ADAFSA And WOAH Launch Camel Disease Twinning Programme To Strengthen Global Camel Health And Biosecurity

The World Organisation for Animal Health has approved a scientific twinning programme linking Abu Dhabi’s Collaborating Centre for Camel Diseases at ADAFSA with Mongolia’s State Central Veterinary Laboratory. The three-year project, running from 2025 to 2028, is designed to strengthen camel disease diagnostics, reinforce global biosecurity, and highlight the UAE’s status as a reference centre.

The initiative follows an official request from the Mongolian government and is intended to upgrade SCVL into a recognised regional reference laboratory for camel diseases serving Mongolia and Central Asia. ADAFSA’s Collaborating Centre will provide direct oversight, reflecting confidence in Abu Dhabi’s laboratory infrastructure and its role in supporting international animal health systems.

A central component of the camel diseases programme is field epidemiology, where experts will develop and apply surveillance plans for emerging and zoonotic infections. Teams from both countries will conduct a detailed study on Foot-and-Mouth Disease and MERS-CoV in Bactrian camels, undertake joint sampling missions, analyse the findings, and publish peer‑reviewed scientific articles.

Laboratory capacity-building under the camel diseases project will cover advanced technical training for Mongolian staff through structured modules. These will address camel necropsy procedures, clinical sample collection, viral isolation techniques, Brucella culture methods, ELISA-based serological testing, ectoparasite identification, production of diagnostic reagents, and modern biobank management, ensuring procedures align with World Organisation for Animal Health standards.

Governance and quality management form another pillar of the camel diseases twinning work. ADAFSA will support SCVL in implementing quality systems that comply with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, and in preparing for ISO/IEC 17043:2023 accreditation as a proficiency testing provider. This will allow the Mongolian laboratory to join international standardisation exercises organised by ADAFSA, particularly for Peste des Petits Ruminants and Brucella diagnosis.

ADAFSA stated that the partnership highlights the UAE’s support for international "One Health" efforts and scientific cooperation against transboundary animal diseases. The Authority stressed that transferring technical expertise to Mongolia will significantly improve research performance and strengthen worldwide preparedness for high‑risk zoonotic threats, including viruses such as MERS‑CoV and Foot‑and‑Mouth Disease.

According to ADAFSA, the camel diseases twinning initiative is also designed to create a lasting scientific environment that reinforces Abu Dhabi’s role as a hub for advanced camel‑health solutions. Investment in partner laboratories is expected to build a strong regional network for surveillance and response, supporting the UAE’s wider biosecurity vision and development of risk‑prediction systems.

The Authority added that the camel diseases project extends beyond simple training by helping Mongolia establish a sustainable biosecurity framework connected to national food security and global public health. Early detection of camel‑linked pathogens will be prioritised, while the Abu Dhabi centre will gain opportunities to compare Dromedary and Bactrian camels in structured scientific studies.

The twinning work is being launched on the back of previous achievements by ADAFSA’s Collaborating Centre for Camel Diseases. The centre reported the first detection of Wesselsbron virus in diseased camels in Ethiopia in early 2025, with results published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the journal of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, strengthening the scientific basis of the new collaboration.

By aligning Mongolian laboratory systems with international expectations and extending ADAFSA’s camel diseases expertise to Central Asia, the programme is expected to enhance surveillance, improve diagnostic reliability, and support public health protection. The initiative also consolidates the UAE’s position as a key partner in global efforts to manage high‑risk animal diseases that threaten economies and food supplies.

With inputs from WAM