Mourad Rekik

Management of reproduction that relies on naturally based solutions is extremely important to counter the negative perception around hormone-based interventions. In Mediterranean latitudes and wider regions of non-tropical drylands, sheep do not...

Sheep ectoparasites such as chewing lice, fleas and ticks are serious constraints to sheep productivity and are the cause of skin lesions in animals that decrease their market value. This study aims at investigating the ectoparasite fauna infesting...

Jameed is a traditional dried dairy product in Jordan that is known under different names
in the Middle East, Turkey, Central Asia, China, and Mongolia. It has been produced in the region for
centuries and makes a significant contribution (up to 20%)...

Background
Tropical theileriosis, Theileria annulata infection, is the most prevalent summer disease in Tunisia. It is transmitted by Hyalomma scupense, a two-host tick known to be endophilic.

Objectives
The present study aimed to estimate the...

The aim of this study was to characterize the Tunisian Fasciola spp. flukes by morphometric and molecular analyses. Flukes were collected from livers of sheep slaughtered in Sejnane slaughterhouses (Bizerte gouvernorate, Northwest Tunisia) between...

Ticks are important ectoparasites responsible for the transmission of several pathogens with significant medical, veterinary, and economic impacts. Climate and social changes have generated substantial changes in ticks’ distribution, abundance, and...

Conservation agriculture (CONS A) is a sustainable agriculture system based on crop rotation with no tillage. It has various environmental advantages compared to conventional agriculture (CONV A): decreased water evaporation, erosion, and CO2...

The dairy sector in Tunisia is based on small-scale farms, with 81% of the breeders owning
less than five cows. On these farms, milk is stored in plastic containers, resulting in post-production
losses estimated at 10% in the studied region. Due to...

The current study aimed at investigating the effects of partial or total substitution of soybean meal with faba bean on reproductive parameters of Queue Fine de l’Ouest rams. Eighteen adult rams (49.8 ± 3.7 kg and 2.4 ± 1.5 years old) were divided...

Fecundity gene introgression has become an economical method to improve sheep prolificacy in developing countries. The FecXBar and FecGH mutations are variants of the BMP15 and GDF9 sheep genes, respectively, identified in Tunisian Barbarine sheep...

Breeding programs involving either centralized nucleus schemes and/or importation of exotic germplasm for crossbreeding were not successful and sustainable in most Africa countries. Community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) are now suggested as...

Community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) have shown, at pilot scale, to be effective and beneficial in achieving genetic progress and in improving livelihoods of smallholder communities. In Ethiopia 134 sheep and goat CBBPs were operational...

The aim of this paper is twofold. The first objective is to measure the technical efficiency of mixed crop-livestock (CL) smallholder producers operating under conservation agriculture systems in Tunisian rainfed areas. The second objective is to...

Tortoises of the genus Testudo are the main hosts of Hyalomma aegyptium ticks. This species serves as a vector of several zoonotic pathogens. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of four pathogens associated with H...

Generally, agricultural production involves several challenges. In the drylands, it is further complicated by weather-related risks and resource degradation. In this paper, we present a case study of the mixed crop-livestock production system in...

The present study aimed to investigate the activity dynamics of Ixodes ricinus group ticks in a forest located in north-western Tunisia (Aïn Draham, Jendouba District) and assess the variation of abiotic factors (temperature, Normalized Difference...

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different estrus synchronization protocols followed by artificial insemination on estrus response and the conception rate of Abergelle goats. Three estrus synchronization protocols: (i) the...

Ticks are one of the most important vectors of several pathogens affecting humans and animals. In addition to pathogens, ticks carry diverse microbiota of symbiotic and commensal microorganisms. In this study, we have investigated the first Tunisian...

The distribution of ticks is essentially determined by the presence of climatic conditions and ecological contexts suitable for their survival and development. We build a model that explicitly takes into account each physiological state through a...

Background: Ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites considered second to mosquitos as vectors and reservoirs of multiple pathogens of global concern. Individual variation in tick infestation has been reported in indigenous sheep, but its...

The study simulated different potential breeding programs to design the optimal breeding structure and operational management structure for Borana goat. It evaluated different scenarios using ZPLAN+ software to maximize the genetic gain, discounted...

Increasingly frequent droughts, declining soil fertility, and poor plantanimal-
atmosphere interactions are threatening the sustainability of integrated croplivestock
systems in the rainfed drylands of North Africa. Previous research from around the...

The study aims to investigate tolerance capability of desert Barki sheep and goats to exercise heat stress (EHS) under the hot-dry conditions of Coastal Zone of Western Desert, in Egypt. Over the period from 2009 to 2014, mature ewes and does were...

The aim of the present study was to estimate the molecular prevalence of T. gondii along various segments of the genital tract of confirmed chronically infected ewes. Genital tracts were collected from 42 ewes; meat samples from the same ewes were...

We analysed options to optimize the use of sires in sheep and goat community-based breeding programmes (CBBP) for three scenarios occurring under field conditions: premature sale of selection candidates, fixed service periods of selected sires and...

Consumer awareness about dairy quality increased in the last years, specifically after recent food incidents worldwide (aflatoxin contamination in Europe, 2013, E. coli outbreak in the USA, 2015). In Tunisia, food security and sustainability are at...

Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an emerging tick-borne disease causing severe and fatal haemorrhagic syndrome in humans. Hyalomma spp. ticks are the primary vectors and sheep are important CCHF virus (CCHFV)-amplifying hosts. In this study...

Small ruminant breeding programmes in low-input production systems are best organised at the community level. Participant farmers have to agree on goal traits and their relative importance. When BLUP breeding values of goal traits are not available...

In this study, we report the results of a survey of Hyalomma ticks infesting one-humped camels in southern Tunisia. Examinations were conducted every second or third month on 406 camels in Tataouine district from April 2018 to October 2019. A total...

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections have negative impacts on animal health, welfare and production. Information from molecular studies can highlight the underlying genetic mechanisms that enhance host resistance to GIN. However, such...

With the increase of raw food consumption, there is a growing interest in the risk posed by zoonotic infections to human health. This study was performed to identify in popular processed beef meat-based sausages (Merguez) the prevalence of Toxoplasma...

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a viral tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by a Nairovirus, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). The present survey aimed to determine the exposure of one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) from...

Investigation was carried out to assess the effects of environmental factors and to estimate genetic parameters and trends for
reproductive traits in Bonga sheep, Ethiopia. Animals used in this study were managed by two communities involved in a...

The study investigated, for fixed time artificially inseminated (AI) Menz ewes in field trials, the reproductive
performance of prostaglandin-based treatments simultaneously to the standard ‘P4+eCG’ protocol. A total
of 483 Menz ewes were assigned to...

Paratuberculosis (Ptb) is a widespread chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) that affects both domestic and wild ruminants. Most of the studies focused on cattle while, the prevalence of Ptb in sheep in...

Community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) for small ruminants have been suggested as alternatives to centralised, government-controlled breeding schemes which have been implemented in many developing countries. An innovative methodological framework...

In Tunisia, livestock plays an important role in the economy; unfortunately, Tunisian sheep population faces several health challenges. The aim of this trial was to study phenotypic variability of four local sheep breeds and strains to abomasum...

To understand the ovarian basis for prolificacy of Bonga sheep, a total of 31 ewes were selected based on litter size (LS) records and divided into two groups: High Prolificacy (HP) (n = 20) with LS ≥ 2 and Low Prolificacy (LP) (n = 11) with LS = 1...

Maximizing the number of ofspring born per female is a key functionality trait in commercial- and/or subsistence-oriented
livestock enterprises. Although the number of ofspring born is closely associated with female fertility and reproductive success...

Purpose
The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence and molecular prevalence and perform a molecular identification of Neospora caninum in semen of Tunisian rams.
Methods
A total of 92 blood samples were collected from four farms located...

Background: Cysticercus tenuicollis (larvae of Taenia hydatigena) is a frequent cosmopolitan
endoparasite of ruminants. The infestation by this parasite is underestimated
since it is neither zoonotic nor inducing high economic losses in the sheep...

Ethiopia has a large and diverse population of small ruminants, which contribute
substantially to the livelihood and income of the rural poor and the country at large.
However, the sector faces a number of challenges. Productivity per animal and...

Community-based sheep breeding programs (CBBPs) were established in Ethiopia since 2010. Improved rams from CBBPs need to be disseminated. However, there is a risk of transmitting reproductive diseases to other community flocks. To investigate this a...

In this study, expected genetic progress and economic benefits from implementing three community-based breeding programs for sheep (CBBP) out- and upscaling strategies were investigated. Strategy 1 is to replicate average existing CBBPs, strategy 2...

Background
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) is a plant which has been reported to be effective in treating several parasitic and digestive diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of chamomile methanolic...

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of barley substitution by cactus during pre-mating phase on some reproductive parameters and blood metabolites of goats.
Forty adult goats of local breed were allocated to two groups based on...

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan,
Toxoplasma gondii. It is worldwide distributed in all warm-blooded vertebrates including
humans. The present review aimed to collect, compile and...

Due to the decrease of household incomes, the increase of food prices, and the negative effects of climate change on agricultural production, Tunisia faces a food insecurity challenge, especially in rural and arid areas. The purpose of our research...

Bovine anaplasmosis could be caused by several Anaplasma species. The causative agents are transmitted by ticks and haematophagous arthropods with a high impact on both human and animal health. This study was conducted to estimate the infection rate...

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the parasitic protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. It can infect all warm-blooded vertebrate species and causes abortions and birth defects in pregnant women and pregnant ewes. The objective of this study was...

Antagonistic relationship between milk yield and reproduction is reported in several
livestock species. This study aimed to investigate whether genetic merit for milk production
in dairy sheep affects responses to superovulation, embryo yield and...

Background: Naturally occurring mutations in growth and differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) or bone morphogenetic
protein 15 (BMP15) genes are associated with increased ovulation rate (OR) and litter size (LS) but also sterility.
Observing the Tunisian...

To test the efficacy on reproductive performance of nutritional supplementation in an out-of-season mating system, 66 adult prolific Barbarine ewes were selected and induced to breed using “ram effect”. The ewes were allocated to two homogeneous...

The study investigated, for cycling sheep, synchronizing protocols simultaneously to the standard “P” protocol using progestogens priming with intravaginal devices and gonadotropin. In November 2014, 90 adult Menz ewes were assigned to either the “P”...

Capparis spinosa is cultivated for several proprieties and the different parts of the plant (flower buds,
fruits, leaf and seeds) have been employed in drugs, foods and cosmetics. This study aimed to explore the antioxidant
potential effect and to...

Antipathogenic properties of camel milk have been investigated to substitute for drugs hence overcome
drug resistance. The main objective of this present study was to investigate the anthelmintic activity of
camel milk in relationship to its chemical...

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Haemonchus contortus infection on rams’
haematological, biochemical and clinical parameters and reproductive performances. A total
number of 12 Barbarine rams (control and infected) were included in the...

Theileria lestoquardi is the most prominent Theileria species in small ruminants
that causes malignant theileriosis of sheep in Africa and Asia. In the present survey,
blood samples and ticks were collected in Kebili (southern Tunisia) from 166
Queue...

Phenolic content, antioxidant and anthelmintic activities of herbal extracts are of particular interest to drug industry; plant extracts with significant anthelmintic activity have the potential to be used as alternatives to conventional chemical...

This study aimed to investigate the effect of water deprivation (WD) on reproductive traits of rams. Ten mature
rams were used and allocated to two groups balanced for body weight. Control (C) rams had free access to drinking
water, while water...

This study aimed to investigate if feeding patterns prior to and after artificial insemination (AI) affect the reproductive performances of ewes. Two breeds were used; the Barbarine (n = 133) and Queue Fine de l’Ouest (QFO; n = 129). For each breed...

Antipathogenic properties of plants’ essential oils have been investigated to substitute for drugs henceovercome drug resistance. This study investigated the insecticidal and antigastrointestinal parasite effectsof fresh leaves and flower essential...

This study tested the effect of melatonin treatment, initiated in late February on reproductive traits of young rams. A total
of 14 young Barbarine rams were used. Seven animals were treated with three melatonin subcutaneous implants
(Melatonin) on...

Eperythrozoonosis is a small ruminant disease caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma ovis (formerly known as Eperythrozoon ovis). Whilst acute infection in sheep may result in an anaemia and ill thrift syndrome, most animals do not develop clinical signs...

This work aimed to study the sources of variation in productive and reproductive traits of the dairy Sicilo-Sarde ewes and to further investigate the interaction between both classes of traits. After edits, a database containing 5935 lactation...

This study aims to develop at different seasons, for local North
African Maure goats, synchronizing protocols simultaneously
to the standard ‘S’ protocol using progestagens in association
with prostaglandins and gonadotropin. In late May, 40 goats...

In this study, the prevalence of piroplasms in sheep and goats was assessed with Giemsa-stained blood smear examination, PCR and nested PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to identify Babesia and Theileria species, respectively, in...