The reference center "Abu Dhabi Agriculture" Pioneering achievements in the international camel health research

Abu Dhabi, June 22/ WAM/ The cooperative reference center in the camel diseases of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Agriculture and Food Safety embodies the efforts of the state and its various leading institutions in supporting the sustainability of the camel sector and strengthening its global leadership.

The center obtained the accreditation of the World Animal Health Organization (WOAH) in May 2022, and is the first of its kind in the world.

In conjunction with the celebration of the International Camel Day, which falls on June 22 of each year, the authority issued a report on the most prominent initiatives and achievements of the center.

During the past year, the center provided about 200 advanced laboratory analysis in addition to an analysis of more than 300,000 samples of camels, to embody its high diagnostic competence, ability and readiness to address epidemics and health emergencies.

The center conducted the genetic sequence analyzes of 50 satisfactory causes that contributed to identifying strains and nursing “strains”, which enabled the authorities to take effective control measures for epidemiological diseases, and added 47 new genetic sequences to the Global Genetics Bank, which enhances the state’s leading status in camel diseases research.

In an unprecedented scientific achievement, the center’s experts were able to monitor the “Weslbron” virus in clinical and anatomical samples of sick Ethiopian camels, a discovery that allowed the field to discover the causes of the mysterious death of Ethiopian camels.

These pioneering results were presented during the twenty -sixth African Regional Conference of the recent animal health organization.

The center is characterized by its latest diagnostic technologies, such as molecular biology techniques, full genetic sequences and biological informatics, which enables it to early detection of epidemic and emerging pathogens.

Within the framework of strengthening its pioneering role, the center launched the first vital bank in the country with international specifications with a storage capacity of more than one million samples with the aim of preserving reference materials and specialized cells to diagnose camel diseases and other animals, and to enhance the bio security system, as well as conducting specialized scientific research.

The biological bank plays a pivotal role in preserving genetic information and enabling research capabilities to predict and prepare for future diseases.

The center is working to enhance scientific cooperation and build laboratory capabilities in the Middle East through an annual program to compare laboratory analyzes according to ISO standards 17025, with the participation of 33 local and international laboratories from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Sudan, Jordan, Syria and Italy.

It is a special interest in building capacity by organizing more than 20 workshops and lectures targeting veterinary cadres, students and researchers, in addition to his active participation in more than 45 national and international scientific conferences.

The role of the advisory center is highlighted through its membership in the committees of the World Animal Health Organization, where its experts provided technical visions specialized in the diagnosis of camel diseases such as turbanosuma, which reflects its leading position in developing global biological security standards.

The center launched the “Middle East Camel Country Network – Camant” platform with the aim of improving camel health and increasing their productivity.

He managed to achieve qualitative achievements in the field of animal health after he launched the first global program to measure the efficiency of the plague of small ruminants in camels in cooperation with the French reference laboratory (CIRAD), with the participation of 9 international laboratories.

Asma Abdi Mohamed, Director of the Biological Security Affairs Department at the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority said that the Reference Center for Camel Diseases is the culmination of the vision of the rational leadership in preserving our cultural heritage and our national heritage, and enhancing food security through the latest technology and scientific research.

She added: “We are proud that the UAE is the first country in the world to establish a cooperative center specialized in camel diseases, accrediting from the World Animal Health Organization, which reflects our pioneering position in the field of global biological security.

She pointed out that the center contributes to enhancing regional and international cooperation, and supports the state’s efforts in achieving food security and protecting livestock, in line with the UAE’s strategic vision for sustainable development.

She explained that the UAE initiated the adoption of the proposal of the Scientific Committee of the World Animal Health Organization during the Abu Dhabi and Italy meetings in 2014-2015 to establish a center specialized in camel diseases in the Middle East, in an effort to fill the cognitive gap, raise diagnostic capabilities, conduct epidemic studies and transfer knowledge, and in May 2022, our efforts were crowned to adopt the cooperative center of camel diseases by the World Animal Health Organization, To become the first global center specializing in this field, its Abu Dhabi headquarters, and to provide its diagnostic and consulting services to the countries of the region and the world.

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