International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 194-201 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmvr 194 Research Insight Open Access Molecular Diagnostics of Water Buffalo Diseases: A Comparative Analysis Jinya Li, Mengyue Chen Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: mengyue.chen@cuixi.org International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.5 doi: 10.5376/ijmvr.2024.14.0022 Received: 05 Sep., 2024 Accepted: 06 Oct., 2024 Published: 18 Oct., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Li and Chen, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li J.Y., and Chen M.Y., 2024, Molecular diagnostics of water buffalo diseases: a comparative analysis, International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research, 14(5): 194-201 (doi: 10.5376/ijmvr.2024.14.0021) Abstract This study provides a comprehensive analysis of molecular diagnostic tools and their applications in the detection of key diseases affecting water buffaloes, including bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, and foot-and-mouth disease. Through a detailed review of PCR-based techniques, high-throughput sequencing, and immunological diagnostics, the study compares the efficacy of these methods in diagnosing specific water buffalo diseases. A case study of a disease outbreak highlights the practical application of molecular diagnostics in controlling outbreaks and improving disease management strategies. The study also explores future directions, emphasizing emerging technologies, integration with veterinary surveillance systems, and overcoming implementation barriers in developing regions. The findings underscore the potential of molecular diagnostics to revolutionize disease detection and management in water buffalo populations, with broader implications for global livestock health. Keywords Water buffalo; Molecular diagnostics; PCR; Disease outbreaks; Veterinary surveillance 1 Introduction Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) play a crucial role in agriculture and the economy, particularly in regions like the Philippines, Brazil, and Thailand. They are integral to the livestock industry, contributing significantly to dairy production and serving as a sustainable alternative to cattle in areas like the Amazon River Delta (Galon et al., 2019; Guedes et al., 2020; Nguyen et al., 2020). Despite their economic importance, water buffaloes face challenges related to disease diagnosis and management. They can act as reservoirs for various pathogens, including tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and hemoprotozoan parasites, which can affect both buffaloes and cattle (Sivakumar et al., 2014; Silveira et al., 2016). Diagnosing diseases in livestock, including water buffaloes, presents several challenges. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as microscopic examination, often lack sensitivity and specificity, making it difficult to detect infections accurately (Silveira et al., 2016). Moreover, diseases like anaplasmosis and babesiosis, caused by rickettsial bacteria and protozoan parasites, respectively, are prevalent in buffaloes and can lead to significant economic losses (Sivakumar et al., 2014; Nguyen et al., 2020). The presence of pathogens such as Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis, and Theileria spp. in buffaloes highlights the need for effective diagnostic tools to manage and control these infections (Silveira et al., 2016; Galon et al., 2019; An et al., 2021). Molecular diagnostics have emerged as a powerful tool in veterinary science, offering enhanced sensitivity and specificity for detecting pathogens in livestock. Techniques such as PCR and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) have been employed to identify and characterize pathogens at the molecular level, providing insights into their prevalence and genetic diversity (Galon et al., 2019; An et al., 2021). These methods have been instrumental in detecting infections in water buffaloes, including those caused by Leptospira spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp., thereby facilitating better disease management and prevention strategies (Mingala et al., 2009; Silveira et al., 2016; Guedes et al., 2020). This study attempts to explore the comparative analysis of molecular diagnostics in detecting and characterizing diseases in water buffaloes, discuss the effectiveness of various molecular techniques, and provide an overview of their role in enhancing our understanding of pathogen prevalence and diversity in buffalo populations. By
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