As part of its ongoing efforts to keep pace with scientific developments in veterinary medicine and promote health awareness about diseases common to humans and animals, the College’s Continuing Education Unit, in cooperation with the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, organized a training course entitled: “Tick Species and Their Relationship with Human Hemorrhagic Fever” under the direct supervision and patronage of the Dean of the College, Assistant Professor Dr. Muhammad Asaad Al-Kaabi.
The training course included an introduction to the importance of studying external parasites, particularly ticks, and their dangerous role in transmitting many viral diseases such as hemorrhagic fever. It also included the most important clinical symptoms associated with infection, methods of transmission and diagnosis, and an explanation of the preventive measures taken to raise awareness among the veterinary community, in addition to the current epidemiological challenges in Iraq.
The training course covered several topics, the most prominent of which were:
– Identifying the types of ticks prevalent in Iraq, with a focus on species of medical importance, such as Rhipicephalus annulatus and Hyalomma marginatum, and studying their biological characteristics and life cycles.
– Mechanisms of transmission of the Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus from animals to humans via tick bites or exposure to the blood or secretions of infected animals.
– Modern methods for diagnosing tick infestations in animals, and methods for safely removing ticks from the animal body to prevent virus transmission.
– Identifying the preventive precautions for health and veterinary personnel when handling infected animals, and implementing biosecurity measures.
A field workshop included practical training on collecting animal samples and identifying tick species using microscopy and other techniques.
At the conclusion of the training course, a number of important recommendations were made that would contribute to reducing the risk of animal-to-human transmission of hemorrhagic fever, most notably:
1. Strengthening epidemiological surveillance programs for ticks in Iraqi governorates, especially in animal husbandry and grazing areas, to detect outbreaks early.
2. Continuing the implementation of periodic national spraying and dipping campaigns.
3. Developing the capacity of veterinarians and veterinary workers in the diagnosis and management of external parasites through ongoing workshops and training courses.
4. Increasing community awareness of the dangers of ticks, which are the vector for many diseases, including hemorrhagic fever.
5. Encouraging advanced scientific research in the field of parasitology and communicable diseases, particularly molecular studies to identify local tick species and their relationship to CCHF virus strains prevalent in Iraq.
The training course was attended by Assistant Professor Firas Awda Khadir, Assistant Professor Ibrahim Fadl Rashid, and Assistant Professor Jihad Talib Obaid.
It is worth noting the efforts made by the Deanship of the College of Veterinary Medicine to support scientific and research progress through the organization of specialized scientific events, which have a significant impact on enhancing preventive and diagnostic practices in the veterinary field.
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