Investigation of the immunogenetic and infection status of scimitar-horned oryx and livestock in Tunisia

Disease transmission across the wildlife-livestock interface is recognised as a serious issue in livestock health and food security, as well as wildlife conservation management. Traditionally only considered a threat to farming (UK bovine TB transmission via badgers; African FMD transmission through buffalo), the potential for two-way transmission between livestock and wildlife populations also poses risks to highly threatened species. This project will investigate the infection and immunogenetic status of a semi-wild meta-population of scimitar-horned oryx (SHO), a charismatic north-African antelope considered extinct in the wild for nearly forty years. Multiple small SHO populations established in Tunisia over the past twenty years within fenced landscape-scale enclosures are currently being considered for trial release and will come into contact with local livestock. There is the need and opportunity to conduct research into the immunogenetic diversity and disease status of both SHO and livestock populations in Tunisia to inform the risk assessments, and subsequently investigate the outcomes of controlled trial releases.