Dr. Muhammad Yaser Khan
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Dr. Muhammad Yaser Khan, an emerging Pakistani researcher and faculty member at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore (Layyah Campus) Para Veterinary Institute, has achieved a remarkable scientific breakthrough by identifying a zoonotic parasite at the genetic level in Pakistani goats’ milk for the first time in the country’s history.
Supported by the prestigious Italian Government Merit Scholarship worth over PKR 30 million, Dr. Khan conducted an extensive doctoral study on Toxoplasma gondii—a globally significant zoonotic parasite—across small and medium-scale goat farms in South Punjab.
Following initial serological screenings, Dr. Khan advanced his research to the genetic level, successfully isolating and identifying the parasite’s genotypes in goat milk samples. This marks Pakistan’s first-ever successful genetic-level detection of Toxoplasma gondii in goat milk, establishing a major milestone in national veterinary and public health research.
The findings raise important public health concerns, particulalrly for consumers of raw goat milk and pregnant women, as Toxoplasma gondii infection can cause serious complications, including miscarriages and congenital abnormalities.
Dr. Khan collaborated with an international team of researchers from two leading Italian universities and one in Norway. His pioneering work has been published in top-tier international journals published by Elsevier (ScienceDirect) and recognized for its potential to advance veterinary and public health research in Pakistan.
In addition to this achievement, Dr. Khan has presented his research at several international conferences and workshops, earning multiple travel grants and nominations for European research collaborations under the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) framework.
Dr. Khan’s success represents a proud milestone for Pakistan’s scientific community, strengthening the country’s role in global zoonotic disease research and promoting the One Health approach through education, outreach, and public awareness.