@2024 Afarand., IRAN
ISSN: 1735-7667 Iranian Journal of Military Medicine 2012;14(2):155-162
ISSN: 1735-7667 Iranian Journal of Military Medicine 2012;14(2):155-162
Ant stings in military forces on three Persian islands of Abu-Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb
ARTICLE INFO
Article Type
Original ResearchAuthors
Khoobdel M. ()Akbarzadeh K. (1)
Jafari H. (2)
Mehrabi Tavana A. (3)
Mousavi Jazayari A. (4)
Rafienejad J. (1)
Izadi M. (5)
Jahani Y. (6)
Nobakht M. (4)
Bahmani M. M. (4)
Rahimi M. (4)
Mohammadyari A. (4)
() Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
(1) Faculty of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
(2) Sahebazzaman Hospital, Bandarabbas, Iran
(3) Health Management Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
(4) Marine Medicine Research Center, Bandarabbas, Iran
(5) Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
(6) Faculty of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Correspondence
Address:Phone:
Fax:
khoobdel@yahoo.com
Article History
Received: July 1, 2011Accepted: January 29, 2012
ePublished:
ABSTRACT
Aims
Ants with the ability of biting and injecting venom to human body are called sting ants. This study was conducted to identify and determine the ant species and the prevalence of ant sting and related epidemiological factors in three Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu-Musa islands, Iran.
Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed during Jan-July 2010 in Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu-Musa islands on 318 military individuals who were selected by random sampling method. The ant collection was done by active hand-catch method. The ant sting prevalence and related epidemiological factors were determined by questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods including Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test and Spearman and Gamma correlation.
Results Sting ants in these islands were identified as Pachycondyla sennaarensis (Mayr, 1862) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The mean prevalence of ant stings was 70.1%. The seasonal incidence of sting in three islands had the same pattern and was more common in spring and summer. 84.4% of ant stings had occurred in limbs. The main symptoms caused by the ant stings include pain, severe itching and local inflammation and blisters in some cases.
Conclusion Although ant stings in these islands is not much dangerous and does not lead to anaphylactic shock and death, ant stings prevalence is very high and the pain, itching and burning would cause discomfort for soldiers and reduce their efficiency. Therefore, preventive measures and control of these ants should be considered.
Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed during Jan-July 2010 in Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu-Musa islands on 318 military individuals who were selected by random sampling method. The ant collection was done by active hand-catch method. The ant sting prevalence and related epidemiological factors were determined by questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods including Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test and Spearman and Gamma correlation.
Results Sting ants in these islands were identified as Pachycondyla sennaarensis (Mayr, 1862) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The mean prevalence of ant stings was 70.1%. The seasonal incidence of sting in three islands had the same pattern and was more common in spring and summer. 84.4% of ant stings had occurred in limbs. The main symptoms caused by the ant stings include pain, severe itching and local inflammation and blisters in some cases.
Conclusion Although ant stings in these islands is not much dangerous and does not lead to anaphylactic shock and death, ant stings prevalence is very high and the pain, itching and burning would cause discomfort for soldiers and reduce their efficiency. Therefore, preventive measures and control of these ants should be considered.
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