Mosquito Vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) and Mosquito-Borne Diseases in North Africa.

Abstract

Simple SummaryPeople around the world, as well as animals, are at risk of being affected by infectious diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. Indeed, in addition to being pests, some species of mosquitoes have the ability to carry pathogens from one host to another. In the North Africa region, approximately 80 species are currently recorded. In this review, we focus only on mosquitoes of medical and veterinary importance (26 species), providing a concise update of the literature on species and the diseases they carry (two parasitic and five viral infections).Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are of significant public health importance because of their ability to transmit major diseases to humans and animals, and are considered as the world’s most deadly arthropods. In recent decades, climate change and globalization have promoted mosquito-borne diseases’ (MBDs) geographic expansion to new areas, such as North African countries, where some of these MBDs were unusual or even unknown. In this review, we summarize the latest data on mosquito vector species distribution and MBDs affecting both human and animals in North Africa, in order to better understand the risks associated with the introduction of new invasive mosquito species such as Aedes albopictus. Currently, 26 mosquito species confirmed as pathogen vectors occur in North Africa, including Aedes (five species), Culex (eight species), Culiseta (one species) and Anopheles (12 species). These 26 species are involved in the circulation of seven MBDs in North Africa, including two parasitic infections (malaria and filariasis) and five viral infections (WNV, RVF, DENV, SINV and USUV). No bacterial diseases have been reported so far in this area. This review may guide research studies to fill the data gaps, as well as helping with developing effective vector surveillance and controlling strategies by concerned institutions in different involved countries, leading to cooperative and coordinate vector control measures.