The incidence of enteric viruses in treated wastewater and their potential release into the environment or use for agriculture are very critical matters in public health. In our study, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) analysis of enteric viruses was performed on 59 samples of influents and effluents collected from Tubli wastewater treatment plant (Water Pollution Control Center (WPCC)) and Tubli Bay, where the effluents were discharged, in Kingdom of Bahrain during two sampling periods. Four clinically essential waterborne enteric viruses were examined: enterovirus (EV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), astroviruses (AV), and rotaviruses (RV) and compared to standard bacterial and bacteriophages indicators of fecal pollution. Detection rates of EV, AV, HAV, and RV in the influent samples were 100%, 75%, 12.5%, and 12.5%, respectively, while 50% of the effluent samples from Tubli WPCC contained only EV RNA. None of the tested enteric viruses could be detected in any of the samples collected directly from Tubli Bay. Effluent samples from Tubli plant did not show significant seasonal differences. Since detection of enteric viruses genome does not necessarily indicate infectivity, the infectivity of these viruses was evaluated through isolation and growth of indictor bacteria and bacteriophages. High concentration of fecal bacteriological indicators was detected in all effluents samples (100%): 3.20 × 10³ cfu/mL for E. coli, 1.32 × 10³ cfu/mL for Salmonella spp., and 1.92 × 10³ cfu/mL for Shigella spp. E. coli and Salmonella specific bacteriophages were also detected in the effluent samples in high titers. The combined results of PCR and bacterial enumeration point to a probable public health risk via the use of these wastewaters in agriculture or their discharge into the sea. Continuous surveillance of viral and bacterial prevalence and their resistance to sewage disinfection procedures could contribute to a better control of risks associated with the recycling of effluent wastewater and its release into the environment.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), particularly the globally prevalent ST2 clone, poses significant threats in the Gulf Cooperation Council region through extensive drug resistance, high virulence, and efficient gene transfer. This study investigates the epidemiological and genomic characteristics of CRAB in the Jazan region, using whole genome sequencing to understand its transmission and genetic determinants. Sixty-five clinical A. baumannii isolates exhibiting phenotypic resistance to carbapenems (meropenem, imipenem, and ertapenem) were collected from various tertiary hospitals in the Jazan region. The presence of prevalent carbapenemase genes among these isolates was examined using two sets of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Forty-eight isolates confirmed as carbapenemase producers were selected for WGS analysis. Among the 65 clinical CRAB isolates, the adult ICU exhibited the highest prevalence of CRAB (76.9%). Multiplex PCR identified 48 (73.8%) isolates as carbapenemase producers, all harboring bla_OXA-51-like genes. Specifically, bla_OXA-23 was detected in 39 isolates (60%), bla_NDM in 8 (12.3%), and bla_OXA-24 in one isolate. These 48 carbapenemase-producing isolates also carried virulence-associated genes related to adherence, biofilm formation, immune evasion, iron acquisition and regulation, and serum resistance. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that 39 (81.2%) of the carbapenemase-positive isolates belonged to ST2, followed by ST85 and ST107, with the KL152 locus as the most common capsule type. The study indicates a significant rise in the ST2 clone in the Arabian Gulf, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and underscores the need for ongoing surveillance of less common clones such as ST85 and ST107 to manage public health risks effectively.

The conventional morphological characterization of mosquito species remains heavily used for species identification in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. It requires substantial expertise and time, as well as having difficulty in confirming identity of morphologically similar species. Therefore, to establish a reliable and accurate identification system that can be applied to understanding spatial distribution of local mosquito species from the Jazan region, DNA barcoding was explored as an integrated tool for mosquito species identification. In this study, 44 adult mosquito specimens were analyzed, which contain 16 species belong to three genera of potential mosquito disease vectors (Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex). The specimens were collected from the Jazan region located in southwest Saudi Arabia. These included old and preserved mosquito voucher specimens. In addition, we assessed the genetic distance based on the generated mitochondrial partial COI DNA barcodes to detect cryptic diversity across these taxa. Nine mosquito species belonging to three genera were successfully barcoded and submitted to GenBank, namely: Aedes aegypti, Aedes caspius, Aedes vexans, Aedes vittatus, Anopheles arabiensis, Culex pipiens, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex sitiens, and Culex tritaeniorhynchus. Of these nine species, Aedes vexans, Aedes vittatus, Culex sitiens, and Culex tritaeniorhynchus were registered in GenBank for the first time from Saudi Arabia. The DNA barcodes generated a 100% match to known barcodes of these mosquito species, that also matched with the morphological identification. Ae. vexans was found to be either a case of cryptic species (subspecies) or a new species from the region. However, more research has to be conducted to prove the latter. This study directly contributes to the development of a molecular reference library of mosquito species from the Jazan region and Saudi Arabia. The library is essential for confirmation of species in support of existing mosquito surveillance and control programmes.

Entomologic investigations were conducted in the Al-Darb, Al-Reath, Al-Aridah, Abuareesh, Al-Ahad, Samttah, Sabyah, Damad and Beash areas by CO₂-baited CDC miniature light traps in the Jazan region. Vectors were identified morphologically, as well as COI gene segment amplification and sequencing. The relative abundance (RA%) and pattern of occurrence (C%) were recorded. The presence of the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in pooled mosquito samples was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Culex pipiens (C. pipiens) and Culex tritaeniorhynchus (C. tritaeniorhynchus) were found with RA% values of 96% and 4%, respectively, in the region. Significant variations in vector population densities were observed in different districts. The C. pipiens was found highly abundant in all districts and RA% value (100%) was recorded in the Al-Darb, Al-Reath, Al-Aridah, Samttah and Damad areas, whereas RA% values (93.75%, 93.33%, 92.30% and 91.66%) were noted in Al-Ahad, Sabyah, Abuareesh and Beash districts, respectively. RA% values for C. tritaeniorhynchus were recorded as 8.33%, 7.70%, 6.66% and 6.25% in Beash, Abuareesh, Sabyah and Al-Ahad areas, respectively. The pattern of occurrence for C. pipiens and C. tritaeniorhynchus was recorded as 100% and 44.4% in the region. Phylogenetic analysis of C. pipiens and C. tritaeniorhynchus exhibited a close relationship with mosquitoes from Kenya and Turkey, respectively. All mosquito samples tested by RT-PCR were found negative for RVFV. In summary, the current study assessed the composition, abundance, distribution of different mosquito vectors and presence of RVFV in different areas of the Jazan region. Our data will help risk assessments of RVFV future re-emergence in the region.

Nearly half of the world's population are at risk of dengue fever (DF) which is a serious threat to the majority of international public health. Recently, Dengue viruses (DENVs) considered a re-emerging arthropod-borne viral disease that has been growing its transmission in numerous geographic areas across the world, causing dengue-endemic in more than 125 countries globally.

Background: Malaria is a deadly vector‐borne parasitic disease spread by the bite of an infective female Anopheles mosquito. In routine malaria diagnosis, microscopic examination is generally regarded as the gold standard. Our study sought to evaluate the diagnostic precision of two commercially accessible quantitative PCR (qPCR) kits, in contrast to light microscopy and nested multiplex PCR (NM‐PCR). Methods: This cross‐sectional study in southwest Saudi Arabia included 92 febrile patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Detection of Plasmodium species used light microscopy, NM‐PCR, and qPCR kits (RealStar and Viasure). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v25, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Light microscopy detected 92.4% of cases, NM‐PCR detected 73.9%, and RealStar and Viasure detected 92.4% and 95.7%, respectively. Viasure showed the highest sensitivity (97.6%) and NPV (50%), while NM‐PCR had superior specificity (71.4%). For species identification, Plasmodium falciparum detection was highest with RealStar (85%). Mixed infections were better identified by Viasure (34.6%). RealStar excelled in Plasmodium vivax detection (area under the curve [AUC] = 90 % ). qPCR detected low parasitemia levels missed by microscopy. Conclusions: The qPCR kits, particularly Viasure, demonstrated superior sensitivity for detecting Plasmodium species and identifying mixed infections compared to light microscopy and NM‐PCR. While light microscopy showed higher specificity and PPV, qPCR effectively detected low parasitemia levels missed by microscopy, highlighting its value in improving malaria diagnostics.