Publications by authors named "Salama Almuhairi"

Changes in the epidemiology and ecology of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza are devastating wild bird and poultry populations, farms and communities, and wild mammals worldwide. Having originated in farmed poultry, H5N1 viruses are now spread globally by wild birds, with transmission to many mammal and avian species, resulting in 2024 in transmission among dairy cattle with associated human cases. These ecological changes pose challenges to mitigating the impacts of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza on wildlife, ecosystems, domestic animals, food security, and humans.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) and accidental pathogen escape from laboratory settings (APELS) are major concerns for the community. A risk-based approach for pathogen research management within a standard biosafety management framework is recommended but is challenging due to reasons such as inconsistency in risk tolerance and perception. Here, we performed a scoping review using publicly available, peer-reviewed journal and media reports of LAIs and instances of APELS between 2000 and 2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus and Lassa virus (LASV) are zoonotic agents regarded as high-consequence pathogens due to their high case fatality rates. CCHF virus is a vector-borne disease and is transmitted by tick bites. Lassa virus is spread via aerosolization of dried rat urine, ingesting infected rats, and direct contact with or consuming food and water contaminated with rat excreta.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious infection of cloven-hoofed animals. The Biosafety Research Road Map reviewed scientific literature regarding the foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV). This project aims to identify gaps in the data required to conduct evidence-based biorisk assessments, as described by Blacksell et al.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the environment are inter-dependent. Global anthropogenic change is a key driver of disease emergence and spread and leads to biodiversity loss and ecosystem function degradation, which are themselves drivers of disease emergence. Pathogen spill-over events and subsequent disease outbreaks, including pandemics, in humans, animals and plants may arise when factors driving disease emergence and spread converge.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The Biosafety Research Road Map reviewed the scientific literature on a viral respiratory pathogen, avian influenza virus, and a bacterial respiratory pathogen, This project aims at identifying gaps in the data required to conduct evidence-based biorisk assessments, as described in Blacksell et al. One significant gap is the need for definitive data on sample aerosolization to guide the selection of engineering controls for diagnostic procedures.

Methods: The literature search focused on five areas: routes of inoculation/modes of transmission, infectious dose, laboratory-acquired infections, containment releases, and disinfection and decontamination methods.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: bacteria cause shigellosis, a gastrointestinal infection most often acquired from contaminated food or water.

Methods: In this review, the general characteristics of bacteria are described, cases of laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) are discussed, and evidence gaps in current biosafety practices are identified.

Results: LAIs are undoubtedly under-reported.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged as a novel virus and is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. It spreads readily human-to-human through droplets and aerosols. The Biosafety Research Roadmap aims to support the application of laboratory biological risk management by providing an evidence base for biosafety measures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Lack of evidence-based information regarding potential biological risks can result in inappropriate or excessive biosafety and biosecurity risk-reduction strategies. This can cause unnecessary damage and loss to the physical facilities, physical and psychological well-being of laboratory staff, and community trust. A technical working group from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE), World Health Organization (WHO), and Chatham House collaborated on the Biosafety Research Roadmap (BRM) project.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: and are zoonoses transmitted from animals and animal products. Scientific information is provided in this article to support biosafety precautions necessary to protect laboratory workers and individuals who are potentially exposed to these pathogens in the workplace or other settings, and gaps in information are also reported. There is a lack of information on the appropriate effective concentration for many chemical disinfectants for this agent.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study aimed to evaluate trends in clinicopathological features and treatment of thyroid cancer patients at a major oncology center in the UAE from 2008 to 2018.
  • - An analysis of 762 patients revealed that most were diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, with a high rate of surgeries (93.8% total thyroidectomy) and a notable decline in Radioiodine therapy from 100% in 2008 to 60% in 2018.
  • - Key predictors for total thyroidectomy and Radioiodine use included factors like nationality and lymph node involvement, although the overall surgical approaches remained stable over the examined years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne virus causing Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a disease reported to have a high fatality rate in numerous countries. The virus is geographically widespread due to its vector, and numerous wild and domestic animals can develop asymptomatic infection. Serological and limited molecular evidence of CCHFV has previously been reported in (the dromedary, or one-humped camel) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Camelpox is a viral contagious disease of Old-World camelids sustained by (CMLV). The disease is characterized by mild, local skin or severe systemic infections and may have a major economic impact due to significant losses in terms of morbidity and mortality, weight loss, and low milk yield. Prevention of camelpox is performed by vaccination.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Despite a steady increase in camel husbandry worldwide, pathology of camel diseases is still relatively under-investigated. Clinical hematuria is generally indicative of either acute or chronic urogenital inflammations, traumatic calculous injuries, cancers, corrosive poisonings. Infectious agents are not typically implicated in urinary tract infection of camels.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Serological tests may represent an essential tool for the diagnosis of camel brucellosis; however, concerns arise in the scientific community regarding the direct transposition from cattle and small ruminants without adequate validation. The present study was made to compare four serological tests for the diagnosis of brucellosis in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). In terms of sensitivity, our results show that the Immunochromatographic Test (ICT) shows the higher value of sensitivity, 98.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF