{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,26]],"date-time":"2026-08-26T16:32:04Z","timestamp":1787761924228,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,7]],"date-time":"2026-02-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770422400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"\n Background & objectives:<\/jats:title>\n Algeria has been certified as malaria-free since 2019 by WHO and last indigenous case was reported in May 2013; however, imported cases remain a concern for possible for reintroduction. This study aimed to describes the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics of imported malaria cases in the Tizi-Ouzou between 2018 and 2024.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods:<\/jats:title>\n \n A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University Hospital of Tizi-Ouzou. Data were collected from hospital registers and archived medical records. Only laboratory-confirmed cases, diagnosed by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears, were included. Variables included demographics, travel history,\n Plasmodium<\/jats:italic>\n species, incubation period, clinical presentation, disease severity, laboratory findings, treatment, preventive measures, and outcomes.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results:<\/jats:title>\n \n Among 106 individuals screened, 16 were confirmed as imported malaria (positivity rate 15.1%). Annual cases fluctuated, with a notable increase from 2022 to 2024, reaching 40% positivity in 2024. Most patients were men (87.5%) and adults aged 20\u201350 yrs (87.5%), mainly Algerian nationals returning from West Africa.\n Plasmodium falciparum<\/jats:italic>\n accounted for 87.5% of cases, often with low parasitemia (< 4 % in 68.8%). No patient had used chemoprophylaxis. Fever with chills and sweats was the most common symptom (92.9%). Uncomplicated malaria representes 78.6% of cases, while 21.4% were severe. The main biological abnormalities were anemia (92.8%), thrombocytopenia (42.8%), and hepatic cytolysis (43%). Mefloquine was the most prescribed treatment (71.4%).\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Interpretation & conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n \n Imported malaria in Tizi-Ouzou is characterized by\n P. falciparum<\/jats:italic>\n predominance, absence of chemoprophylaxis, short post-travel incubation, and travel-linked seasonality. Strengthening pre-travel counseling, improving prophylaxis, uptake, and enhancing clinician awareness are crucial to prevent severe disease and reduce the risk of malaria reintroduction in Algeria.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.4103\/jvbd.jvbd_298_25","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,18]],"date-time":"2026-02-18T17:00:12Z","timestamp":1771434012000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Imported Malaria in a Malaria-Free Region: A Retrospective Analysis of Epidemiological, Clinical, and Therapeutic Patterns in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria (2018\u20132024)"],"prefix":"10.4103","author":[{"given":"Safia","family":"YOUSFI","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological and Agronomical Sciences, Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria"},{"name":"Laboratory of Ecology and Biology of Terrestrial Ecosystems (LEBET), Faculty of Biological and Agronomical Sciences, Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Djamila","family":"BELAID","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nedir Mohamed University Hospital of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Omar","family":"SALHI","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Saad Dahlab Blida 1, Blida 9000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nadjet Amina KHELIFI","family":"TOUHAMI","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Saad Dahlab Blida 1, Blida 9000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nassim","family":"OUCHENE","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Saad Dahlab Blida 1, Blida 9000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nesrine","family":"ELIAS","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological and Agronomical Sciences, Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lynda","family":"MOUSSAOUI","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological and Agronomical Sciences, Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sonia","family":"SAIDANI","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Ecology and Biology of Terrestrial Ecosystems (LEBET), Faculty of Biological and Agronomical Sciences, Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria"},{"name":"Nedir Mohamed University Hospital of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cylia","family":"SILEM","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nedir Mohamed University Hospital of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nacera","family":"SEKLAOUI","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nedir Mohamed University Hospital of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hayet","family":"BOUCHAIB","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nedir Mohamed University Hospital of Tizi Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,7]]},"container-title":["Journal of Vector Borne Diseases"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.4103\/jvbd.jvbd_298_25","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,26]],"date-time":"2026-08-26T16:08:50Z","timestamp":1787760530000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.4103\/jvbd.jvbd_298_25"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,7]]},"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/jvbd.jvbd_298_25","relation":{},"ISSN":["0972-9062"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0972-9062","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,7]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-10-02","name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-01-29","name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}