Prevalence of Clostridium Perfringens in Sheep (Ovis Aries) and Goat (Capra Hircus) Populations Across Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia have consistently been the regions with the highest prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in sheep and goats. Given the significant economic importance of sheep and goats in these regions and the potential threat posed by this pathogen, a thorough investigation of the prevalence of C. perfringens in sheep and goats throughout Asia is important to inform the development of robust and effective regulatory measures to prevent its spread among sheep and goats. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines to quantitatively estimate the prevalence of C. perfringens in sheep and goats. Through extensive searches of eligible studies in electronic databases, 29 studies were identified. The pooled prevalence estimate was 38.8 % (95 %CI: 30.9-46.9), with type A showing the highest prevalence. Additionally, the results of the subgroup analysis indicated that the prevalence of C. perfringens in sheep and goats 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 C. perfringens-associated outbreaks.