The impact of importation of live ruminants on the epizootiology of foot and mouth disease in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Approximately five million live ruminants are imported annually into Saudi Arabia. The majority of these animals are imported shortly before the pilgrimage season from Sudan and the Horn of Africa, where foot and mouth disease (FMD) is known to be enzootic. This study was designed to investigate the impact of the importation of these live ruminants on the epizootiology of FMD in Saudi Arabia. The authors carried out antibody testing on a total of 480 sheep and 233 cattle from the sacrificial livestock yards of the Saudi Project for Utilization of Hajj Meat, which performs ritual slaughter on behalf of pilgrims in the Holy City of Makkah. The results revealed that 136 (28.3%) of the 480 sheep tested were serologically positive for FMD, using an indirect enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (3ABC FMD ELISA). This included 17.7% of Sawakani sheep (imported from Sudan) and 40.9% of Barbari sheep (imported from the Horn of Africa). Among the cattle, 120 (51.5%) of 233 animals tested positive for FMD virus (FMDV) antibodies. The 120 seropositive cattle included all clinically suspected cattle and 62 (35.4%) symptom-free, in-contact cattle. The findings highlight the risks associated with the annual importation of live ruminants from FMD-enzootic areas. The risks include the possible introduction of new exotic FMDV serotypes, particularly when potential carriers or subclinically infected animals are considered. An understanding of the epidemiology of different strains and the ability to track their movement between geographical regions is essential for the development of efficient control strategies for the disease. Therefore, genotyping of FMDV strains isolated from imported and local animals is recommended.

Nairobi Sheep Disease Virus: A Historical and Epidemiological Perspective

“…Some countries such as Somaliland have economies that depend entirely on their livestock industries and employ over 70% of the population (5,6). Others such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia import 5 million live ruminants a year, most of which are sheep and goats (7). However, this economic value is directly dependent on animal health, which has been compromised in regions with high incidence of tick-borne diseases (8)(9)(10).…”

Foot-and-mouth disease virus O/ME-SA/Ind 2001 lineage outbreak in vaccinated Holstein Friesian cattle in Saudi Arabia in 2016

“…Although various FMDV vaccines are available in most countries, ongoing outbreaks are still reported in some of these animal populations (Eble et al 2015). Also in Saudi Arabia, several FMDV outbreaks have been reported (Samuel et al 1988; Abd El-Rahim et al 2016; Mahmoud and Galbat 2017). One study during 1986–1987 reported the detection of serotype A in some animals from Saudi Arabia and Iran (Samuel et al 1988).…”

“…This study revealed that the neither the vaccines used nor the vaccination interval used provided a high degree of protection for the herds against FMDV field infection (Woolhouse et al 1996). A new study evaluated the effects of importing large and small ruminants from Africa on the introduction of new FMDV strains to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Abd El-Rahim et al 2016). They found that almost 50% of the tested sheep and cattle had FMDV antibodies (Abd El-Rahim et al 2016).…”

“…A new study evaluated the effects of importing large and small ruminants from Africa on the introduction of new FMDV strains to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Abd El-Rahim et al 2016). They found that almost 50% of the tested sheep and cattle had FMDV antibodies (Abd El-Rahim et al 2016). A recent serosurveillance performed among some imported foreign breeds of sheep revealed the presence of antibodies against FMDV serotype O and against the Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) (Mahmoud and Galbat 2017).…”

Nairobi Sheep Disease Virus: a historical and epidemiological perspective

“…Some countries such as Somaliland have economies that depend entirely on their livestock industries and employ over 70% of the population (6,7). Others such as Saudi Arabia import 5 million live ruminants a year, most of which are sheep and goats (8). However, this economic value is directly dependent on animal health, which has been compromised in regions with high incidence of tick-borne diseases (9–11).…”