International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.6, 227-234 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmvr 230 spread of zoonotic diseases. For example, the presence of cats on farms has been identified as a risk factor for Toxoplasma gondii infection in water buffalo, which can be transmitted to humans through unprocessed milk and meat (De Barros et al., 2020). Moreover, the economic burden of implementing comprehensive disease control programs can be prohibitive for small-scale farmers, leading to inadequate disease management and persistent infection cycles (Shi et al., 2021). Cultural practices, such as the use of buffaloes for draft power and their integration into household systems, further complicate disease control efforts (Li et al., 2014). 5 Case Study: Regional Disease Management in South Asia 5.1 Overview of the selected region South Asia, particularly countries like India, Thailand, and the Philippines, is a region where water buffaloes play a crucial role in agriculture and dairy production. The climate and agricultural practices in these areas make them susceptible to various infectious diseases that affect water buffaloes, which in turn impacts both the economy and public health. For instance, in India, water buffaloes are the main dairy animals, and their health is vital for the dairy industry (Dubey, 2018). Similarly, in Thailand, water buffaloes are essential draft animals for agriculture, especially in resource-restricted areas (Kengradomkij et al., 2015). 5.2 Control strategies implemented In South Asia, several control strategies have been implemented to manage infectious diseases in water buffaloes. In Kerala, India, an outbreak of Theileria orientalis was managed through therapeutic interventions using anti-theilerial drugs such as buparvaquone and oxytetracycline, which led to the recovery of animals in the early stages of the disease. In Thailand, the control of Neospora caninuminvolved seroprevalence studies to identify risk factors and implement targeted interventions to reduce exposure. In the Philippines, molecular detection and characterization of tick-borne pathogens like Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis, and B. bigemina have been crucial for crafting effective surveillance and prevention programs (Galon et al., 2019). Additionally, vaccination strategies have been employed in China to combat schistosomiasis, with trials showing that a two-dose prime-boost regimen can significantly reduce worm and egg burdens in water buffaloes (Table 1) (Da'dara et al., 2019). Table 1 Comparison of time between vaccinations: 1 month (regular) or 3 months (extended) (Adopted from Da'dara et al., 2019) Worms Liver eggs Miracidia Group (time between injections) n Total worms per animal (X±SD) Reduction and Statistics Eggs per gram liver (X±SD) Reduction and Statistics Eggs per gram feces (X±SD) Reduction and Statistics Mock (extended) 9 454.44±19.42 - 464.11±98.43 - 26.00±7.00 - pVAX (extended) 9 454.67±15.18 - 486.11±103.99 - 26.67±6.00 - pSjC23-Hsp70 (extended) 11 285.27±30.19 37.23% p < 0.0001 323.00±40.91 30.4% p< 0.0001 17.82±5.40 31.46% p< 0.01 pSjC23-Hsp70 (regular) 11 267.27±30.46 41.19% p < 0.0001 290.09±45.68 37.5% p< 0.0001 14.09±2.43 45.81% p < 0.001 Note: plL-12 was administered at the prime for all groups but mock. p-value compared to mock by one-way ANOVA and Turkey's post-test. No significant difference between extended and regular (Adopted from Da'dara et al., 2019) 5.3 Outcomes and lessons learned The control strategies implemented in South Asia have yielded mixed outcomes. In Kerala, the use of anti-theilerial drugs was effective in reducing mortality rates among water buffaloes affected by Theileria orientalis, highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment (Vinodkumar et al., 2015). In Thailand, the identification of risk factors for Neospora caninumexposure has helped in formulating localized control measures, although the overall seroprevalence remains a concern. The molecular characterization of tick-borne pathogens in
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