Cross-border introduction risk of Rift Valley fever virus: surveillance evidence from intercepted livestock in southwestern Saudi Arabia
Frontiers in Veterinary Science·
- DOI
- 10.3389/fvets.2026.1893786
- PMID
- —
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W7203749550
- Study type
- Cross-sectional study
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
Documented viral presence in border-seized herds emphasizes the necessity for improved laboratory monitoring and coordinated biosecurity protocols to address transboundary animal health threats.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study sought to quantify historical Rift Valley fever virus exposure in confiscated animals and evaluate whether pairing serology with molecular assays improves detection of active infections during standard border checks.
Study design
A cross-sectional analysis utilizing routine laboratory results from seized livestock gathered over a three-year period.
Population and setting
Sheep, cattle, and camels that were confiscated during illegal transport attempts at a border crossing in the Jazan region of southwestern Saudi Arabia from 2017 through 2019.
Main findings
Testing revealed an overall seropositivity rate of 1.7 percent, with approximately one-sixth of reactive specimens demonstrating markers consistent with recent viral activity. Three animals yielded positive molecular results, all of which also tested positive for recent infection markers. While sheep showed higher reactivity rates than cattle, these differences did not reach statistical significance.
Public-health relevance
Documented viral presence in border-seized herds emphasizes the necessity for improved laboratory monitoring and coordinated biosecurity protocols to address transboundary animal health threats.
Important limitations
The analysis depends on convenience sampling of confiscated animals rather than a representative herd population, and the authors explicitly state that geographic origins and specific transmission routes remain unidentified.
GIDS interpretation
This publication provides historical context regarding viral exposure within a defined border interception scenario, serving as background information on regional animal health dynamics without referencing active monitoring networks.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 11 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.