Phylogeographic Characterization of Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) in Algeria

Abstract

Purpose

Aedes albopictus, known as the Asian tiger mosquito, is an extensively studied mosquito species recognized for its rapid global expansion and its capacity to transmit a range of viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever viruses. In 2010, Ae. albopictus was observed for the first time in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria, and since then has colonized all the northern part of the country until the semi-arid areas. The present study was devoted to the molecular characterization of Ae. albopictus in Algeria.

Methods

A total of 20 selected mosquitos,originated from collected eggs in five different districts of northern Algeria weretested by PCR amplification and sequencing of the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 a (COIa).

Results

Pairwise alignment of the obtained sequences with representative Ae. albopictus available COIasequences of the world exhibit 117 different haplotypes. The Algerian sequences are grouped in 1 haplotype shared with Morroco, Madagascar and Mauritius in Africa and 3 other continents (Asia, Europe and America). Asia expresses the highest genetic and nucleotidic diversity (Hd = 0.828;π = 0.0144). In China two new species not described in the literature and confused with Ae. albopictus are detected.

Conclusion

These results could be used as preliminary data to study and develop targeted control strategies to prevent this vector from spreading in Algeria.