Tajikistan strengthens foot-and-mouth disease diagnosis through FAO training

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has completed a five-day training course on the laboratory diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) for central and regional laboratory specialists working under the Committee for Food Security of the Government of Tajikistan.

The training was conducted as part of a broader FAO regional initiative on pandemic preparedness and response using the One Health approach. The initiative, funded by the Pandemic Fund, aims to strengthen national and regional capacities for the early detection, diagnosis and control of transboundary animal diseases.

FMD, one of the most contagious viral diseases affecting cloven-hoofed animals, threatens livestock production, food security and livelihoods. Enhancing laboratory diagnostic capacity is essential for the timely detection of outbreaks, effective responses and the development of informed disease control strategies.

The intensive training programme combined theoretical instruction with hands-on laboratory practice, focusing on internationally recognized diagnostic methods, such as non-structural protein (NSP) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, structural protein (SP) ELISA tests and FMD antigen (sandwich) ELISA tests.

“Robust laboratory diagnostics are essential for the early detection and effective control of animal diseases,” said Aghasi Harutyunyan, FAO Representative a.i. in Tajikistan. “By delivering this practical training, FAO is empowering national laboratory specialists to respond swiftly to foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, safeguarding livestock, livelihoods and food security. The initiative underscores FAO’s commitment to the One Health approach and to strengthening resilient animal health systems in Tajikistan and the wider Central Asia region.”

The training opened with sessions on FMD epidemiology, circulating serotypes and control strategies, and critical guidance on laboratory biosafety, biosecurity, risk management and proper sample collection, transport and documentation. Participants were introduced to comprehensive FMD diagnostic workflows and the role of ELISA-based techniques in surveillance and outbreak investigation.

Over the following days, participants engaged in extended practical sessions on NSP ELISA, supporting the DIVA (differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals) concept, and SP ELISA for vaccine monitoring. These sessions covered plate setup, incubation, optical density reading, titer calculation and the interpretation of results.

By the end of the training, participants had enhanced their technical skills, improved their understanding of quality assurance in diagnostic testing, and strengthened their ability to generate reliable laboratory data to support national disease surveillance and response systems.

“This training has been invaluable for our laboratory specialists, providing advanced hands-on experience in FMD diagnosis, from antigen detection to the integrated interpretation of NSP and SP ELISA results,” said Mustafo Muminzoda, Deputy Head of the Committee for Food Security under the Government of Tajikistan. “Strengthening technical skills, quality control and problem-solving abilities means we are now better equipped to monitor and respond to foot-and-mouth disease, protecting both our livestock and the livelihoods that depend on them.”

Through initiatives 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.