Prevalence of Clostridium Perfringens in Sheep Populations Across Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

A B S T R A C T South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia have consistently been the regions with the highest prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in sheep. Given the significant economic importance of sheep in these regions and the potential threats posed by this pathogen, a thorough investigation of the prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in sheep throughout Asia is of paramount importance for guiding robust and effective regulatory measures to prevent its spread among sheep. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines to quantitatively estimate the prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in sheep. Through extensive searches of eligible studies in electronic databases, 31 studies were identified. The pooled prevalence estimate was 37.4% (95% CI: 29.88-45.69), with Type A showing the highest prevalence. Additionally, the results of the subgroup analysis indicated that the prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in sheep varied based on factors such as age, sample type, sample size, vaccination status, and sampling time. These findings emphasise the need for vaccination and ongoing surveillance to mitigate the risk of Clostridium perfringens-associated outbreaks.

Keywords: : C. perfringens, Prevalence, sheep, meta-analysis, Epidemiology