A neglected urban pest (Cimex lectularius) in southwest of Iran

Background: Bed bugs are obligatory bloodsuckers and nocturnal insect belong to Hemiptera order and Cimicidae family. Cimex lectularius prefers feeding on humans and they are considered because of the bites and skin symptoms. Although bed bugs have not been introduced as vector of human diseases, but its infestation has known as a health problem.Objectives: This survey was conducted to prepare the distribution of bed bug infestation and determine the prevalence of the insect among all areas of Ahvaz city.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in 62 areas of Ahvaz city on January 2017. Totally, 520 houses (353 villas and 167 apartments) randomly selected in these two parts based on their population to determining the presence or absence of bed bugs. An entomologist surveyed the houses and Observed bedbugs collected by forceps and flashlight. Some information like the source and infested place, the number of families that use second hand instrument, the level concern of residents to bed bug infestation and allergic reaction to bed bug bite were registered in the forms. All places were pointed by GPS and a dispersal map of bed bugs was prepared by ArcGIS 9.3.Results: Prevalence of bed bug infestation estimated 9.61% in Ahvaz city that the rate of infestation was 5.4% and 11.6% in apartments and villas, respectively. The most infestations of bed bug observed in the AsiaAbad area with 60 collected bed bugs in three houses. The lowest and highest infestation rates based on its source were 1.35% and 9.03% in wallpaper and cracks and crevices, respectively.About 127 persons have bitten by bed bugs with various allergic reactions like redness skin, papules, vesicles, pustules and blisters. Moreover, the cutaneous reactions were severed in children. Only 12% of respondents were not concerned regarding the increasing bed bug population. The results showed 94% of the families refused to buy second hand instruments.Conclusion: Cimex lectularius as an urban pest may affect on quality of life and the health of in the habitants and the bed bug infestation was observed in low, middle and upper income communities.

کلیدواژه ها:

prevalence ، bed bug infestation ، distribution