were identified based on the presence of tumuli, particularly between May and Jun at the sloping foothills of pristine embankments. The sampling data was categorized and compared. Results: The relative frequency of collected O. doriae for the counties was (13.5%), Shahinshahre (11.5%), Borkhar (9%), (7.5%), Kashan (7.5%), Naeen (6%), (5.5%), Isfahan (4.8%), (4.8%), Aran and Bidgol (4.8%), Dehaghan (4.8%), Flavarjan (3.7%), Khomeinishahr (3.7%), Tiran (3.7%), Gol- payegan (3.7%), (3.7%) and Lenjan (2.5%). No O. doriae was collected from other counties of the province. Conclusion: The habitats of O. doriae are more often located in central, eastern and northern regions of the province compared to other regions. Counties of southern and western regions are among cold parts of the province.

Keywords: Bio-Ecology, Spatial distribution, Odontobuthus doriae, Iran

Introduction

Scorpions are among the oldest organ- the presence of these arthropods all over the isms on the earth. Scorpions possess stings Iranian territory, which possess suitable cli- equipped with venom glands located near the mate for their habitation, scorpion enven- metasoma. Thus, they are among the most omation has been continuously an issue in dangerous arthropods to humans. Approxi- Iran (8). mately, 1.2 to 1.5 million cases of scorpion Scorpions are classified as burrowing and envenomation occurs worldwide annually (1, non-burrowing, in terms of digging burrows. 2). Due to its type of climate, Iran hosts a Different scorpion species in the world dig very rich population of arthropods, and scor- burrows (9, 11). In Iran, Odonthobuthus spp. pions in particular (3, 5) and it is among the and Scorpio maurus dig burrows (12). Non- countries in which many scorpion species, burrowing scorpions use natural and artificial particularly the dangerous types have been materials as shelter. Non-burrowing scorpions, reported. Scorpion envenomation reports which enter human dwellings, too, take shel- from ancient Iran are found in religious and ter in places like wardrobes, inside the shoes historical texts, which indicate the long his- and boots, and under the objects laid on the tory of this issue in Iran (6, 7). Naturally, with ground. Other shelters of non-burrowing scor-

*Corresponding author: Hamid Kassiri, E-mail: 433 http://jad.tums.ac.ir [email protected] Published Online: September 08, 2017

J Arthropod-Borne Dis, September 2017, 11(3): 433–440 R Dehghani and H Kassiri: Geographical …

pions include inside the wall cracks, under- aspects is of value. Treatment and preventive neath the stones, camelthorn, small pieces of measures are important issues in the field of wood and leaves, and inside the gaps and medicine and hygiene. As such, examining cracks in the trees. Burrowing scorpions pos- other life aspects of scorpions, including O. sess digging capabilities and are capable of doriae, such as their biology and ecology is digging 25 to 50cm deep burrows (13, 14). of importance. Conducting such research in Humans may encounter burrowing scorpions the field of bio-ecology is very time-con- infrequently under normal circumstances, but suming. Different studies, therefore, need to in emergency or military conditions, encoun- be unified to reach a conclusion and overcome ters with the burrowing scorpions are more the issues regarding scorpion envenomation. likely due to excavations and digging trench- es. Since most of the country is military ba- ses and areas are located outside cities, and Materials and Methods due to the distribution of dangerous types of scorpions, this issue is of great importance in This descriptive cross–sectional study was terms of military health and hygiene. The designed between Mar and Jun in 2012 and scope of the presence of many species of this 2013 in Province of Isfahan, central Iran. arthropod in military bases across the coun- Overall, 164 O. doriae scorpions were col- try and in isolated regions is such that sol- lected from their natural habitats in different diers constantly encounter them, and are en- counties by locating their burrows. The bur- venomed by them. As such, these scorpions rows were subsequently excavated or filled raise issues for military forces isolated from with water. To select the sampling area, a pristine medical centers (15). 2 Scorpion envenomation is common in Mid- piece of land of approximately 100m , locat- dle Eastern countries, which is a significant ed 3 to 10km from the city being studied, issue in Iran’s southwest, in particular, pos- was selected and all its identifiable burrows ing many problems including allergic reac- were searched to collect the arthropod. Iden- tions (16, 18). Scorpion sting symptoms in tification of the burrows was based on two humans include quickened breathing, paraly- approaches (1). The first approach was based sis of diaphragm, spasms of voluntary mus- on the identification of burrows with asym- cles, severe twitching, convulsions, muscle metric elliptical openings with minor axes of contraction and tension due to increased re- 1.2 to 1.5cm and major axes of 2.5 to 4.5cm, lease of acetylcholine, pulmonary edema and found in pristine or artificial embankments. swelling, damages to the heart muscle, vas- In the second approach, the presence of tu- cular turbulence and disorders, impaired kid- muli, particularly between March and Jun at ney function, necrosis and skin injuries and the sloping foothills of pristine embankments, pathological changes in single or multiple was indicative of this arthropod’s presence. organs. These symptoms vary depending on Tumuli at sloping foothills move to the low- the sting and the impact mechanism of the er side, which is indicative of fresh digging venom of different species (19, 22). and clearing of the burrow. Excavation was One of the medically important scorpi- carefully conducted using military shovels ons is O. doriae, which exists in relatively and trowels, and the arthropod was usually transferred to the sample case by forceps af- high numbers in Iran. LD50, i.e. the lethal dose, of this arthropod’s venom is 0.19mg/kg for ter full excavation of the burrow. In other mice (8, 16) and thus studying it's biological cases, 1 to 3L of water was slowly poured

434 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: September 08, 2017

J Arthropod-Borne Dis, September 2017, 11(3): 433–440 R Dehghani and H Kassiri: Geographical …

into the identified burrows and the arthropod Results was caught with forceps upon exiting. Sam- ples were transferred to laboratory for fur- The O. doriae scorpions were collected in ther examinations. The obtained data from 2012 and 2013 through 23 samplings. Over- the studied regions, regional characteristics, all, 164 scorpions of this species were col- number of samples and catching methods lected. Characteristics of the collecting re- were recorded at each sample and presented gions, collecting methods and number of the by illustrations and descriptive tables. collected scorpions of the stated species are presented in Fig. 2 and Table 1. A minimum The Studied Region of 17 out of 23 counties had O. doriae scor- Isfahan Province, with an area of 105937 pions. Maximum and minimum O. doriae square km, is situated in the center of Iran. It catch were from Mobarakeh, at 13.5%, and borders the provinces of Markazi, Qom, and Lenjan, at 2.5%, respectively. Moreover, 83% Semnan to the north, Fars and Kohgiluyeh of the samples were collected by the excava- and Boyer-Ahmad to the south, Lorestan and tion method and 17% were collected by Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari to the west, and pouring water into the burrows of O. doriae. Yazd and Khorasan to the east (Fig. 1). Ac- The highest percentage of the collected cording to the latest administrative divisions, samples, after Mobarakeh, was from it has 23 counties, 60 cities, 37 districts, and Shahinshahre, Borkhar, Shahreza, Kashan, 116 villages and its is Isfahan. Naeen, Natanz, Isfahan, Najafabad, Aran and Counties of Isfahan Province include Isfahan, Bidgol, Dehaghan, Flavarjan, Khomeini Shahr, Ardestan, Borkhar, Shahreza, Khomeinishahr, Tiran, , Ardestan and Lenjan, at Khvansar, , Fereydan, Fereydonshah- 11.5, 9, 7.5, 7.5, 6, 5.5, 4.8, 4.8, 4.8, 4.8, 3.7, re, , Daran, Dehaghan, Kashan, Aran 3.7, 3.7, 3.7, 3.7 and 2.5 percent, respective- and Bidgol, , Golpayegan, Lenjan, ly. Meanwhile, no O. doriae scorpions were Mobarakeh, Naeen, Najafabad, Tiran, Natanz collected form Khansar, Semirom, Fereydan, and Shahinshahre. In general, the province Fereydonshahre, Chadegan and Daran in this has a moderate and dry climate. The west of study (Table 1). Most collected O. doriae was the province, Isfahan County and western and from the central regions of Isfahan Province, southwestern regions of the province experi- which includes the counties of Isfahan, Bork- ence arid, semi-arid and cold semi-humid cli- har, Shahreza, Khomeini Shahr, Dahaghan, mates, respectively. The maximum, minimum, Kashan, Aran and Bidgol, Flavarjan, Gol- and average annual temperatures have been payegan, Lenjan, Mobarakeh, Naeen, Najafa- recorded as 40.6 °C, -10.6 °C and 16.7 °C, re- bad, Tiran, Natanz, and Shahinshahre. The spectively, according to a report of the syn- least O. doriae catch was from the eastern optic weather station in Isfahan. According part of Isfahan Province, which includes to the same report, the number of the prov- northeastern Naeen, Northern Ardestan, Khor ince’s frost days is 76, and the average an- and Biabanak, and . No O. doriae nual rainfall is 116.9mm (23, 24). scorpions were collected form Semirom, in the south of the province, Khansar, Ferey- donshahre, Chadegan and Daran (Fig. 2, 3).

435 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: September 08, 2017

J Arthropod-Borne Dis, September 2017, 11(3): 433–440 R Dehghani and H Kassiri: Geographical …

Table 1. Odontobuthus doriae abundance caught in Isfahan Province by county

City Methods of collecting Number Percent Digging Use of water Mobarakeh 15 7 22 13.5 Shahinshahre 17 2 19 11.5 Borkhar 15 - 15 9 Shahreza 12 - 12 7.5 Kashan 8 4 12 7.5 Naeen 6 4 10 6 Natanz 6 3 9 5.5 Isfahan 5 3 8 4.8 Najafabad 8 - 8 4.8 Aran va Bidgol 6 2 8 4.8 Dehaghan 8 - 8 4.8 Flavarjan 6 - 6 3.7 Khomeinishahre 6 - 6 3.7 Tiran 6 - 6 3.7 Golpayegan 6 - 6 3.7 Ardestan 2 3 5 3 Lenjan 4 - 4 2.5 Daran - - - - Chadegan - - - - Khansar - - - - Fereydan - - - - Fereydonshahre - - - - Semirom - - - - 23 136 28 164 100

Armenia Azerbaijan

Aran va Bidgol Turkmenistan Caspian Sea

Kashan Naeen Turkey Natanz Ardestan Golpayegan Shahishahre Khasar Fereydan Najafabad IRAN Borkhar Fereydonshahre Tiran

Esfahan Iraq

Kuwait Pakistan

Shahreza

Esfahan Province Capture area of O.doriae Samirom No capture area of O.doriae Oman Sea

Fig. 1. The geographical situation of Isfahan Prov- Fig. 2. Study regions of Odontobuthus doriae in the ince in Iran Isfahan Province by county

436 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: September 08, 2017

J Arthropod-Borne Dis, September 2017, 11(3): 433–440 R Dehghani and H Kassiri: Geographical …

Odontobuthus doriae is of genus Odon- tobuthus and 3 species of it have been re- ported in Iran (26, 28). The species O. doriae has been reported in many regions of Iran, Esfahan Province including the provinces of Yazd, Kerman (Ker- man, Baft, Sirjan, Rafsanjan, Zarand, Shahrb- abak, Kahnoj, Manojan, Shahdad), Markazi (Arak), Qazvin, Tehran (Deserts around Teh- ran County, Shemiran, Varamin), Alborz High plenty area of O.doriae (Karaj), Semnan (Garmsar), West Azerbai- Low plenty area of O.doriae jan (Uromieh, Nazlo, Salmas), Kermanshah, No capture area of O.doriae Bushehr (Borazjan), Hamadan, Hormozgan (Bandar Abbas) (29, 35), which corresponds Fig. 3. Study regions of in the Isfahan Province by with our study. Due to the remoteness of the catch abundance of Odontobuthus doriae habitats of this species of the human envi- ronment, its envenomation has been reported Discussion only sporadically (36). The maximum O. doriae hunting was from the central regions Odontobuthus doriae is a burrowing scor- of Isfahan Province and the minimum O. pion that is capable of digging burrows of up doriae hunting was from the eastern part of to 40cm. This species reaches up to 10cm in Isfahan Province. size. Coloration ranges from light yellow to One of the major reasons for varying dark and the body appendages are usually light- numbers of this arthropod’s burrows in Isfa- er than prosoma (25). This has been the pre- han Province is due climatic diversity in this dominant scorpion species of the studied re- province. Semi-arid climate covers the cen- gions in the natural habitats of Isfahan Prov- tral regions of Isfahan Province. Dryness and ince. Major signs of this arthropod’s burrows little precipitation are typical characteristics are the shape of the burrow’s opening and the of this climate. However, River presence of piled soil close to the burrow that considerably affects the climate of this re- is due to digging or clearing in early spring gion in a positive way and makes it more (13). These arthropods spend the winters in temperate. The study suggested that fewer O. hibernation and are capable of restarting their doriae scorpions were observed in eastern regular functionality in favorable conditions part of Isfahan Province than in the central within three to four hours (8), and freshly piled regions of this province. Arid climate covers soil close to the burrow is indicative of this northern Naeen, Biabanak, and Anarak to activity. At the opening of freshly dug burrows northern Ardestan. Abrupt changes in temper- of this scorpion, certain type of tumulus can ature, little precipitation, and strong winds be observed, moved or washed away by wind during the year are characteristic of this cli- or rain after a while. The shape of the bur- mate (2). No O. doriae scorpions were col- row’s opening was distinct from other bur- lected from south of the province and its rows and was of asymmetric elliptical shape eastern counties in our study. These regions with a minor axis of 1.2 to 1.5cm and a ma- have far colder climates than other regions jor axis of 2.5 to 4.5cm. While the opening of the province and are higher in elevation. resembles an ellipse, the burrow assumes a Higher elevations and lower temperatures relatively circular shape after 2 to 3cm. can lead to fewer favorable habitats for this

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J Arthropod-Borne Dis, September 2017, 11(3): 433–440 R Dehghani and H Kassiri: Geographical …

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