Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Piroplasma spp. Infection and Co-infection with Anaplasma marginale in...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Epidemiology
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Piroplasmosis and anaplasmosis are economically significant tick-borne diseases affecting livestock globally.
• These vector-borne illnesses pose a continuous threat to animal health and national economies, particularly during tick activity seasons.
• Algeria faces challenges with emerging Piroplasma spp. and Anaplasma marginale infections in its domestic ruminant population.

Approach:

• A systematic review of three databases was conducted following the PRISMA statement to identify eligible studies.
• Meta-analysis was performed using the 'meta' package in R software, employing a random effects model for data pooling.
• The analysis synthesized data from 14 research papers published between 2004 and 2023.

Key Points:

• Theileria spp. showed a high overall infection rate of 45% (cattle 59%, sheep 18%, goats 20%).
• Babesia spp. had an overall infection rate of 7% (cattle 10%, sheep 3%), with eight Piroplasma species identified.
• Co-infections between Piroplasma spp. and Anaplasma marginale were observed, with T. annulata/A. marginale co-infection at 8.3%.

Conclusions:

• This meta-analysis provides critical data on Piroplasmosis and Anaplasma marginale co-infection prevalence in Algerian domestic ruminants.
• Findings highlight regional and host-specific factors influencing infection rates, including breed, age, and gender.
• The study offers essential insights for developing targeted surveillance and prevention strategies against these devastating tick-borne diseases.