Emergence of Mosquito-borne Viruses in Iran and Adjacent Countries: The Case of Chikungunya
Abstract:
Scientific
overwhelming evidence confirms that the prevalence and incidence of
mosquito-borne viruses such as chikungunya (CHIK) are dramatically
increasing in MiddleEastern countries including Iran. Methods: In this
review article, using relevant keywords (“Chikungunya” OR “CHIKV” OR
“Aedes albopictus” OR “Aedes aegypti”), available literature was
searched to collect data related to the reports of CHIK and its main
vectors, Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti, in Iran and 15 neighboring
countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates
(UAE), Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Results: CHIK was reported in
neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, Russia, Saudi Arabia,
Yemen, Oman, Qatar, and Iraq. Furthermore, presumably introduced in
2019, CHIK was reported in 11 provinces in Iran with overall
seropositivity of 17.23% in humans over the past three years. The
mosquitoes, Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti, have recently been reported
in the southeast and south of Iran. Conclusion: Given the change in
climate, even if the density of the vectors is still limited, there is
no guarantee that their population will not spread much more in the
coming years. This emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen the
surveillance system for the vectors, and sustained surveillance of CHIK
infections in mosquitoes and humans, preferably in a collaborative
international project.
