Since 1998, southern Europe has experienced multiple incursions of different serotypes and topotypes of Bluetongue virus, a vector-borne transmitted virus, the causative agent of Bluetongue (BT), a major disease of ruminants. Some of these incursions originated from northern Africa, likely because of wind-blown dissemination of infected midges. In this report, we describe the detection and whole genome characterization of a novel BTV-3 strain identified in a symptomatic sheep in Tunisia. Sequences were immediately deposited with the GenBank Database under Accession Nos KY432369-KY432378. Alert and preparedness are requested to face the next vector seasons in northern Africa and the potential incursion of this novel strain in southern Europe arabic 11 English 57
Abdusalam Sharef Abdusalam Mahmoud(1-2021)

A serological survey was carried out in Libya to investigate the circulation of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) among domestic ruminants. A total of 857 serum samples were collected from year 2015 to 2016 in eleven provinces of Libya belonging to five branches of the country. Samples were tested for RVFV antibodies using a competitive EnzymeLinked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA). Antibodies specific for RVFV were not detected in any of the 857 samples. However, a statistical analysis was carried out to assess the maximum expected number of infected animals and the maximum expected prevalence of RVFV among Libyan ruminants’ populations according to the sampled population. The overall maximum expected prevalence was estimated to be 1.8% for cattle and 0.4% for small ruminants. Results seem to exclude the circulation of RVFV, however, a surveillance plan should be implemented in areas at risk of RVFV introduction. arabic 10 English 55
Abdusalam Sharef Abdusalam Mahmoud, (6-2018)

The epidemiological patterns of Bluetongue (BT) in North Africa and Mediterranean Basin (MB) dramatically changed by emergence of subsequent episodes of novel bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes with highly pathogenic indexes and socio-economic impacts. The objective of the study was to investigate the sero-prevalence and serotype distribution of BTV in Libya. During 2015-2016, a total of 826 serum samples were collected from domestic ruminants in Libya. All sera were assayed by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (c-ELISA). C-Elisa-positive samples (43.3%; 173/400) were further analyzed by virus neutralization assay to identify BTV serotypes and determine the antibody titre of positive samples. An overall BTV sero-prevalence was 48.4% (95% CI: 45.0%-51.8%). Neutralizing antibodies were detected against the following BTV serotypes namely: BTV-1, BTV-2, BTV-3, BTV-4, BTV-9 and BTV-26. While BTV-1, BTV-2, BTV-4 and BTV-9 circulation was unsurprising as they have been responsible of the last year outbreaks in Northern African Countries, the detection of BTV-3 and BTV-26 was definitely new and concerning for the animal health of the countries facing the Mediterranean Basin. It is crucial that European and Northern African authorities collaborate in organizing common surveillance programmes to early detect novel strains or emerging serotypes in order to set up proper preventive measures, and, in case, develop specific vaccines and plan coordinated vaccination campaigns. arabic 13 English 96
Abdusalam Sharef Abdusalam Mahmoud(1-2018)

Aims: To determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in women from Aljalla Maternity and Gynaecology Hospital (AMGH) and to evaluate the association between the infection and potential risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at AMGH in Tripoli during the year 2012. Data on potential risk factors were collected by a structured questionnaire and results of the test. The output data of questionnaire were used to assess potential risk factors for positive outcome. All sera (n = 500) was screened against ToxoG, by using the Vidas machine automated enzyme-linked florescent immunoassay. The association between the outcome variables and its potential risk factors were screened in a multivariate analysis. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: The overall seroprevalence was estimated to be 50.8% with 95% confidence interval (CI) (46.42%–55.18%). The results revealed that T. gondii infection is highly prevalent, and eating habits (consuming raw meat and/or raw vegetables or fruits) were highly significant associated in multivariable analysis. Expectedly, a significantly [odds ratio (OR):1.712; p =
Abdusalam Sharef Abdusalam Mahmoud(1-2019)

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is considered one of the most important transboundary animal diseases (TADs) with socio-economic impacts on national and international levels. During 2015-2016 a total of 690 serum samples were collected from unvaccinated domestic ruminants of which 555 sheep, and 135 goats representing teen provinces distributed in four Libyan branches (Green Mountain, Benghazi, West Mountain and Sabha). The sample were analysed at IZSAM, Teramo, Italy, by using competitive ELISA, IDvet innovative diagnostics (IDvet, 310 rue Louis Pasteur-34790 Grabels, France). The overall sero-prevalence rate (SPR) of PPR antibodies was estimated to be 41% (95% CL: 36% to 46%) among sheep and 39% (95% CL: 28% to 45%) among goat. A chi-square test was used to evaluate the probability of differences observed among SPR of infection. The results showed that the SPR of PPR was significantly (P= 0.015) higher in adult animals 41% (95% CL= 37%-46%) than in the young 24% (95% CL= 17%- 32%). The highest SPR 75% (95% CL= 61%-85%) was recorded in Sabha province (Southern Libya) which highlighted statistically difference (P= 0.00001). The preliminary results of the present study could be useful to better focus on specific area of Libya to improve understand and evaluate the risk factors for disease spreading and to plan disease control activities as requested by FAO/OIE (PPR Global Control and Eradication Strategy). arabic 19 English 100
Abdusalam Sharef Abdusalam Mahmoud(1-2020)

A total of 154 of Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates were isolated from faecal specimens of healthy cattle (n=100). Serotyping of 154 E. coli isolates indicated that 112 (72.72%) isolates were typeable, 28 (18.18%) untypeable and 14 (9.09%) were rough. The most predominant serotype observed was O22 followed by O56, O60, O120 and O1. Antibiogram pattern using a total of 25 different antibiotics indicated that high resistant was present against clindamycin, metronidazole and penicillin followed by cephalothin, neomycin, kanamycin, cephalexin, streptomycin, furazolidone and tetracycline antibiotics. The amplification of tet(A) and tet(B) resistant determinants by PCR resulted in generation of 372bp and 228, respectively. The tet(A) gene was predominant gene compared to tet(B) gene. This study using pheno-genotypic characterization indicated the presence of antimicrobial resistant E. coliisolates amongst healthy cattle, emphasizing that effective strategy should be applied to persist the efficiency along with ideal usage of novel antibiotics though minimizing the risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria. arabic 11 English 82
Abdusalam Sharef Abdusalam Mahmoud(3-2020)

The Corona virus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a new global pandemic. World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. Health Care Works (HCWs) are the primary sectors in contact with suspected patients. Thus, the knowledge, attitudes and practices of HCWs towards COVID-19 remain unclear. The objectives: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Medical doctors about COVID-19 at Tripoli University Teaching Hospitals. Methods: This crosssectional survey was conducted from April 30 to 29 May, the week immediately after first case of COVID-19 reported in Libya. A pilot trail questionnaire was distributed and filled by taking the relevant information from medical staff doctors working at various medical and surgical units. The data coded according to variable and analysed by SPSS. Results: Of (250) participants, a total (100) of Medical staff doctors completed the surve\ (response rate 40%). The participants¶ qualification was (64%) MBBS, (14%) Master degree, (16%) PhD and (6%) professors. the mean age 35 years. (42%) were male and (58%) female participants. Most of the medical staff doctors (70%) were GPs, (22%) were specialists, (6%) were internship doctors and (2%) were consultants. Questionnaire survey revealed that (18%) of the respondents reported working experience of >20 years. The survey was considered if the Medical doctor in frontline healthcare workers (FLHCWs), our results demonstrate that, only 30% of medical staff doctors was provided care of COVID-19 patients while 70% was not in the FLHCWs. Most participants (79%) reported that no specific treatment of COVID-19. A significant proportion of medical doctors (68%) had good knowledge of the transmission, diagnostic method & prevention of COVID-19. According to the case report definition of WHO and ECDC, the survey results showed (69%) of the respondents reported that, the test should be repeated if the first RT-PCR results were negative from the patient represent the typical clinical symptoms of COVID-19. Our questionnaire survey revealed that (68%) of the medical staff doctors¶ participants agree that wearing face masks prevent the infection while (32%) reported that wearing face masks could not prevent the infection. Overall, Medical staff doctors in Tripoli University Teaching Hospital showed expected level of knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19. The findings survey suggests that due to the limited medical staff doctor¶s representative, it must be cautious when generalizing these findings to other medical doctors residing in other regions of the country. As intentional threat of COVID-19 continuous to emerge, the results survey highlights the importance of continuous health educational programs from the government and national health authorities that well improve and updated knowledge of the HCWs regarding COVID-19, which also result in increasing their attitudes and practices towards COVID-19. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings. arabic 17 English 99
ِAbdusalam Sharef (12-2020)

Background: During the last three decades there are many viral infections emerging and re-emerge with high socio-economic and public health impacts worldwide. The Coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China in late December 2019. Later, on 30th Jan 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has constituted the COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Objectives: To understand the epidemiological patterns and assessing potential socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 is critical and how to determine these impacts on social life is considered fundamental. Therefore, the present preliminary survey was conducted firstly to understand the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in the country, and secondly to determine the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 among Libyan population to build up strategies concerning socio-economic response by the technical team committee. arabic 16 English 86
Abdusalam Sharef Abdusalam Mahmoud(2-2021)

Background: The pre-vaccination survey is considered an important tool for assessing and evaluating knowledge, attitudes and determine vaccine hesitancy. Throughout many decades the world had faced a challenge in fighting against the endemic, epidemic, and pandemic diseases that have been emerging and re-emerging special those that constitute a great potential risk on humanity’s life. Still, after more than one year and half of scientific milestones of COVID-19 pandemic, there are many countries scarifying and struggling to mitigate the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 among their societies. Objectives: Our study was conduct to address, assessing and evaluate COVID-19 vaccine literacy (VL) prior to and during the vaccination campaign in Libya. Material and Methods: The cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted during April 2021 one week prior COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Libya. All relevant data was obtained and collected by online and face-to-face interview. The sampling method with an online Microsoft form questionnaire resulted in collecting only 33 valid questionnaires. Further, the survey carried out also during vaccination campaign however, any participants who had already taken the COVID-19 vaccine were not indorsed in questionnaire survey. Results: A total of 243 participants were involved in this study. The overall response rate (45.6%). This study enrolled (58.8%) and (41.2%) of participants from male and female respectively. Considering the age classes, the results revealed that (35%, 18-30 year), (43.6%, 31-50 year), (18.5%, 51-65 year) and (>65 year, 2.9%). The results revealed that, 29.2% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 25%-33.44%) of the respondents were confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection, while and 70.8% (95% CI: 66.56%-75%) participants were not sure if they had contracted the virus. Regarding the recurrent COVID-19 infection, our questionnaire survey reported that, at least 5.8% (95% CI: 3.60%-7.92%) of the respondents had got infected twice by SRAS-CoV-2. Regarding the currently available COVID-19 vaccines (Sputnik V, AstraZeneca and Sinovac) in the country, the vast majority (43.2%) of the participants, they would like to prefer the Sputnik V, followed by (19.3%) AstraZeneca and (2.5%) Sinovac vaccines, while (35%) of the respondents refused to be vaccinated by three of these vaccines that have been provided by the Libyan healthy authorities under the supervision of NCDC. A proximately 33% (95% CI: 28.56%-37.28%) of the respondents refused to be vaccinated due to mistrust in the vaccine safety. Clearly, the vaccine safety was the main cause for the refuse and delay time of the vaccination from the most of the population. Conclusion: Our study highlights that, the vaccine hesitancy is underestimated issue in Libya, and clearly there is misleading and misinformation about SARS-CoV-2 from unauthorized media sources. According to the metadata analysis of high efficacy, safety and successes of COVID-19 vaccines for mitigate and minimize both the case fatality rate (CFT) and transmission rate across the entire of the global, still there is a controversies around potential safety concerns of the COVID-19 vaccines. Urgently, the Libyan healthy authority needs to enforce the public health education about vaccine safety, and Libyan healthy authorities should be implement an effective vaccination strategies that complement with international standard criteria for the vaccination policy to improve the vaccination efficacy and the vaccine coverage rate. Consequently, The Libya national deployment and vaccination plan for the COVID-19 vaccine should implement National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) in every municipality for collecting and processing information, and producing periodic reports during COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
Abdusalam Sharef Abdusalam Mahmoud(6-2021)

There were only 75 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported in Libya by the National Center for Disease Control during the first two months following the first confirmed case on 24 March 2020. However, there was dramatic increase in positive cases from June to now; as of 19 November 2020, approximately 357940 samples have been tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the results have revealed a total number of 76808 confirmed cases, 47587 recovered cases and 1068 deaths. The case fatality ratio was estimated to be 1.40%, and the mortality rate was estimated to be 15.90 in 100000 people. The epidemiological situation markedly changed from mid-July to the beginning of August, and the country proceeded to the cluster phase. COVID19 has spread in almost all Libyan cities, and this reflects the high transmission rate of the virus at the regional level with the highest positivity rates, at an average of 14.54%. Apparently, there is an underestimation of the actual number of COVID-19 cases due to the low testing capacity. Consequently, the Libyan health authority needs to initiate a large-scale case-screening process and enforce testing capacities and contact testing within the time frame, which is not an easy task. Advisably, the Libyan health authority should improve the public health capacities and conduct strict hygienic measures among the societies and vaccinate as many people against COVID-19 to minimize both the case fatality ratio an
Abdusalam Sharef Abdusalam Mahmoud(1-2021)

Abstract Background: Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) is a vector-borne viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants. Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) is transmitted by Culicoides spp. EHDV is a member of the Orbivirus genus within the Reoviridae family. It shares many morphological and structural characteristics with other members of the genus, such as the bluetongue virus, African horse sickness virus, and equine encephalosis virus. Aims: The purpose of our study was to investigate the epidemiological situation of EHDV in Libya in order to gain some knowledge about the presence of this virus in the country. Methods: In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of EHDV in Libya, testing 855 blood samples collected during 2015. The samples were collected from domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, and goats) originating from 11 provinces of Libya. Sera were tested by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and positive samples confirmed by serum neutralization test. Results: The overall seroprevalence of EHDV was estimated to be 4% (95% confidence intervals = 2.8%–5.4%). Small ruminant seroprevalence was significantly (p = 0.016) higher than that found in cattle. Neutralizing antibodies against EHDV-6 were detected in a sheep from the western region of Libya. Conclusion: This study suggests that EHDV has circulated or is circulating in Libya, and sheep could play an important role in the epidemiology of EHDV, and the virus may still be circulating in North Africa. Keywords: EHD, EHDV-6, Seroprevalence, Libya.
Abdusalam Sharef Abdusalam Mahmoud(6-2021)

Rift valley fever (RVF) is an acute vector-borne viral zoonotic disease of domestic and wild ruminants. The RVF virus (RVFV) belonging to the Phlebovirus genus of the Bunyaviridae family causes this disease. Studies have shown that mosquitoes are the vectors that transmit RVFV. Specifically, Aedes and Culex mosquito species are among the many vectors of this virus, which affects not only sheep, goats, buffalo, cattle, and camels but also human beings. Since the 30s of the last century, RVF struck Africa, and to a lesser extent, Asian continents, with subsequent episodes of epizootic, epidemic, and sporadic outbreaks. These outbreaks, therefore, resulted in the cumulative loss of thousands of human lives, thereby disrupting the livestock market or only those with seropositive cases. After that outbreak episode, RVF was not reported in Libya until January 13, 2020, where it was reported for the 1st time in a flock of sheep and goats in the southern region of the country. Although insufficient evidence to support RVF clinical cases among the confirmed seropositive animals exists, neither human cases nor death were reported in Libya. Yet, the overtime expansion of RVF kinetics in the Libyan neighborhoods, in addition to the instability and security vacuum experienced in the country, lack of outbreak preparedness, and the availability of suitable climatic and disease vector factors, makes this country a possible future scene candidate for RVF expansion. Urgently, strengthening veterinary services (VS) and laboratory diagnostic capacities, including improvement of monitoring and surveillance activity programs, should be implemented in areas at risk (where imported animals crossing borders from Libyan neighborhoods and competent vectors are found) at national, sub-national, and regional levels. The Libyan government should also implement a tripartite framework (one health approach) among the veterinary public health, public health authority, and environmental sanitation sectors to implement RVF surveillance protocols, along with an active partnership with competent international bodies (OIE, FAO, and WHO). Therefore, this review comprises the most updated data regarding the epidemiological situation of RVF infections and its socioeconomic impacts on African and Asian continents, and also emphasize the emerging interest of RVF in Libya
Abdusalam Sharef Mahmoud(12-2021)