Content of review 1, reviewed on September 30, 2018

Hemida's et al. paper titled "Molecular and serological surveillance of African horse sickness virus in Eastern and Central Saudi Arabia" is a well developed paper that deals with one of the most fatal viruses "the African horse sickness virus (AHSV)" considered one of the most devastating viral diseases of the family Equidae that may hot horses, mules donkeys and wild animals like zebras etc... The authors in this paper were very clear and direct in exposing their research plan through the tile and abstract, which later on was developed in a concise and thorough literature review covering history, outbreak cases, threats and possible cures. The authors were keen to build a strong theoretical platform to demonstrate how serious is this virus. The methodology is scientifically based using the latest testing equipment and methods of sample collection making sure that the researchers had a clearance from the point of view of ethical treatment of the animals in this research. Results and discussions were clear and fit the objectives of the paper leading to a clear assessment of the collected samples to conclude at the end that the horses in the eastern and central regions of Saudi Arabia are clear and clean from the virus during the research period 2014-2016. However, the authors are convinced that continued surveillance is a must and the collection of samples must be thorough and must be supported by the concerned government. Furthermore, it is recommended that the authors offer some statistics about the world movement of horses and the like [including zoo transfers] to have an idea how devastating could be the problem if the virus is discovered.

Source

    © 2018 the Reviewer (CC BY 4.0).

References

    M., H., M., A., A., D., A., A. 2017. Molecular and serological surveillance of African horse sickness virus in eastern and central Saudi Arabia. Revue Scientifique et Technique de l'OIE.