Mehdi El Harrak Member of the OIE Biological Standard Commission and Chairman of the OIE AHG on Diseases of Camelids

 For 45 million years, an exceptional animal family appeared in North America, succeed adaptation to the hottest and the coldest environments: the Camelids.  Bactrian and dromedary camels in addition to lama, alpaca, vicuna and guanaco in South America, contributed to the development of many civilizations.  Nowadays, in a changing society and in response to environmental changes, humanity rediscovers their virtues and gives them a place in the modern world.

Small camelids Bactrian Camel Dromedary

 Since 4000 years, dromedary camels, the ship of the desert, allowed nomadic tribes living in a very hostile environment. Riding or pack camels, it gives man its meat, milk and skin.  Nowadays, after the disappearance of the caravans and sedentarisation, they fit in the modern world.  The milk production becomes intensive as well as milk products. The dromedary in camelodrome competes thoroughbred racing horses. It is the object of a high reproduction technology.  Its mythical relation with man remains unchanged.  Those aspect highlight the importance of camels: animals of the future.

AFRICA: 16 to 20 millions ASIA: 12 to 15 millions Marginal production 0.2 % of the world milk production (herbivorous only) A world population Under estimated

 Well adapted animal to desertification process and scarce natural resources  Providing high value red and white proteins to population in arid areas  Providing efficient services in agriculture, friendly transport and leisure

 Emblematic animal, honored and idealized, an animal for prestige and exhibition  Beauty animal and desert champion

In Africa, Saudi Arabia... Several unexplained diseases with over mortalities regularly

Increase demand for camel products Change in camel production systems Lack of knowledge on camel diseases Weakness of professional skills Insufficient information exchange Need of reliable data on camel health status Increase of camel movements High risk of TADs transmission

 Establishment of the list of camel diseases  Improve diagnostic capacity for camel diseases  Establish specific guidelines for trade in camels and camel products.

Camel herd mobility Desert margins Absence of systematic vaccination Limited knowledge on camel pathology Low specific competency in veterinary services Specific metabolism (hyperthermia, mineral metabolism) Specific pharmacological aspect Specific immunological aspect Coarse symptoms

 Camels though to be resistant to most diseases in his natural biotope  Increase demand in camel products promotes the creation of camel breeding farms on suburban zones  Sedentarization allow emergence of new pathogens in camel population

The Ad HG listed and divided diseases of Camelids into three groups: 1) Significant diseases; 2) Diseases for which Camelids are potential pathogen carriers; 3) Minor diseases. The list of diseases were developed for the Dromedary Camel, the Bactrian Camel and the New World Camelids (Llama and Alpaca). For each disease, the available antigen detection methods and serological tests were added, followed by recommendations for diagnostic and prevention.

 List of camelids diseases was presented and discussed with scientific community  Comments and suggestions from the experts taken in consideration  Recommendations of the Isocard meeting focus on the role of international organisations to improve knowledge on camelids diseases

 Updating of the List of diseases of interest for Camelids  Review the OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for diseases of interest for Camelids  Update on the current situation with regards to camelids worldwide and diseases of priority  Highlight need for validation of diagnostic assays and research.

Although Mange was not included in this list, the Group considered that this disease was of concern for camelids and should therefore be considered by the OIE Chapter on Surra should be added in the Manual

 Camel Pox (Dromedary and Bactrian camels) new evidence of zoonotic potential  Rift Valley Fever  FMD (Bactrian camels only) The Group recommended for international trade in camelids and camel products to remove the dromedary from the OIE list of foot and mouth disease susceptible animals

The OIE recommend establishment of a laboratory network for: 1. Information exchange 2. Encouraging collection of samples and diagnosis essay validation (collaboration of OIE RL needed) 3. Technical data treatment and edition 4. Dissemination of knowledge The camel health control is not easy; the type of dominant farming system is extensive, nomadic and performed in remote areas. It is necessary to get reliable data on camelids health status to improve vet competencies.

Validate diagnostic tests that are currently used for significant diseases in other species and organize proficiency testing among diagnostics lab within the region. Set up supplying structures in veterinary drugs adapted to physiological peculiarities of camel and to rearing conditions. Existing vaccines should be validated and, if necessary, new vaccines developed Camel pox, Brucellosis, Rabies, Foot and mouth disease (Bactrian camel), RVF etc

To improve the health status in camel farms, efforts have to be strengthened in order to: Collect & Establish of a technical data (slaughterhouses, market, disease reporting), data treatment and edition. Identify the main diseases and to quantify their importance on epidemiological & economical aspects. To identify the risk factors linked to farming practices in extensive areas and to climatic parameters.

Novel disease in humans – first reported April 2012  More than 1000 confirmed cases with 30% deaths 9  17 countries including traveler cases outside Middle East  Doesn’t appear to easily spread between humans Epidemiological data point towards an animal reservoir of MERS-CoV: Camels likely to be the natural host of MERS CoV  Some primary cases have reported contact with camels  Evidence of Subclinical infection in human in contact with camels  Serology surveys suggests widespread exposure of camels to MERS CoV or a similar virus in Africa and ME detected as far back as 1992

Distribution and dynamic of infection amongst camel populations? How long do camels shed virus? From where? Is it found in raw milk, meat? Do camels show clinical signs? Are seropositive camels protected? Exact link between human and animal cases? What are the risk factors for human and animal infections? Experimental infection?

 The OIE convened a high level scientific expert meeting on MERS-CoV infection in animals, in order to summarise the latest scientific data and provide guidance to prevent and control the disease at the human- animal interface.  Further epidemiologic studies is needed to better understand the behaviour of MERS-CoV infections in animals. The experts identified areas of priority for research in animals and collection of scientific data.  The Group concluded that MERS-CoV is a serious public health concern with zoonotic potential and infection in animals must be reported to the OIE as an emerging disease.  The establishment of an OIE Reference Centre for camelids has been recommended for disease surveillance, research, and to provide technical advice to the OIE Member Countries.

Adressed at the OIE international community of scientists from the 241 OIE Reference Laboratories and the 43 Collaborating Centers Presenting the OIE strategy regarding diagnostic technologies and technology platforms and databases Encourage global networking among Reference Laboratories for the same diseases or CC for the same topics Parallel session dedicated to camel pathology was organised bringing together RL experts in diseases of priority for camelids and colleagues interested in the topic

The OIE Collaborating Centres and Reference laboratories existing in the Istituto zooprofilattico sperimentale in Italy will be used as a platform of expertise for:  Transfer of competence and capacity building  A joint program to develop research, validate diagnostic techniques and vaccine protocols for camel infectious diseases specifically. Establishment of a new center for epidemiology and diagnostic of camel diseases in Abu Dhabi-UAE The twinning project is the nucleus of a regionallaboratory network specialized in camel diseasesproviding services to camel rearing countries. The twinning project is the nucleus of a regional laboratory network specialized in camel diseases providing services to camel rearing countries.

OIE Biological Standart commission Camelids ADH GROUP OIE Biological Standart commission Camelids ADH GROUP OIE REFERENCE LABORATORIES NETWORK Abu Dhabi the network coordination National laboratories of ME member countries Field epidemiological surveillance and sampling: specimen collection

National laboratories Treatment and primary diagnostics (ELISA, PCR) OIE Cordination Center Virtual BioBank creation and management Data collection and synthesis OIE Reference Laboratorie s Secondary diagnostic Identification, characterisation, sequencing Additional investigations Validation of diagnostic techniques Subregional conference: exchange of information Listing diseases of priority Subregional conference: exchange of information Listing diseases of priority Specimen collection National laboratories OIE Reference Laboratorie s

 The implementation of the first network on camel diseases in ME presented to the audience  The international scientific community welcomed and support the initiative  Full commitment of ME countries to the network is necessary (CVO, national labs, surveillance)  The success of the initiative will encourage establishment of other sub-regional or a global network

 The camel has great economical potential and is anticipated to make a significant contribution to the pastoralists in solving their problem in transportation, food shortage and milk supply  Data on camel diseases is scarce, from both a clinical and pathological point of view. OIE AHG listed camel diseases of priority and highlighted need of research in diagnostic surveillance and prevention.  Greater attention should be given to zoonotic diseases (MERS, brucellosis, RVF)  Sampling camel is the biggest thread for laboratory diagnostic confirmation and reference materials is necessary.  Collaboration between OIE RF and labs in camel rearing countries is essential to improve knowledge on camel pathology.

Thank you