Meta- and bibliometric analysis of Coxiella burnetii in veterinary medicine

This study evaluates Coxiella burnetii research in veterinary medicine from 2000 to 2023 using bibliometric and meta-analytic methods, examining global seroprevalence. A total of 182 research articles were analyzed from Scopus and WoS databases. The main objectives are to understand the general seroprevalence of C. burnetii in animals across different continents, present the current status in veterinary research, determine overall seroprevalence, and provide guidance for future research. Bibliometric analyses were conducted using VOSviewer and R studio programs with bibliometrix and biblioshiny packages. These analyses include the distribution of studies over the years, growth rates, as well as country-wise, author and source analyses. The keyword analysis of the current study reveals a focus on Q fever studies, emphasizing the disease's zoonotic potential, particularly related to farm animals. The meta-analysis, conducted using the "metafor" package in R, aims to understand the variation in C. burnetii seroprevalence in animals across continents. The analyses are separated by continent (Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, North America, and South America) and by animal species (large ruminants, small ruminants, pets, horses, camels, and wild animals). The results highlight heterogeneity in studies, indicating significant variability in C. burnetii seroprevalence among different continents and animal species. Average prevalences are reported as 12.99% in large ruminants, 17.14% in small ruminants, 34.06% in camels, 7.16% in horses, 10.80% in pets, and 9.64% in wild animals. The study also focuses on regional research, providing an analysis of strengths and weaknesses, and underscores the high heterogeneity in the analyses, suggesting the need for more comprehensive seroprevalence studies in each continent and country. The study recommends further research to understand underlying risk factors and ecological influences contributing to observed seroprevalence variations. Detailed investigations into the effects of animal mobility, climate conditions, and environmental factors on C. burnetii seroprevalence are advised. Encouraging international collaboration, data sharing, adopting common methodologies, and establishing standards are emphasized to enhance data comparability and improve understanding of regional differences.