Theileria lestoquardi and malignant theileriosis in small ruminants: an updated review.

Theileria lestoquardi is a virulent apicomplexan protozoan that induces malignant theileriosis in small ruminants (especially sheep and goats) throughout extensive areas of Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Transmitted by ixodid ticks, this disease constitutes a major impediment to livestock health and productivity, commonly precipitating severe morbidity and high mortality within affected flocks.This updated review synthesizes contemporary understanding of Theileria lestoquardicovering the parasite’s fundamental biology, patterns of transmission, clinical presentation, diagnostic methodologies, and available therapeutic interventions. It further underscores recent progress in molecular diagnostic tools, advances from epidemiological investigations, and the development of integrated control measures, notably tick-vector management and vaccine-based prophylactic strategies. Moreover, the review calls attention to evolving obstaclesmost prominently the emergence of antiparasitic drug resistance and climate-induced alterations in the geographic distribution of tick vectors. By integrating the latest research, it seeks to furnish veterinarians, scientists, and policy-makers with the evidence base required to bolster disease surveillance, refine preventive measures, and strengthen control programs against malignant theileriosis in sheep and goat populations.