Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Tunisia, with Particular Attention to Proven and Potential Vectors: A Review

The state of knowledge of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) is dispersed and disorganized in Tunisia although their important role as disease vectors. The available published and unpublished reports were collected and reviewed. There are about 43 species of mosquitoes in Tunisia. There are a total of 12 species of Anopheles. The species involved in malaria transmission in Tunisia during the endemic period and still persisting in Tunisia are Anopheles (An.) labranchiae, predominant species in the north and center of the country, An. sergenti and An. multicolor in the Center and South. The genus Culex contains 11 species. Culex (Cx.) pipiens is the most dangerous specie and their distribution is ubiquitous in Tunisia. This mosquito has been implicated in the transmission of West Nile virus (WNV) in Tunisia. Concerning vectors, Aedes aegypti was reported in Tunisia before 2000, but was not encountered later. Moreover, Aedes albopictus, the other vector of Dengue and Chikungunya, is not among the 43 species of mosquitoes described in Tunisia, but the latter circulates in neighboring countries. Collected and analyzed data will help current and future research on mosquitoes particularly in the field of medical entomology to develop and implement vector control strategies.