311 July 2024. Volume 18. Number 3 Basima Abdulfatah Albadrani 1* , Maab Ibrahim AL-Farwachi 1 , Muhammad Naeem Iqbal 2, 3 , Asfa Ashraf 4 1. Department of Internal & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq. 2. Pacific Science Media, Ilford, United Kingdom. 3. Association of Applied Biomedical Sciences, Narowal, Pakistan. 4. Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China. * Corresponding Author: Basima Abdulfatah Albadrani, Professor. Address: Department of Internal & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq. Phone: +96 (477) 01867520 E-mail: basima1971@uomosul.edu.iq Review Article The Implications of Malaria in Livestock: Reservoirs, Challenges, and Future Directions Malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium, has been predominantly associated with humans. However, recent studies have uncovered a potential reservoir for Plasmodium spp., within livestock populations. Malaria, caused by the parasitic protozoan Plasmodium spp., is a deadly disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Although human is the primary host for the malaria parasite, it has been discovered that certain animals can also serve as reservoirs. One such potential reservoir is livestock populations, as they have been found to carry Plasmodium spp. parasites. This article will discuss the implications of livestock being potential reservoirs for malaria and the importance of understanding this relationship for effective disease control. Livestock populations have long been overlooked as potential reservoirs for malaria transmission, but recent advancements in diagnostic techniques and surveillance studies have sparked interest in exploring this field. By prioritizing thorough assessments of zoonotic transmission risks, we can gain valuable insights into the role of livestock in malaria transmission and develop effective strategies to reduce the burden of this devastating disease. Keywords: Future direction, Livestock, Malaria, Plasmodium, Reservoirs A B S T R A C T How to Cite This Article Albadrani, B. A., I. AL-Farwachi, M., Iqbal, M. N., & Ashraf, A. (2024). The Implications of Malaria in Livestock: Reservoirs, Challenges, and Future Directions. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 18(3), 311-332. http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/ijvm.18.3.1005502 http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/ijvm.18.3.1005502 Use your device to scan and read the article online Article info: Received: 22 Jan 2024 Accepted: 7 Apr 2024 Publish: 01 Jul 2024