Strengthening Laboratory Capacities for the Detection of Priority Transboundary Animal Diseases in Africa
Sebeta, Ethiopia – July 7 to 11, 2025- As part of a strategic effort to strengthen Africa's capacity to diagnose and control Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs), the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), in partnership with the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) and the Ethiopian Animal Health Institute (EAHI), organized a five-day practical training for laboratory technicians on molecular and serological techniques for priority trans boundary animal diseases.
This initiative is fully aligned with the African Union’s vision for safe and sustainable livestock trade and directly contributes to the ambitious goal of eradicating PPR in Africa by 2030.
The main objective of this training was to strengthen laboratory-based disease surveillance (active surveillance) by improving the diagnostic capacities of veterinary professionals. Specifically, it aimed to: Identify gaps in existing SOPs for TADs diagnostics, harmonize testing techniques across Member States, reinforce practical skills in PCR, ELISA, and CFT testing and align national methods with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards.
Moreover, this training, held in the accredited laboratories in Ethiopian Animal Health Insitute (EAHI) Sebeta that support members states to work on accreditation some tests in their own laboratory. This training brought together experts from nine Member States: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, and Tanzania. The programme aimed to enhance early detection and response of any TADs throught harmonization of continental and regional diagnostics in the fight against four major diseases TADs: PPR (Peste des Petits Ruminants), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Rift Valley Fever (RVF), and Brucellosis.
The training was officiallly opened by H.E. Dr. Fikru Regassa, State Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Sector development (Ethiopia), who emphasized that despite Africa’s vast livestock resources, their potential remains limited due to endemic diseases. He stressed the importance of a collective response to ensure the continent’s food security and economic resilience.
In addition, the technical partners also shared their strategic vision: Dr. Tesfaye Rufael (EAHI) called on national laboratories to cooperate with regional centres of excellence to strengthen research, training, and quality assurance systems.
Dr. Mahmoud Hanatleh (AOAD) highlighted the importance of mobilizing regional resources and sharing expertise to jointly combat animal diseases.
Finally, Dr. Wubishet Zewdie (AU-IBAR) encouraged participants to become our ambassador of surveillance for early detection and rapid response in support of the PPR eradication programme and other priorty TADs.
During the five-day training, participants benefited from intensive theoretical and practical instruction:
The first focused on theoretical parts of molecular diagnostic real-time and conv
entional PCR and serological diagnosis methods ELISA testes of PPR, FMD, and RVF and brucellosis and CFT for Brucellosis diagnosis.
The second, third, fourth days and fith before lunch focused on technical training of PCR and serological test (ELISA test) techniques for PPR, FMD, RVF and Brucellosis, CFT testing as confirmatory test for brucellosis, followed by biosafety protocols and cross-laboratory excersices sharing between trainees.
The discussions also helped reinforce the understanding and harmonization of SOPs, with a strong emphasis on the use of WOAH.
At the end of the training, participants expressed their satisfaction and put forward the following recommendations:
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Continue specialized laboratory technical training
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Ensure availability of test kits and reagents
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Establish regional platforms for genetic sequencing
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Strengthen cross-border cooperation for rapid alerts and coordinated responses
To conclude, the organizers urged participants to become effective in diagnosing diseases of interest or TADs in their respective countries by putting the skills they acquired into practice. As stated by Dr. Getnet Abie, Deputy Director of EAHI:
“This training is not just a capacity-building exercise; it is an investment in Africa’s to strengthen veterinary service of the continent in the future to see Africa we want.”