An Epidemiologic Study of Animal Bites in North Khorasan Province, Iran, from 2005 to 2011

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

An Epidemiologic Study of Animal Bites in North Khorasan Province, Iran, from 2005 to 2011 Original Article An epidemiologic study of animal bites in North Khorasan Province, Iran, from 2005 to 2011 Alavinia SM, MD-PhD 1, Yaghubi M, BSc 2, Rajabzadeh R, MSc 3, Seyed Sharifi SH, MD 4* 1- PhD of Clinical Epidemiology, Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran. 2- BSc in Nursing, Intensive Cardiac Care Unit, 9Day Hospital, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. 3- MSc Student of Epidemiology, Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran. 4- MD Student, Research Committee, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran. Abstract Received: May 2015, Accepted: June 2015 Background: Animal bite is an important and preventable health hazard. This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of animal bites in North Khorasan Province in Iran. Materials and Methods: Data gathered from health centers from March 2005 until December 2011 were used for this cross-sectional descriptive study of animal bites. Results: A total of 18,517 animal bite cases were reported during the study period. The victims were predominantly male (66%). The most affected persons were residents in rural areas (80.7%). Most victims had been bitten by dogs (90.5%). The number of patients with incomplete vaccinations was 16,232 (88.1%) compared to 2,185 (11.9%) completely vaccinated patients. The highest rate of animal bite cases was reported from Bojnurd County, Iran. The incidence of animal bites in North Khorasan increased from 255.05 per 100,000 in 2005 to 365.18 per 100,000 in 2011. Conclusions: Since the incidence of animal bites has increased in recent years, the dog population should be controlled and domesticated animals should be vaccinated. Education about animal bite prevention is an important strategy for preventing this problem and, consequently, rabies. Keywords: Bites, Epidemiology, Incidence, Vaccination, Rabies. Introduction spring. In different human groups, children (aged 5–9 years) are the most frequent victims of Rabies is an acute, progressive, and fatal animal bites, and men are 1.15 times more likely zoonotic disease. Human rabies is associated to report dog bites compared to women* (4). A with the rise of civilization, the growth of cities, survey conducted during 2001–2003 in the USA and domestication of animals, especially dogs estimated 4.5 million dog bites each year (an (1). Rabies is a major public health concern in incidence rate of 1,660/100,000 in adults and some countries including Iran. The highest 1,310/100,000 in children) (5). The annual incidence of human rabies cases in Iran was incidence of animal bite in Iran is estimated as reported during 1995-1999 in Chaharmahal and 140 cases per 100,000 population (6), and has Downloaded from johe.rums.ac.ir at 11:13 +0330 on Sunday September 26th 2021 [ DOI: 10.18869/acadpub.johe.3.1.1 ] Bakhtiari and Fars Provinces (2). The collection been increasing in recent years (7). Almost 94% and analysis of data about animal bites, can help of animal bite cases are inflicted by domestic to control and prevent this disease. Animal bite is defined as a bite or claw wound from a pet, or farm or wild animal (3). Animal * Corresponding author: Seyed Hassan Seyed Sharifi, bites were reported throughout the year with the MD Student, Research Committee, Medical School. North highest bite incidence occurring during the Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran. Email: [email protected] 1 JOHE, Winter 2014; 3 (1) Alavinia et al animals such as dogs and cats, and wild and (characteristics of the bitten persons and biting stray animals, such as wolves, jackals, and animals, and month of biting) were obtained foxes, constitute 16% of cases (8). from the data bank of all health centers in the Moreover, death rate due to dog bites in city and rural areas covered by the North Australia, United States, and Canada are 0.004, Khorasan Universities of Medical Sciences, Iran. 0.05-0.07, and 0.007 per 100,000, respectively The obtained data were recorded in a checklist. (9). The results were entered into Microsoft Excel Rabies is a fatal disease that is considered a 2010 with pull down notes and analyzed using reemerging zoonosis throughout much of the SPSS statistical software package (version 18, world. Rabies satisfies all the World Health SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Organization (WHO) criteria for diseases that are a priority for control. In addition, safe and Results effective animal and human vaccines are widely During the study period (2005-2011), 18, 517 available for its prevention and control. Pre- (66% males and 34% females) individuals had exposure treatment (PET) in animals and been treated for animal bites (Figure 1). The humans is an effective way of decreasing the incidence of animal bite in North Khorasan costs of rabies. PET for humans is an effective, Province was estimated as 255, 258, 302, 321, but costly way to prevent clinical problems with 330, 359, and 365 per 100,000 in 2005, 2006, rabies, but does not provide a permanent 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. solution to rabies in the future. The cost of PET The animals were dogs in 16,670 (90.5%), goats in Asia was US $ 49.41 per patient and in Africa in 799 (4.34%), cats in 697 (3.78%), wild goats was US $ 39.5721 per patient, in 2011 (10). in 146 (0.8%), wolves in 48 (0.26%), jackals in Epidemiological studies have confirmed that the 29 (0.16%), and foxes in 28 (0.15%) cases majority of injured patients resided in rural (Figure 2). The animals were domestic in 84.8% areas. The first step in preventing diseases of cases, wild in 1.4%, and stray animals in related to animal bites, such as rabies, is to 13.8% of cases. Of the injured patients, 14,950 identify the associated risk factor. (80.7%) were living in rural and 3,567 (19.3%) The aims of this study were to determine the in urban areas. incidence of animal bites as well as the The highest rate of human bite cases were characteristics of the bitten persons and biting reported in Bojnurd, Iran (Figure 3). The number animals, and wound in North Khorasan Province of individuals who were bitten by animals of Iran. during the study period in different districts of North Khorasan Province is presented in Figure Materials and Methods 3. Up to 16,232 patients were treated by non- In this cross-sectional descriptive study, data completed vaccination (88.1%), and 2,185 were obtained from patients who suffered from (11.9%) with completed vaccination. The peak animal bites and referred to health centers incidence of animal bite cases was reported in Downloaded from johe.rums.ac.ir at 11:13 +0330 on Sunday September 26th 2021 [ DOI: 10.18869/acadpub.johe.3.1.1 ] located in North Khorasan Province from March June. The monthly distribution of animal bite 2005 to December 2011. cases (average animal bites per month per year) By law, all bite victims should be referred to is shown in figure 4. The incidence of animal health centers for treatment, and all animal bite bite increased during the study period from 255 cases are emergency cases. Thus, data per 100,000 in 2005 to 365 per 100,000 in 2011. 2 JOHE, Winter 2014; 3 (1) An epidemiologic study of animal bites Figure 1: Distribution of the rate of animal bites detected in North Khorasan Province, Iran, from March 2005 to December 2011 according to sex and total rate per 100,000 population Downloaded from johe.rums.ac.ir at 11:13 +0330 on Sunday September 26th 2021 [ DOI: 10.18869/acadpub.johe.3.1.1 ] Figure 2: Distribution of animal bites detected in North Khorasan Province, Iran, from March 2005 to December 2011 according to animal species 3 JOHE, Winter 2014; 3 (1) Alavinia et al Figure 3: Distribution of animal bites detected in North Khorasan Province, Iran, from March 2005 to December 2011 according to different districts of North Khorasan Province Downloaded from johe.rums.ac.ir at 11:13 +0330 on Sunday September 26th 2021 [ DOI: 10.18869/acadpub.johe.3.1.1 ] Figure 4: Distribution of animal bites detected in North Khorasan Province, Iran, from March 2005 to December 2011 according to average monthly number of animal bite cases per year 4 JOHE, Winter 2014; 3 (1) An epidemiologic study of animal bites Discussion cause of higher rates of bites in men than women is that men are more exposed to animals in their The incidence of animal bite in North Khorasan daily life, especially in rural areas. However, in Province increased during the study period from a survey performed in USA, most animal bite 255 per 100,000 in 2005 to 365 per 100,000 in cases were female (18). This issue may be 2011. The incidence of animal bite in different resulted from the different cultural behaviors in parts of Iran has also increased from 35.1 per that country. In Iran, people do not keep animals 100,000 in 1987 to 151 per 100,000 in 2001 in their houses, but this is common in other (11). countries such as USA. A study in Ilam Province also showed that the In the present study, dog bite was the most incidence of animal bites in Ilam increased from common cause of injuries in victims. A survey 34 per 100,000 in 1999 to 98 per 100,000 in performed in Rafsanjan showed that the most 2008 (8).
Recommended publications
  • Introduction
    International Journal of Epidemiologic Research, 2015; 2(4): 197-203. ijer.skums.ac.ir Epidemiological survey and geographical distribution of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Khorasan province, 2006-2013 * Rajabzadeh R, Arzamani K, Shoraka HR, Riyhani H, Seyed Hamid Hosseini Vector-borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, I.R. Iran. Received: 26/Sep/2015 Accepted: 31/Oct/2015 ABSTRACT Background and aims: Leishmaniasis is a widespread problem, especially in the tropical and subtropical countries. Since understanding the epidemiologic and geographical distribution of the diseases is necessary for prevention and controlling the Leishmaniasis. This study was conducted on epidemiological survey of cutaneous Original Leishmaniasis in North Khorasan Province, using Arc GIS Software during the years 2006-2013. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data of the Leishmaniasis patients between the years 2006-2013 were collected from the different districts of North Khorasan Province. articl The gathered data were analyzed by using SPSS16 statistical software and chi-square test. Results: Data concerning 2831 patients with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis were collected. The e maximum outbreak of the disease occurred in 2011 and the minimum occurrence was reported in 2008. The mean age of the study population was 22.80 ± 18.08 and the maximum cases of infection were observed in age group of 16-30 years. 58.6% of the patients were male and 53.5% of them lived in the villages. The maximum infection of the disease was observed in Esfarayen with 1095 people (38.7%). There was a significant relationship between the gender and age of the patients and cutaneous Leishmaniasis (P<0.001).
    [Show full text]
  • See the Document
    IN THE NAME OF GOD IRAN NAMA RAILWAY TOURISM GUIDE OF IRAN List of Content Preamble ....................................................................... 6 History ............................................................................. 7 Tehran Station ................................................................ 8 Tehran - Mashhad Route .............................................. 12 IRAN NRAILWAYAMA TOURISM GUIDE OF IRAN Tehran - Jolfa Route ..................................................... 32 Collection and Edition: Public Relations (RAI) Tourism Content Collection: Abdollah Abbaszadeh Design and Graphics: Reza Hozzar Moghaddam Photos: Siamak Iman Pour, Benyamin Tehran - Bandarabbas Route 48 Khodadadi, Hatef Homaei, Saeed Mahmoodi Aznaveh, javad Najaf ...................................... Alizadeh, Caspian Makak, Ocean Zakarian, Davood Vakilzadeh, Arash Simaei, Abbas Jafari, Mohammadreza Baharnaz, Homayoun Amir yeganeh, Kianush Jafari Producer: Public Relations (RAI) Tehran - Goragn Route 64 Translation: Seyed Ebrahim Fazli Zenooz - ................................................ International Affairs Bureau (RAI) Address: Public Relations, Central Building of Railways, Africa Blvd., Argentina Sq., Tehran- Iran. www.rai.ir Tehran - Shiraz Route................................................... 80 First Edition January 2016 All rights reserved. Tehran - Khorramshahr Route .................................... 96 Tehran - Kerman Route .............................................114 Islamic Republic of Iran The Railways
    [Show full text]
  • About Mashhad
    About Mashhad Imam Reza Holy Shrine in (رضا امام حرم :Imam Reza shrine (Persian Mashhad, Iran is a complex which contains the mausoleum of Imam Reza, the eighth Imam of Twelver Shiites. It is the largest mosque in the world by dimension and the second largest by capacity. Also contained within the complex are the Goharshad Mosque, a museum, a library, four seminaries, a cemetery, the Razavi University of Islamic Sciences, a dining hall for pilgrims, vast prayer halls, and other buildings. Imam Reza Holy Shrine Museum Imam Reza Holy Shrine museums are among the richest museums of Islamic Republic of Iran, and are included among the most important art and cultural centers of the Islamic world. Astan Quds Razavi have several active museums which are as follows: Central Museum: This museum was inaugurated in 1964. The present building of the museum was constructed in 1977 in the eastern flank of Imam Khomeini (R.A.) courtyard. In this museum precious and exquisite objects present in the treasury of the holy shrine like the old covers of the Zarih around the sacred grave, paintings, utensils made of chinaware and steel, golden inscriptions, carpets different types of old lighting instruments, a single piece of carved stone called "Sangab" dating back to the Timurid era, medals and coins are exhibited for the visitors. Qur'anic Treasure Museum After the victory of the glorious Islamic revolution in Iran, the new Chief Reverend Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi ordered the construction of a grand new building to display the unique manuscripts of the Holy Qur'an preserved in the Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing Bioclimatic Effect on Expression Plasticity of Genes Poss
    Bordbar and Parvizi BMC Infectious Diseases (2021) 21:455 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06129-0 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Species diversity and spatial distribution of CL/VL vectors: assessing bioclimatic effect on expression plasticity of genes possessing vaccine properties isolated from wild-collected sand flies in endemic areas of Iran Ali Bordbar and Parviz Parvizi* Abstract Background: Leishmaniasis is one of the ten most important neglected tropical diseases worldwide. Understanding the distribution of vectors of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis (VL/CL) is one of the significant strategic frameworks to control leishmaniasis. In this study, the extent of the bioclimatic variability was investigated to recognize a rigorous cartographic of the spatial distribution of VL/CL vectors as risk-maps using ArcGIS modeling system. Moreover, the effect of bioclimatic diversity on the fold change expression of genes possessing vaccine traits (SP15 and LeIF) was evaluated in each bioclimatic region using real-time PCR analysis. Methods: The Inverse Distance Weighting interpolation method was used to obtain accurate geography map in closely-related distances. Bioclimatic indices were computed and vectors spatial distribution was analyzed in ArcGIS10.3.1 system. Species biodiversity was calculated based on Shannon diversity index using Rv.3.5.3. Expression fold change of SP15 and LeIF genes was evaluated using cDNA synthesis and RT-qPCR analysis. Results: Frequency of Phlebotomus papatasi was predominant in plains areas of Mountainous bioclimate covering the CL hot spots. Mediterranean region was recognized as an important bioclimate harboring prevalent patterns of VL vectors. Semi-arid bioclimate was identified as a major contributing factor to up-regulate salivary-SP15 gene expression (P = 0.0050, P < 0.05).
    [Show full text]
  • Original Article Faunistic Composition and Spatial Distribution of Scorpions in North Khorasan Province Northeast of Iran
    J Arthropod-Borne Dis, December 2019, 13(4): 369–377 Firoozfar F et al.: Faunistic Composition and … Original Article Faunistic Composition and Spatial Distribution of Scorpions in North Khorasan Province Northeast of Iran Faranak Firoozfar1,2; *Abedin Saghafipour3; Hassan Vatandoost4; Mulood Mohammadi 5 2 6 1 1 Bavani ; Masoumeh Taherpour ; Nahid Jesri ; Mahmood Yazdani ; Kourosh Arzamani 1Vector-borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran 2Department of Public Health, Faculty of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran 3Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran 4Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 5Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran 6Remote Sensing and GIS Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran (Received 16 Oct 2018; accepted 18 Dec 2019) Abstract Background: Scorpions pose one of the most important public health and medical problems in tropical and subtropi- cal regions of the world, especially in developing countries. This study was conducted to determine the fauna and spatial distribution of scorpions. Methods: In this descriptive study, scorpions were captured using ultra-violet (UV) light, pitfall traps and digging methods in North Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran in 2017. After being encoded, the collected scorpions were stored in plastic containers of 70% ethanol and then transferred to the medical entomology lab of Tehran University of Medical Sciences for species identification based on morphological keys. In addition, Arc GIS 9.3 software was utilized for mapping spatial distribution of scorpions.
    [Show full text]
  • Entrepreneurialism Through Self-Management in Afghan Guest Towns in Iran
    Article Entrepreneurialism through Self-Management in Afghan Guest Towns in Iran Jussi S. Jauhiainen 1,2,* and Davood Eyvazlu 3 1 Department of Geography and Geology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland 2 Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, EE-51014 Tartu, Estonia 3 Sharif Policy Research Institute (Iran Migration Observatory), Sharif University of Technology, 11365-11155 Tehran, Iran; [email protected] * Correspondence: jusaja@utu.fi; Tel.: +358-50-448-12-08 Received: 25 September 2020; Accepted: 21 October 2020; Published: 22 October 2020 Abstract: This article studies the self-management of guest towns (GTs) in Iran and the development of Afghan refugees’ employment and entrepreneurship in these settlements. No earlier research exists on refugee entrepreneurialism in GTs in Iran. The research is based on surveys (546 refugee respondents), interviews (35 refugees) and observations in four GTs in Iran, and interviews (12) with key public authorities related to Afghan refugees in Iran. Of the nearly one million Afghan refugees in Iran, approximately 30,000 reside in 20 GTs, each having up to a few thousand inhabitants. Following a decrease in international support for Afghan refugees and national privatisation policies, the Iranian government decided in 2003 that GTs needed to be self-managed to be financially self-sustainable by their Afghan refugee inhabitants. The motivation and necessity generated by GT self-management led to the increase, diversification, and profit orientation in Afghan refugees’ economic activities in the GTs. The GT refugee councils facilitated internal entrepreneurship fostered externally by state policies, such as the GTs’ obligation to become economically self-sustainable and the provision of tax exemptions and other incentives to GTs.
    [Show full text]
  • Gall-Inducing Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea: Eriosomatinae) Associated with Salicaceae and Ulmaceae in Razavi Khorasan Province, with New Records for Fauna of Iran
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Repository of the Academy's Library Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 54 (1), pp. 113–126 (2019) DOI: 10.1556/038.54.2019.010 Gall-inducing Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea: Eriosomatinae) Associated with Salicaceae and Ulmaceae in Razavi Khorasan Province, with New Records for Fauna of Iran A. NAJMI1, H. S. NAMAGHI1*, S. BARJADZE2 and L. FEKRAT1 1Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 2Institute of Zoology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia (Received: 11 November 2018; accepted: 16 November 2018) A survey of gall-inducing aphids on elm and poplar trees was carried out during 2017 in Razavi Kho- rasan province, NE Iran. As a result, 15 species of gall-inducing aphids from 5 genera, all belonging to the subfamily Eriosomatinae, were recorded on 6 host plant species. The collected species included the genera Eriosoma, Kaltenbachiella, Pemphigus, Tetraneura and Thecabius. Pemphigus passeki Börner (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Pemphigus populinigrae (Schrank) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Populus nigra var. italica (Sal- icaceae) were new records for the Iranian aphid fauna. Both new recorded species belong to the tribe Pem- phigini, subfamily Eriosomatinae. Among the identified species, 8 aphid species were new records for Razavi Khorasan province. Keywords: Aphid, elm, poplar, fauna, gall-inducing aphid. Many insect groups, around 13,000 species, are known as plant gall makers (Nyman and Julkunen-Tiitto, 2000; Suzuki et al., 2009). Among them, Aphidoidea is a very large superfamily in the hemipteran suborder Sternorrhyncha with about 5000 known species (Blackman and Eastop, 2000; Ge et al., 2016).
    [Show full text]
  • A Case of Razavi Khorasan, Iran)
    American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER) 2014 American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER) E-ISSN: 2320-0847 p-ISSN: 2320-0936 Volume-03, Issue-11, pp-12-17 www.ajer.org Research Paper Assessment of Regional Development Using Taxonomy Model (A Case of Razavi Khorasan, Iran) Hadi Ivani1*, Maryam Sofi2* 1 Faculty of Art and Architecture, Payame Noor University, Iran (Corresponding author) 2* MSc student of Geography & Urban Planning, Payam Noor University, Iran ABSTRACT : Today, for balanced growth in all regions of the country, economists believe that the idea of dynamic growth pole was unsuccessful because not only did it fail in decreasing regional inequalities in the country, but it also caused existing inequality-ties to intensify. In order to, the aim of current research is assessment of regional development using taxonomy model in the Razavi Khorasan province of Iran. Applied methodology is based on descriptive- analytical methods. we have used of numerical taxonomy as an most common approaches to categorize of development level in the Khorasan Razavi cities. Results show that Torbat- E- Jam (0.5) city has the highest level of development in case study region, while Fariman (0.15) has the lowest level. Finally, in the end of this presented some solve ways. KEY WORDS: Urban Development, Regional Development, Razavi Khorasan, Taxonomy I. INTRODUCTION Regional development is a broad term but can be seen as a general effort to reduce regional disparities by supporting (employment and wealth-generating) economic activities in regions. In the past, regional development policy tended to try to achieve these objectives by means of large-scale infrastructure development and by attracting inward investment.
    [Show full text]
  • Experiences in Flood Emergency Action Plan
    109 Paper No. 276 EXPERIENCES IN FLOOD EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN Dr. Muhammad Ali Banihashemi 110 Dr. Muhammad Ali Banihashemi International Workshop on Floods in Pakistan-2010 111 EXPERIENCES IN FLOOD EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN Dr. Muhammad Ali Banihashemi Assistant Professor, School of Civil Engg. College of Engg. University of Tehran [email protected] ABSTRACT: Golestan Province located at the north of I.R. of Iran, suffered three devastating flash floods in August 2001, 2002 and 2005. Like the 2010 floods in Pakistan, these three major floods can be considered as unprecedented super floods, affecting a vast area with considerable damages. Local and national authorities have taken several measures to manage these floods. One of these measures has been the preparation of Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for three major dams located in the area. These are Boostan, Golestan and Voshmgir Dams built on the Gorganrood River. This paper reports on the background, motivation, methodology, results and challenges encountered for preparation of EAP for these three dams. INTRODUCTION It is a common practice to prepare Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for large as well as small dams [1]. Different countries have their own regulations and/or practices for development of EAP for dams [2, 3, 4]. Whenever people live in areas downstream of a dam, floods resulted by the failure or operation of the dam have the potential to endanger their life and properties. Preparation of EAP for dams is relatively a new practice in Iran. One of the first attempts to prepare EAP for dams followed the occurrence of three major floods in Golestan Province.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rise and Stall of the Islamic State in Afghanistan
    UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE www.usip.org SPECIAL REPORT 2301 Constitution Ave., NW • Washington, DC 20037 • 202.457.1700 • fax 202.429.6063 ABOUT THE REPORT Casey Garret Johnson This report details the structure, composition, and growth of the Islamic State’s so-called Khorasan province, particularly in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, and outlines considerations for international policymakers. More than sixty interviews with residents of Nangarhar and provincial and The Rise and Stall of national Afghan security officials carried out by The Liaison Office, an Afghan research and peacebuilding organization, in Nangarhar and Kabul in the spring and summer of 2016 informed this report. the Islamic State in ABOUT THE AUTHOR Afghanistan Casey Garret Johnson is an independent researcher focusing on violent extremism and local politics in Afghanistan. Summary • The Islamic State’s Khorasan province (IS-K) is led by a core of former Tehrik-e-Taliban Paki- stan commanders from Orakzai and Khyber Agencies of Pakistan; the majority of mid-level commanders are former Taliban from Nangarhar, with the rank and file a mixture of local Afghans, Pakistanis, and foreign jihadists mostly from Central Asia. • IS-K receives funding from the Islamic State’s Central Command and is in contact with lead- ership in Iraq and Syria, but the setup and day-to-day operations of the Khorasan province have been less closely controlled than other Islamic State branches such as that in Libya. • IS-K emerged in two separate locations in Afghanistan in 2014—the far eastern reaches of Nangarhar province along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, and Kajaki district of southern Helmand province.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigating Importance and Effects of Climate Changes in Agriculture In
    International Conference on Applied Life Sciences (ICALS2012) 381 Turkey, September 10-12, 2012 ISALS Investigating Importance and Effects of Climate Changes in Agriculture in South Khorasan Province and Recognizing Appropriate Extension Education Activities in Confronting Them Farhood Golmohammadi1, Mohsen Arazmjoo2 , Seyed Hamid Razavi3 1 Islamic Azad University, Birjand Branch – Birjand, Iran 2 Agricultural Research- Education and Extension Organization_ Birjand Branch – Birjand, Iran 3 Oloome Entezami University- Birjand, Iran Abstract In this article, author state a brief to drought management as an essential approach for regional development and maintaining employment in South Khorasan province in Iran. Rainfall is the ultimate source of water, affecting production of crops and other biomass by direct falling on the fields as well as supporting surface and ground water irrigation. However, possibilities of drought occurrence in Iran vary from once in 20 years. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like droughts, floods, heat/cold waves, cyclones, delayed or early onset, long dry spells, early withdrawal, and floods in drought frequented areas and droughts in flood af- flicted areas have increased during the last two decades due to global warming. Since drought is defined by deviation from the normal rainfall, it can happen in all regions. Assessment and management of drought is complex due to its gradual appearance and long lasting impact or recoveries. Characteristics and impact of drought vary from region to region and year to year. Drought affects human, livestock, wildlife, bio-diversity and degrades the quality of natural re- source base. This article is part of a research project titled: (( Investigating importance and effects of climate changes in agriculture in south khorasan province and recognizing appropriate exten- sion education activities in confronting them)) that by author has been done in the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization_ Birjand Branch – Birjand, South khorasan province of Iran.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of Small Mammals Inhabiting Pistachio Gardens of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran
    BIHAREAN BIOLOGIST 7 (1): pp.13-19 ©Biharean Biologist, Oradea, Romania, 2013 Article No.: 131102 http://biozoojournals.3x.ro/bihbiol/index.html A study of small mammals inhabiting pistachio gardens of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran Seyed Massoud MADJDZADEH1,* and Haji Mohammad TAKALLOOZADEH1,2 1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman 76169-14111, Iran. E-mail: [email protected] 2. Department of Plant protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman 76169-14111, Iran. E-mail: [email protected] *Corresponding author, S.M. Madjdzadeh, E-mail: [email protected] Received: 21. April 2012 / Accepted: 26. February 2013 / Available online: 3. March 2013 / Printed: June 2013 Abstract. This study was performed in order to indentify the rodent fauna inhabiting pistachio gardens in Kerman Province, Southeast Iran. In this order we used live trapping method for the sampling of rodents. In total, 105 rodent specimens were collected. The specimens were studied in respect to their morphological, cranial and external characteristics. The results showed that six species belonging to five genera of rodents and one species of lagomorpha occur in this region. The identified samples were as fallow: Cricetulus migratorius, Mus musculus, Nesokia indica, Meriones persicus, Meriones libycus, Tatera indica, and Ochotona rufescenc. Mus musculus and Cricetulus migratorius had maximum and minimum abundance respectively. Morphological and morphometric characteristics of the identified species were investigated. Key words: Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Pistachio gardens, Kerman Province, Iran. Introduction some rodents in the agricultural areas of Southern parts of Kerman Province (Missone 1990). To date no such studies Rodents constitute one of the largest orders of mammals, are carried out in agricultural areas such as pistachio gar- which composed of about 29 families, 443 genera and 2277 dens in Kerman Province.
    [Show full text]