Malaria in North Africa: A Review of the Status of Vectors and Parasites

Abstract

This article presents the status of Anopheles mosquito species and malaria parasite occurrences in North Africa. Because information is dispersed among numerous sources, we assimilated the information into a synthesis of the current status and potential of the disease in the region. Malaria transmission has been interrupted in North Africa, but the risk of re-emergence remains high. Indeed, competent vectors are present across the region, and the number of imported cases is increasing. The dominant parasite among imported cases is Plasmodium falciparum Welch in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco and Plasmodium vivax Grassi & Feletti in Libya and Egypt. In northwestern Africa (Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco), vectors formerly responsible for malaria transmission are Anopheles labranchiae Falleroni and Anopheles sergenti Theobald, whereas Anopheles pharoensis Theobald and Anopheles sergenti are the main malaria vectors in Egypt. Anopheles multicolor Cambouliu and An. sergenti are the major potential vectors of malaria transmission in Libya. In 2014, malaria caused by P. falciparum (1 case) and P. vivax (23 cases) were documented in Aswan Governorate, Egypt, indicating probable re-emergence of transmission, although these cases are considered as imported. In Algeria, local cases caused by P. falciparum in 2013 suggested probable re-emergence of malaria transmission. Four cases of airport malaria were noted for the first time in Tunisia during summer 2013 and were caused by P. falciparum. The presence of competent malaria vector species, together with high numbers of imported malaria cases each year, underscores the risk of re-emergence of autochthonous transmission in all countries of North Africa.