Markos Tibbo

The emergence of zoonotic pathogens is accelerating as ecological, climatic and socioeconomic pressures intensify at the human–animal–environment interface. Land-use change, biodiversity loss, extr...

Indigenous goat populations are valuable genetic resources for livestock production in arid and semi-arid environments, yet many remain insufficiently characterized at the phenotypic and genomic levels. This study investigated phenotypic variation and genome-wide associations in two local Ardi goat lines in Bahrain: Ardi Bahraini and Ardi Mu’atar, the latter being distinguished by a characteristic facial marking pattern. A total of 280 goats were phenotypically characterized for qualitative traits and body measurements, and 76 animals were genotyped using the Illumina Caprine 60K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) BeadChip. After quality control, 49,716 autosomal SNPs were retained for genome-wide association analysis. Phenotypic analysis showed that the two lines differed significantly in body weight, body length, hip height, face width, tail length, ear width, and tail circumference, while discriminant analysis identified tail length, ear width, tail circumference, and facial patterns differentiating the lines. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed partial genomic clustering of the two lines, and genome-wide significant and suggestive SNPs based on Bonferroni and false discovery rate (FDR) thresholds on chromosomes 6, 13, 14, and 29. The strongest association was observed for rs268277393 on chromosome 13, located near DOK5 (Docking Protein 5) and TRNAC-GCA (transfer RNA cysteine, anticodon GCA), and was associated with the Ardi Mu’atar facial pattern. Additional candidate regions were located near genes with possible roles in pigmentation, development, or morphological variation. These findings provide preliminary genomic evidence supporting the phenotypic distinctiveness of Ardi Mu’atar goats and identify candidate markers that may contribute to future conservation and breeding programs. Further validation in larger populations and functional studies will be required to confirm the biological role of these candidate regions.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious transboundary disease that affects small ruminants and impacts livestock production and trade. This study investigated the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of PPR in sheep, goats, camels, and wild ruminants in Bahrain. A total of 1240 sheep, 1224 goats, 100 camels, and 38 wild ruminants were tested using competitive ELISA. The individual seroprevalence rates were 26% in sheep and 25.5% in goats, with flock/herd-level prevalences of 22.7% and 29.6%, respectively. No antibodies were detected in camels or wild ruminants. The highest seroprevalence was observed in the Northern governorate. The identified risk factors included geographic location, age (<12 months for goats), sex (male for goats), and health status (weak animals). At the flock/herd level, large flock size and semi-intensive farming increased the likelihood of seropositivity. In addition, a 2023–2024 surveillance campaign tested 1044 young, locally born lambs and kids across all governorates. All animals were found to be negative for PPR according to a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) and a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, confirming the absence of antibodies and active virus circulation in the population. These findings support the classification of Bahrain at Progressive Control Pathway for PPR (PCP-PPR) Level 3 status and emphasize the importance of continued surveillance and regional cooperation to mitigate the spread of diseases.

Genetic resources of small ruminants are essential for food security in arid regions; however, basic data for each breed in Saudi Arabia remain incomplete. This study establishes a comprehensive national database through a systematic survey of 104 farms, covering 21,214 heads of livestock (sheep and goats) across the kingdom’s primary agro-ecological zones between January and October 2025. Although national census data indicate that major breeds of sheep such as Naeemi, Najdi, Arabi, and Harri or goats such as Ardi exceed the FAO’s numerical thresholds for “not at risk,” our analysis reveals a fundamental paradox of “genetic vulnerability,” defined as a high risk of inbreeding depression and genetic stagnation despite high census numbers. The results show significant regional variations in prolificacy (p < 0.05), with the southern region displaying a substantial productivity gap compared to the central and eastern regions, mainly due to reliance on traditional grazing (46.7%) and limited infrastructure. This vulnerability is driven by a high risk of systematic inbreeding, with 65.7% of breeders acquiring sires from their own herds, a situation worsened by a severe 80% shortage of high-quality breeding males in the central region. Furthermore, selection criteria heavily emphasize esthetic phenotypic traits (over 80%) rather than production indicators (less than 8%), hindering genetic progress. Correlation analysis showed that higher farmer education levels were negatively associated with reproductive challenges (r = −0.216), while high feed prices remained a near-universal obstacle (97.1%). To mitigate these risks, we recommend implementing region-specific sire exchange programs to break closed breeding loops and establishing a national performance recording system to shift selection focus from phenotypic traits to measurable productivity. This study provides a vital, evidence-based framework for transitioning toward data-driven, resilient conservation and breeding strategies.

Small ruminant production is vital for rural livelihoods and food security in Saudi Arabia but faces persistent constraints, including high feed costs, limited veterinary access, low reproductive efficiency, and weak extension services. To address these gaps, a Farm Service Delivery Model (FSDM) was piloted, which involved embedding trained livestock technicians into communities to deliver integrated on-farm services. This study evaluated the impact of the FSDM on 47 farms across three regions over 6–12 months. The key results showed significant improvements: flock size increased by 28%, the lambing rate per ewe doubled from 0.39 to 0.80, twin births tripled, mortality declined from 23.8% to 8.0%, and milk production more than doubled. Economic analysis revealed a benefit–cost ratio of 3.02, indicating high return on investment. Scaling the FSDM nationally could generate up to USD 4.8 billion in added meat and milk value over five years while reducing meat imports by 48%. The model aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and offers a scalable and sustainable pathway to enhance productivity, resilience, and rural income. Policy recommendations include institutional integration, digital innovation, blended financing, and strengthened breeding programs.

Zoonotic tuberculosis (zTB) includes human tuberculosis caused by animal‐associated Mycobacterium species, Mycobacterium bovis ( M. bovis ) being the major cause of zTB. This systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled burden of human M. bovis infection and describe the genetic diversity of M. bovis isolated from humans in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. A literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar, followed by manual screening of additional references. The literature used for this paper were published between 2000 and 2025. A random‐effects meta‐analysis was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of human M. bovis infection. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I ² statistic, while sensitivity analysis and Egger’s regression test were used to assess the robustness of the findings and potential small‐study effects, respectively. Totally, 27 studies from 10 MENA countries involving 6224 participants and 154 M. bovis –infected cases were included. The pooled prevalence of human M. bovis infection was 3% (95% CI: 2%–4%), with substantial heterogeneity ( I ² = 73.9%). The pooled prevalence was 4% in North Africa and 3% in the Middle East ( p = 0.408). The individual study did not have an effect on the pooled prevalence as the leave‐one‐out sensitivity analysis did not change the pooled prevalence. The funnel plot showed some visual asymmetry, while Egger’s regression test did not provide statistical evidence of small‐study effects ( p = 0.852). The M. bovis isolated from humans in MENA region were classified under European 1 (Eu1) and European 2 (Eu2) clonal complexes. In conclusion, the review highlighted the significance of M. bovis infection in humans in the MENA region, although there is a shortage of epidemiological data from more than 50% of the countries of the region. The isolation of Eu1 and Eu2 M. bovis clonal complexes from human M. bovis isolates suggested the importation was infected from Europe, which further transmitted the strains to humans. Strengthening of a One Health approach–based surveillance and molecular epidemiological studies in all MENA countries would contribute to the control of M. bovis in animals and humans in the region.

This exploratory cross‐sectional One Health study characterized LIODetect TB‐ST antibody reactivity in dromedary camels and abattoir workers in Abu Dhabi Emirate and investigated tuberculosis‐compatible lesions in slaughtered camels. Sera from 356 camels sampled from farms and livestock holdings (izbas), 393 camels presented for slaughter at Al Bawadi Abattoir, and 86 abattoir workers were screened with LIODetect TB‐ST. All 25 LIODetect‐reactive slaughtered camels underwent detailed postmortem examination; nonreactive slaughtered camels were not examined postmortem. Lesions identified in two reactive camels were evaluated by histopathology, Ziehl–Neelsen staining, and IS6110 polymerase chain reaction (PCR). LIODetect reactivity was detected in 33/356 field camels (9.3%, 95% CI: 6.5%–12.8%), 25/393 slaughtered camels (6.4%, 95% CI: 4.2%–9.2%), and 3/86 workers (3.5%, 95% CI: 0.7%–9.9%). No recorded characteristic was associated with reactivity among field camels. Among slaughtered camels, age group and body condition showed exploratory statistical associations with reactivity, but category‐specific estimates were imprecise. Two of the 25 reactive slaughtered camels (8.0%) had granulomatous lymphadenitis with acid‐fast bacilli, and lesion tissue from both animals contained IS6110‐detectable Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) DNA. LIODetect TB‐ST has not been validated for prevalence estimation in dromedaries; therefore, these proportions describe assay reactivity rather than true infection prevalence. Because postmortem examination was restricted to reactive animals, the 2/25 finding cannot estimate lesion prevalence, false‐negative frequency, or positive predictive value. The three reactive workers represent an occupational‐health surveillance signal, not evidence of active tuberculosis or camel‐to‐human transmission. Systematic meat inspection, validated camel diagnostics, culture and species‐level molecular characterization, traceable animal movements, and linked veterinary and occupational‐health surveillance are needed.

Small ruminants are important livestock species, which function as a major source of protein, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), although infections such as Brucella infection can hamper their productivity. However, there is currently a paucity of epidemiological data on Brucella infections in small ruminants in the UAE. This study therefore aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of Brucella infection and evaluate the associated risk factors in 272 flocks encompassing 2730 small ruminants in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. In addition, DNA of the Brucella was tested in seropositive small ruminant. Multispecies competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) and multispecies indirect ELISA (iELISA) were used to detect Brucella antibodies, while real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the DNA of genus Brucella and its major species (Brucella (B.) abortus, B. melitensis, and B. ovis). Flock seroprevalences of Brucella infection were 13.6% (95% CI: 9.8%-18.3%) and 25.5% (95% CI: 20.3%-31.0%) based on iELISA and cELISA, respectively. While animal seroprevalences were 2.31% (95% CI: 1.8-2.9) and 4.84% (95% CI: 4.1-5.7) on the basis of iELISA and cELISA, respectively. Flock seroprevalence was associated with flock size, whereas animal seroprevalence was associated with region, holding type, species, and age. The genus Brucella DNA was detected in the sera of 28.21% (11/39) of seropositive small ruminants. The 11 Brucella genus positive sera were further identified into three B. ovis, three mixed infections of B. melitensis with either B. abortus or B. ovis, two B. melitensis, and one B. abortus. While the remaining two were not positive for any of the three species. In conclusion, although animal seroprevalences were low by both ELISA tests, flock seroprevalences were relatively high. Besides, B. melitensis was the dominant species that was detected in the sera small ruminants posing zoonotic threat to the public. Therefore, the results of this study warrant for re-enforcement of the control and preventive measures of Brucella infections in small ruminants.

Non-infectious diseases such as ketosis could present a major threat to the development of the dairy subsector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A retrospective study (2019 to 2022) was conducted on 7511 fresh lactating cows to estimate the monthly cumulative incidences of subclinical ketosis (SCK) and clinical ketosis (CK) at one dairy farm in the UAE as a case study. Clinical examination for signs of ketosis and measuring the blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration were used for defining the ketosis status of the study cows. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and binary logistic regression analyses were used for data analysis. The mean monthly cumulative incidence of SCK over four years was 11.16% (95% CI: 10.45, 11.89) while that of CK was 0.53% (95% CI: 0.38, 0.72). The mean monthly cumulative incidences of both SCK was associated (p < 0.0001) with year, season and parity. Besides, the mean monthly cumulative incidence of CK was associated year (p < 0.01) with season. Thus, the mean monthly cumulative incidence of CK was low at the study farm while that of SCK was moderate. Therefore, control and preventive measures of ketosis were recommended to reduce the incidence of SCK at the study farm.