Anopheles sergenti (Theobald) a potential malaria vector in Egypt

Two immunoassays for malaria sporozoite detection and identification, the immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the species-specific monoclonal antibodies are routinely performed in our laboratory. We analyzed (573) anopheline mosquitoes of A. sergenti (463), A. pharoensis (81) and A. multicolor (29) collected from Siwa-oases and Faiyum Governorate (two known active malaria foci in Egypt), for detection of P. falciparum and P. vivax sporozoites. P. falciparum sporozoites were detected by both IRMA and ELISA tests in two A. sergenti mosquitoes (one from Siwa 1/389 = (0.26%) and one from Faiyum Governorate 1/74 = (1.35%)). No P. vivax sporozoites were detected. This finding is important in explaining the malaria transmission and provide first incrimination of An. sergenti as the responsible vector of malaria in Siwa-oasis, Egypt.