Laboratory for Molecular Genetic and Forensic Research of the UNSA Faculty of Veterinary Medicine appointed as the holder of cooperation activities with the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC)
By the act of the Federal Ministry of Health number 03-33-5206 / 21 from 07.09.2021. On the basis of the same and nominated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, the Laboratory for Molecular Genetic and Forensic Research of the University of Sarajevo - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was appointed the holder of cooperation activities with ECDC within the initiative "SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing high -capacity support to EU candidate and potential candidate countries“.
This initiative refers to the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is considered a basic and crucial tool for detecting, monitoring and evaluating changes in the viral genome (mutations) of variant strains that can lead to faster virus transmission, avoidance of immune defense mechanisms and infection. severe clinical manifestations of the disease with a consequently very negative impact on public health in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Obtaining timely and accurate information on the occurrence and circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) and variants of interest (VOIs) requires an adequate surveillance system, including integrated viral genome sequencing with a well-defined sampling and sequencing strategy. Since the OneHealth Concept is one of the key and very effective ways to combat health challenges globally, which the COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly is, the participation of the University of Sarajevo - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, i.e. the role of LMGFI as a carrier of activities related to for the cooperation of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with ECDC in the mentioned initiative, very significantly contributes to the implementation and revitalization of the OneHealth concept, and thus to the development and strengthening of public health capacities in response to COVID-19 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The implementation of the OneHealth concept in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, strongly supported by the Federal Ministry of Health and the FBiH Public Health Institute, is reflected, among other things, in the fact that of the 380 complete sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome from BiH, deposited in the GISAID database (https://www.epicov.org/epi3/frontend#6f1ea), the Laboratory for Molecular Genetic and Forensic Research alone or through the ECDC initiative, sequenced 216 or 56.8% of the total. From the OneHealth aspect, the cooperation of the Laboratory for Molecular Genetic and Forensic Research with public and private health institutions (PZU) and institutions is significant and established, especially through the exchange of diagnostic material (samples), reagents, but also experiences gained during the pandemic. In this regard, we would especially like to emphasize the cooperation of the Laboratory for Molecular Genetic and Forensic Research with the University Clinical Hospital in Mostar and PZU Eurofarm Sarajevo.
