Global epidemiology of bluetongue virus infection in domestic and wild animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Bluetongue, a major infectious disease of ruminants, is caused by the bluetongue virus (BTV), transmitted via Culicoides biting midges. Despite its impact, the global prevalence across animal species remains unclear. This study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of BTV prevalence across different animal species and geographical regions from 2000 to 2023, assessing heterogeneity and potential risk factors. A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and BioMed. Statistical analyses, including heterogeneity assessment (I2 statistic, Cochran’s Q test), meta-regression, and publication bias evaluation (funnel plots, Egger’s test), were performed using R (version 4.2.2). The random-effects model estimated the pooled prevalence. From 142 studies, the global pooled prevalence of BTV was 41.75% (95% CI: 36.46–47.14; N = 10,787), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 99.8%). South America exhibited the highest prevalence at 64.71% (95% CI: 44.05–82.87; N = 11,899), while North America had the lowest (19% [95% CI: 2.50–45.71; N = 33165]). Buffalo had the highest species-specific prevalence (79.31% [95% CI: 66.68–89.63; N = 1214]). Among 26 identified serotypes, BTV-1 and BTV-4 were dominant. A significant temporal increase in prevalence was observed, with rates nearly doubling from 2000–2010 (25.52% [95% CI: 16.89–35.23; N = 56240]) to 2011–2023 (42.33% [95% CI: 35.49–49.33; N = 90960]). This study represents the first systematic review and meta-analysis providing a comprehensive overview of BTV global prevalence. The high heterogeneity and diverse epidemiology suggest that further research is recommended to enhance understanding of BTV dynamics and inform control measures for this economically significant disease.