title: Fauna and Larval Habitats of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of West Azerbaijan Province, Northwestern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several important diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes. Despite of the potential of the occurrence of some mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile, dirofilariasis and malaria in the region, there is no recent study of mosquitoes in West Azerbaijan Province. The aim of this investigation was to study the fauna, composition and distribution of mosquitoes and the characteristics of their larval habitats in this province.
  
  
  METHODS
  Larvae and adult collections were carried out from different habitats using the standard methods in twenty five localities of seven counties across West Azerbaijan Province.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1569 mosquitoes including 1336 larvae and 233 adults were collected from 25 localities. The details of geographical properties were recorded. Five genera along with 12 species were collected and identified including: Anopheles claviger, An. maculipennis s.l., An. superpictus, Culex pipiens, Cx. theileri, Cx. modestus, Cx. hortensis, Cx. mimeticus, Culiseta Longiareolata, Ochlerotatus caspius s.l., Oc. geniculatus and Uranotaenia unguiculata. This is the first record of Oc. geniculatus in the province.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the geographical location of the West Azerbaijan Province, it comprises different climatic condition which provides suitable environment for the establishment of various species of mosquitoes. The solidarity geographical, cultural and territorial exchanges complicate the situation of the province and its vectors as a threat for future and probable epidemics of mosquito-borne diseases.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Social Determinants of Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran ; Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khoshdel-Nezamiha
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vatandoost
authors.affiliation: School of Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahyad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azari-Hamidian
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mulood Mohammadi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bavani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Farrokh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dabiri
authors.affiliation: Director of Health Deputy of West Azerbaijan, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Rasool
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Entezar-Mahdi
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Social Determinants of Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran ; Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Chavshin
keywords: Arboviruses; Culicidae; Fauna; Larval habitat; Mosquito-borne diseases