A Literature Review on the Role of the Invasive <i>Aedes albopictus</i> in the Transmission of Avian Malaria Parasites

The Asian tiger mosquito (<i>Aedes albopictus</i>) is an invasive mosquito species with a global distribution. This species has populations established in most continents, being considered one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species. Invasions of mosquitoes such as <i>Ae. albopictus</i> could facilitate local transmission of pathogens, impacting the epidemiology of some mosquito-borne diseases. <i>Aedes albopictus</i> is a vector of several pathogens affecting humans, including viruses such as dengue virus, Zika virus and Chikungunya virus, as well as parasites such as <i>Dirofilaria</i>. However, information about its competence for the transmission of parasites affecting wildlife, such as avian malaria parasites, is limited. In this literature review, we aim to explore the current knowledge about the relationships between <i>Ae. albopictus</i> and avian <i>Plasmodium</i> to understand the role of this mosquito species in avian malaria transmission. The prevalence of avian <i>Plasmodium</i> in field-collected <i>Ae. albopictus</i> is generally low, although studies have been conducted in a small proportion of the affected countries. In addition, the competence of <i>Ae. albopictus</i> for the transmission of avian malaria parasites has been only proved for certain <i>Plasmodium</i> morphospecies under laboratory conditions. Therefore, <i>Ae. albopictus</i> may play a minor role in avian <i>Plasmodium</i> transmission in the wild, likely due to its mammal-biased blood-feeding pattern and its reduced competence for the development of different avian <i>Plasmodium</i>. However, further studies considering other avian <i>Plasmodium</i> species and lineages circulating under natural conditions should be carried out to properly assess the vectorial role of <i>Ae. albopictus</i> for the <i>Plasmodium</i> species naturally circulating in its distribution range.