Mosquito-Borne Viral Pathogens Detected in Zambia: A Systematic Review

• Published in: Pathogens (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 8; p. 1007
• Main Authors: Velu, Rachel Milomba, Kwenda, Geoffrey, Libonda, Liyali, Chisenga, Caroline Cleopatra, Flavien, Bumbangi Nsoni, Chilyabanyama, Obvious Nchimunya, Simunyandi, Michelo, Bosomprah, Samuel, Sande, Nicholus Chintu, Changula, Katendi, Muleya, Walter, Mburu, Monicah Mirai, Mubemba, Benjamin, Chitanga, Simbarashe, Tembo, John, Bates, Matthew, Kapata, Nathan, Orba, Yasuko, Kajihara, Masahiro, Takada, Ayato, Sawa, Hirofumi, Chilengi, Roma, Simulundu, Edgar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 10.08.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Antibodies; Aquatic insects; arboviruses; Coccidioidomycosis; Dengue fever; Encephalitis; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Flaviviridae; Global health; Infections; Malaria; mosquito-borne; Mosquitoes; Pathogens; Phenuiviridae; Provinces; Public health; Review; Rift Valley fever; Risk factors; Search engines; Serology; Systematic review; Togaviridae; Tropical diseases; Vector-borne diseases; Vectors; Viral diseases; Viral infections; Viruses; West Nile virus; Zambia; Zika virus; Zambia; Angola; Zambezi River; Africa
• ISSN: 2076-0817; 2076-0817
• DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081007

Emerging and re-emerging mosquito-borne viral diseases are a threat to global health. This systematic review aimed to investigate the available evidence of mosquito-borne viral pathogens reported in Zambia. A search of literature was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar for articles published from 1 January 1930 to 30 June 2020 using a combination of keywords. Eight mosquito-borne viruses belonging to three families, Togaviridae, Flaviviridae and Phenuiviridae were reported. Three viruses (Chikungunya virus, Mayaro virus, Mwinilunga virus) were reported among the togaviruses whilst four (dengue virus, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, Zika virus) were among the flavivirus and only one virus, Rift Valley fever virus, was reported in the Phenuiviridae family. The majority of these mosquito-borne viruses were reported in Western and North-Western provinces. Aedes and Culex species were the main mosquito-borne viral vectors reported. Farming, fishing, movement of people and rain patterns were among factors associated with mosquito-borne viral infection in Zambia. Better diagnostic methods, such as the use of molecular tools, to detect the viruses in potential vectors, humans, and animals, including the recognition of arboviral risk zones and how the viruses circulate, are important for improved surveillance and design of effective prevention and control measures.