RESEARCH ARTICLE The Fleas (Siphonaptera) in Iran: Diversity, Host Range, and Medical Importance Naseh Maleki-Ravasan1, Samaneh Solhjouy-Fard2,3, Jean-Claude Beaucournu4, Anne Laudisoit5,6,7, Ehsan Mostafavi2,3* 1 Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran, 2 Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran, 3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pasteur institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran, 4 University of Rennes, France Faculty of Medicine, and Western Insitute of Parasitology, Rennes, France, 5 Evolutionary Biology group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, 6 School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 7 CIFOR, Jalan Cifor, Situ Gede, Sindang Barang, Bogor Bar., Jawa Barat, Indonesia *
[email protected] a1111111111 a1111111111 a1111111111 a1111111111 Abstract a1111111111 Background Flea-borne diseases have a wide distribution in the world. Studies on the identity, abun- dance, distribution and seasonality of the potential vectors of pathogenic agents (e.g. Yersi- OPEN ACCESS nia pestis, Francisella tularensis, and Rickettsia felis) are necessary tools for controlling Citation: Maleki-Ravasan N, Solhjouy-Fard S, and preventing such diseases outbreaks. The improvements of diagnostic tools are partly Beaucournu J-C, Laudisoit A, Mostafavi E (2017) The Fleas (Siphonaptera) in Iran: Diversity, Host responsible for an easier detection of otherwise unnoticed agents in the ectoparasitic fauna Range, and Medical Importance. PLoS Negl Trop and as such a good taxonomical knowledge of the potential vectors is crucial. The aims of Dis 11(1): e0005260. doi:10.1371/journal. this study were to make an exhaustive inventory of the literature on the fleas (Siphonaptera) pntd.0005260 and range of associated hosts in Iran, present their known distribution, and discuss their Editor: Pamela L.