Benbetka S, Hachid A, Benallal K E, Benbetka C, Khaldi A, Bitam I, Harrat Z
Laboratoire d'Eco-épidémiologie Parasitaire et Génétique des Populations; Université Mohamed Bouguerra, Boumerdesse, Algeria.
Laboratoire des arbovirus et des virus émergents, Institut Pasteur d'Algérie; Faculté de Médecine, Université d'Alger, Algeria.
J Vector Borne Dis. 2018 Oct-Dec;55(4):305-309. doi: 10.4103/0972-9062.256566.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: West Nile virus (WNV) is considered one of the most widely distributed arboviruses in the world which is transmitted by several mosquito species including the Culex genus. Culex pipiens is the major vector of this virus in Europe and USA whereas in African countries, other species such as Cx. perexiguus is considered as an important vector. This paper aimed to study the mosquito species involved in WNV transmission in Aougrout, one of the highly populated Oasis of Timimoun Province in Algeria where human WNV neuroinvasive diseases are prevalent.
CDC light-traps were installed in animal and human shelters for three nights. Collected mosquitoes were pooled and real-time PCR was performed to detect and identify WNV lineages 1 and 2 in the samples. Results: CDC light-traps collected 270 mosquitoes belonging to three genera. Culex genus was predominant with Cx. perexiguus as main species followed by Aedes and Anopheles genus. A total of 33 pools were tested; one pool containing Cx. perexiguus was found positive for WNV lineage 1.
INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: This study reports for the first time a WNV natural infection of Culex perexiguus in the study region indicating that species other than Cx. pipiens should be taken into consideration in WNV surveillance, especially in specific environments like Saharan Oasis ecosystem.
西尼罗河病毒（WNV）被认为是世界上分布最广的虫媒病毒之一，可通过包括库蚊属在内的多种蚊子传播。尖音库蚊是该病毒在欧洲和美国的主要传播媒介，而在非洲国家，其他物种如嗜人库蚊被认为是重要的传播媒介。本文旨在研究阿尔及利亚提米蒙省人口密集的绿洲之一奥格鲁特地区参与WNV传播的蚊种，该地区人类WNV神经侵袭性疾病流行。
在动物和人类住所设置疾控中心诱蚊灯，持续三晚。收集的蚊子合并后进行实时PCR检测，以检测和鉴定样本中的WNV 1型和2型谱系。结果：疾控中心诱蚊灯捕获了属于三个属的270只蚊子。库蚊属占主导，其中嗜人库蚊为主要蚊种，其次是伊蚊属和按蚊属。共检测了33组样本；一组含有嗜人库蚊的样本被检测出WNV 1型呈阳性。
本研究首次报道了研究区域嗜人库蚊的WNV自然感染情况，表明在WNV监测中应考虑除尖音库蚊之外的其他蚊种，尤其是在撒哈拉绿洲生态系统等特定环境中。
