The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently conducted a five-day training course on the laboratory diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) for central and regional laboratory specialists in Tajikistan. The training was organized under the Committee for Food Security of the Government of Tajikistan and is part of a broader FAO regional initiative on pandemic preparedness and response using the One Health approach. Funded by the Pandemic Fund, the initiative aims to strengthen national and regional capacities for early detection, diagnosis, and control of transboundary animal diseases.
Foot-and-mouth disease, one of the most contagious viral diseases affecting cloven-hoofed animals, poses significant risks to livestock production, food security, and livelihoods. Improving laboratory diagnostic capacity is critical for the timely identification of outbreaks, enabling effective response measures and informed disease control strategies.
The training combined theoretical instruction with hands-on laboratory practice, focusing on internationally recognized diagnostic methods. Participants learned to perform non-structural protein (NSP) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, structural protein (SP) ELISA tests, and FMD antigen (sandwich) ELISA tests, all essential for accurate detection and surveillance of the disease.
Sessions covered FMD epidemiology, circulating serotypes, and control strategies, along with critical guidance on laboratory biosafety, biosecurity, risk management, and proper sample collection, transport, and documentation. Participants were introduced to comprehensive diagnostic workflows and the role of ELISA-based techniques in outbreak investigation and disease monitoring.
Practical sessions allowed participants to apply NSP ELISA methods supporting the DIVA (differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals) concept, as well as SP ELISA for vaccine monitoring. These exercises included plate setup, incubation, optical density reading, titer calculation, and result interpretation, providing in-depth hands-on experience.
By the end of the training, laboratory specialists had enhanced their technical skills, gained a deeper understanding of quality assurance in diagnostic testing, and strengthened their ability to generate reliable data to support national disease surveillance and response systems.
Officials highlighted the value of the training in building technical expertise, quality control, and problem-solving capacity among laboratory personnel. Strengthened diagnostic capabilities enable Tajikistan to monitor and respond more effectively to FMD outbreaks, safeguarding livestock and the livelihoods dependent on them.
Through programs like this, FAO continues to support Tajikistan and the wider Central Asia region in building resilient animal health systems, reinforcing the One Health approach, and improving preparedness for future animal health emergencies and pandemics.
