Recent Expansion of Aedes albopictus and Factors Influencing its Beginning Invasion in North Africa: A Review (original) (raw)
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Potential of Aedes albopictus to cause the emergence of arboviruses in Morocco
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
In 2015, the mosquito Aedes albopictus was detected in Rabat, Morocco. This invasive species can be involved in the transmission of more than 25 arboviruses. It is known that each combination of mosquito population and virus genotype leads to a specific interaction that can shape the outcome of infection. Testing the vector competence of local mosquitoes is therefore a prerequisite to assess the risks of emergence. A field-collected strain of Ae. albopictus from Morocco was experimentally infected with dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV), zika (ZIKV) and yellow fever (YFV) viruses. We found that this species can highly transmit CHIKV and to a lesser extent, DENV, ZIKV and YFV. Viruses can be detected in mosquito saliva at day 3 (CHIKV), day 14 (DENV and YFV), and day 21 (ZIKV) post-infection. These results suggest that the local transmission of these four arboviruses by Ae. albopictus newly introduced in Morocco is a likely scenario.
Aedes albopictus in Lebanon, a potential risk of arboviruses outbreak
BMC Infectious Diseases, 2012
Background: The mosquito Aedes albopictus is undergoing a worldwide expansion with potential consequences on transmission of various arboviruses. This species has been first detected in Lebanon in 2003. Methods: We performed a phylogenetic study of Lebanese specimens and assessed their host preference by detecting human, cat, dog and chicken immunoglobulins in mosquito blood-meals. Their capacity to transmit arboviruses was investigated by providing infectious blood-meals using an artificial feeding system followed by detection of viral particles in mosquito saliva. Results: Our results suggest that Lebanese strains are part of the recent wave of Ae. albopictus expansion and are related to some European, African and North American strains. They exhibited a host preference towards humans and an important capacity to transmit arboviruses. Indeed, we showed that Ae. albopictus was able to transmit chikungunya (CHIKV), dengue (DENV) and West-Nile (WNV) viruses. At day 10 after an infectious blood-meal at a titer of 10 8 MID 50 /ml, 30% of mosquitoes delivered an average of 515 ± 781 viral particles of CHIKV in saliva collected using a forced salivation technique and 55% with an average of 245 ± 304 viral particles when infected with WNV. Whereas DENV was not found in saliva at day 10 post-infection (pi), an average of 174 ± 455 viral particles was detected in 38.1% of mosquitoes tested at day 21 after an infectious blood-meal at a higher titer of 10 9 MID 50 /ml. Conclusion: These observations suggest that Ae. albopictus around Beirut is a potential vector of the three tested arboviruses.
Short communication: New report of Aedes albopictus in Souk Ahras, Northeast Algeria
Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 2021
The present paper reports the occurrence of Aedes albopictus (Skuse), an aggressive Asian tiger mosquito in the city of Souk-Ahras (Northeast of Algeria). A "26 April" estate' inhabitants (Souk-Ahras province) have reported unusual daytime bites by a striped mosquito. On early September 2020, an intensive field inspection was carried out for potential mosquito breeding sites in the locations around the city. A total of 105 specimens (8 larvae, 24 pupae and 73 adults) of Ae. albopictus were collected in a pile of old tyres in a residential garden. After previous records of this species in Algeria, this is the first evidence of its presence in Souk-Ahras province, and the findings enhance combined public participation with professional validation in surveillance of vector borne-diseases programs with emphasis on the need for sensitising citizens about controlling this important vector.
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2020
The mosquito Aedes albopictus was detected for the first time in Tunisia in 2018. With its establishment in the capital city of Tunis, local health authorities fear the introduction of new human arboviral diseases, like what happened in Europe with unexpected local cases of chikungunya, dengue and Zika. Even though this mosquito is competent to transmit the arboviruses mentioned above, the transmission level will vary depending on the couple, mosquito population and virus genotype. Here, we assessed the vector competence of Ae. albopictus Tunisia by experimental infections with chikungunya (CHIKV), dengue (DENV), and Zika (ZIKV) viruses. We found that Ae. albopictus Tunisia was highly competent for CHIKV (transmission efficiency of 25% at 21 post-infection) and to a lesser extent, for ZIKV (8.7%) and DENV (8.3%). Virus was detected in mosquito saliva at day 3 (CHIKV), day 10 (ZIKV) and day 21 (DENV) post-infection. These results suggest that the risk of emergence of chikungunya is the highest imposing a more sustained surveillance to limit Ae. albopictus populations in densely populated urban dwellings and at the entry points of travelers returning from CHIKV-endemic regions.
Aedes Mosquitoes and Aedes-Borne Arboviruses in Africa: Current and Future Threats
International journal of environmental research and public health, 2018
The Zika crisis drew attention to the long-overlooked problem of arboviruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes in Africa. Yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika are poorly controlled in Africa and often go unrecognized. However, to combat these diseases, both in Africa and worldwide, it is crucial that this situation changes. Here, we review available data on the distribution of each disease in Africa, their Aedes vectors, transmission potential, and challenges and opportunities for Aedes control. Data on disease and vector ranges are sparse, and consequently maps of risk are uncertain. Issues such as genetic and ecological diversity, and opportunities for integration with malaria control, are primarily African; others such as ever-increasing urbanization, insecticide resistance and lack of evidence for most control-interventions reflect problems throughout the tropics. We identify key knowledge gaps and future research areas, and in particular, highlight the need to improve knowl...
Journal of Medical Entomology, 2019
Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is a widespread invasive mosquito vector species with a distribution including tropical and temperate climates; its range is still expanding. Aedes albopictus populations were recently detected in Morocco and Algeria, the countries neighboring Tunisia, but never in Tunisia. In 2018, we initiated an intensive field study using BG-Sentinel Traps, ovitraps, larval surveys, and citizens’ reports to determine whether Ae. albopictus populations exist in Tunisia. In October 2018, we collected adults and larval stages of Ae. albopictus in Carthage, Amilcar, and La Marsa, less than 20 km, northeast of Tunis, the Tunisian capital. These Ae. albopictus larvae were primarily collected from Phoenician funeral urns at the archeological site of Carthage. This is, to our knowledge, the first detection of Ae. albopictus in Tunisia.
Research Square (Research Square), 2023
Background Updated information on the distribution and abundance of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus is crucial to prepare African countries like Benin for possible arbovirus outbreaks. This study aims to evaluate the geographical distribution, the abundance, and the biting behaviors of these two vectors in Benin. Methods Three sampling techniques (Human Landing Catch (HLC), Larval sampling, and Ovitrapping) were used to collect both immature and adult stages of Aedes spp in 23 communes located along the North-South and East-West transect of Benin. Adult Aedes mosquitoes were collected indoors and outdoors using HLC. Mosquito eggs, larvae, and pupae were collected from containers and ovitraps and morphologically identi ed, then con rmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Results Overall, 12,428 adult specimens of Aedes spp, out of which 76.53% (n = 9508) and 19.32% (n = 2400) were morphologically identi ed as Ae. aegypti, and Ae. albopictus respectively. Geographically, Ae. aegypti was encountered across the North South transect unlike Ae. albopictus which was only encountered in the southern part of the country, with a strong preponderance in Avrankou and Ifangni. Furthermore, exophagic behaviors were observed in both vectors. Conclusion This updated distribution of Aedes mosquitoes in Benin will help to accurately identify areas at risk of arboviruses, to better plan future vector control interventions. these diseases in the region. In West Africa, although the rst detection of Ae. albopictus was reported three decades ago in Nigeria, it was not detected in neighbouring Benin until 2021, a country that shares 773 kilometres of border with Nigeria [17]. Between July and August 2010, two cases of dengue were diagnosed in France in travellers from Cotonou, Benin [18, 19]. Between April and July 2019, height con rmed cases of dengue including two deaths were recorded in the departments of Atlantique, Littoral and Ouémé in southern Benin [20]. According to Padonou et al. [21], the diagnosis of con rmed dengue cases in a given area is an indication of the area's strong infestation by mosquitoes of the Aedes genus. Recently, cases of dengue virus infections have been recorded in Rosso area in Senegal [22, 23]. In 2022, dengue epidemics affected the economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire with 380 cases of dengue detected [23]. In addition, several studies have shown a strong association between the distribution of vectors and the risk of occurrence of a disease [21, 24]. In the case of arboviruses, the results obtained have enabled the development of risk maps [25-27]. These maps are useful for decision-making, as they allow control interventions to target with precision the most affected areas. In Benin, the distribution area of Ae. albopictus is still poorly known. Moreover, even if Ae. aegypti is very often found in routine entomological collections, an update of its distribution area in the country is required. This study establishes the distribution map of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in Benin. This proposed tool is a prerequisite that will be used to prepare the country's response to potential arbovirus epidemics. Methods Study area This study was carried out in Benin, more speci cally in 23 of the 77 communes in the country (Fig. 1). Ten of the investigated communes were selected due to their closeness to Nigeria, where Ae. albopictus was rst detected three decades ago. The 23 communes were selected according to their representativeness of the 03 major eco-climatic zones in the country: Area of degraded forests with a subequatorial climate This area is characterized by two rainy seasons (Mid-March to Mid-July, and September to November), and two dry seasons (December to Mid-March, and Mid-July to August).