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)

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)

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)