Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CVAS), Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), MannuthyThrissur, 680651, Kerala, India.
Parasitol Res. 2024 Oct 7;123(10):342. doi: 10.1007/s00436-024-08366-z.
Among different climatic zones in India, the tropical monsoon region comprises a diverse ecosystem characterized by the endemic nature of several parasites including certain emerging and re-emerging vector-borne pathogens of humans, whereas a systematic investigation of the occurrence of different parasites among domestic goats in this area is not yet explored. The goal of the present study is to explore the parasite diversity focusing on molecular identification of vector-borne hemoparasites and its health impacts on domestic goats reared in the tropical monsoon climate zone of Kerala, India. Among 227 goats presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (TVCC) in the monsoon months of 2023, thirty animals were recruited for the study. The animals were screened for the presence of different hemoparasites (Anaplasma spp., Theileria spp., and Babesia spp.), ectoparasites (ticks, lice, and fleas), and gastrointestinal (GI) parasites (hookworms, threadworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and coccidia). The isolated hemoparasites were further characterized by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The correlation studies to elucidate the association between the occurrence of different parasites and clinical manifestations (hyperthermia, pallor of mucous membrane, circulatory failure, respiratory signs, neurological instability, and GI signs), blood picture (anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia), demographics (sex and age), and treatment history (hemoparasitic therapy, ectoparasiticidal application, and prophylactic deworming) were conducted. The co-infection status of these parasites was also evaluated. A substantial portion of the goats in the study group was found to be affected by vector-borne hemoparasitic diseases and their arthropod vectors or GI parasites or both. This can be attributed to the constantly warm and humid climate of the region, which is favorable for the survival and growth of different life cycle stages of these parasites and vectors. A strategic parasitic disease surveillance-cum-control program is the need of the hour for ensuring climate resilience and profitable goat farming in the region.
在印度的不同气候带中，热带季风区包括一个多样化的生态系统，其特征是存在几种寄生虫，包括某些人类新兴和再现的媒介传播病原体，而对该地区家养山羊中不同寄生虫的发生情况进行系统调查尚未得到探索。本研究的目的是探索寄生虫多样性，重点关注媒介传播血液寄生虫的分子鉴定及其对印度喀拉拉邦热带季风气候区饲养的家养山羊的健康影响。在 2023 年季风月份向教学兽医临床综合体（TVCC）就诊的 227 只山羊中，有 30 只动物被招募参加研究。对这些动物进行了不同血液寄生虫（无形体属、泰勒虫属和巴贝斯虫属）、外寄生虫（蜱、虱子和跳蚤）和胃肠道（GI）寄生虫（钩虫、鞭虫、绦虫、旋毛虫和球虫）的筛查。进一步对分离的血液寄生虫进行测序和系统发育分析。进行了相关性研究，以阐明不同寄生虫的发生与临床症状（发热、黏膜苍白、循环衰竭、呼吸体征、神经不稳定和 GI 体征）、血象（贫血、白细胞减少、血小板减少）、人口统计学（性别和年龄）和治疗史（血液寄生虫治疗、外寄生虫杀灭应用和预防性驱虫）之间的关联。还评估了这些寄生虫的合并感染状况。研究组中的很大一部分山羊患有媒介传播血液寄生虫病及其节肢动物媒介或 GI 寄生虫或两者兼有。这可能是由于该地区持续温暖潮湿的气候有利于这些寄生虫及其媒介的不同生活史阶段的生存和生长。因此，该地区急需开展寄生虫病监测和控制计划，以确保气候适应能力和山羊养殖的盈利能力。
