1.Parasitic coinfections among selected smallholder goat flocks in Malaysia
Paul, B.T. ; Jesse, F.F.A. ; Kamaludeen, J. ; Chung, E.L.T. ; Mat Isa, K. ; Azhar, N.A. ; Jimale, Y.A. ; Mohd Lila, M.A.
Tropical Biomedicine 2023;40(No.4):444-452
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			This paper describes the occurrence of multiple parasitic infection with special reference to emerging 
haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis. A cross-sectional survey of four selected goat flocks was conducted to 
collect samples and management information. Blood samples were processed using microhaematocrit 
centrifugation to determine the packed cell volume (PCV). Detection and morphological identification 
of blood protozoa and haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis from Giemsa-stained smears were done 
microscopically. M. ovis infection was classified mild (1-29% infected cells), moderate (30-59% infected 
cells), or severe (above 60% infected cells). Faecal floatation and McMaster faecal egg count were used 
to detect and classify strongyle infections as negative (no eggs/oocysts), light (< 500 epg), Moderate 
(500 – 1000 epg), or severe (>1000 epg) and coccidia infection as light (<1800 opg), moderate (1800 – 
6000 opg), or severe (>6000 opg). There were 149 goats with blood protozoa (57.98%; 95% CI: 51.87 – 
63.85) and 204 goats with GI parasites (79.38%; 95% CI: 74.02 - 83.87) involved in single (15.8%; 95% CI: 
11.7 – 21.0) or multiple (84.2%; 95% CI: 79.0 – 88.3) infections. The risk of Strongyles increases by 2.49 
(95% CI: 1.24 – 4.99) in females versus males and 6.79 (95% CI: 3.25 – 14.18, p =0.000) in adults versus 
young. The risk of Eimeria species increases by 7.32 (95% CI: 3.45 – 15.50, p =0.000) in adults versus 
young, while M. ovis coinfection risk increases by 4.51 (95% CI: 1.40 – 14.50, p =0.000) in female versus 
males. Thin animals had a significantly higher (p<0.05) mean burden of Strongyle (1370.37 ± 345.49) 
and Eimeria (1594.12 ± 695.26) than the moderate and fat goats. The PCV was negatively associated 
with mean faecal egg count (FEC) (p<0.05) such that a lower PCV was recorded in animals with a higher 
Strongyle epg output. A severe burden of M. ovis was accompanied by an increased nematode FEC and 
decreased haematocrit (p<0.05). Coinfections of Strongyles, or Eimeria species involving M. ovis were 
associated with a higher parasitaemia compared with single infections (p<0.05). This study highlights 
the importance of M. ovis and Strongyle or Eimeria species coinfections among goat flocks and provides 
valuable data for developing and implementing an integrated herd health management program for 
parasite control among low-input smallholder flocks.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
            

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