Current epidemiological status of mosquito-borne arboviruses in Gulf countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Mosquito-borne viral (MBV) infections caused by dengue virus (DENV), Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), West Nile virus (WNV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) pose a significant global public health concern. The aim of this systematic review is to summarise the reported prevalence dat...

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Main Authors: Khalid Hajissa, Mutiat Hammed-Akanmu, Hussain Omar Alfaqih, Ahmad A. Alshehri, Mohammed Dauda Goni, Maha Al-Asmakh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-025-00247-2
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author Khalid Hajissa
Mutiat Hammed-Akanmu
Hussain Omar Alfaqih
Ahmad A. Alshehri
Mohammed Dauda Goni
Maha Al-Asmakh
author_facet Khalid Hajissa
Mutiat Hammed-Akanmu
Hussain Omar Alfaqih
Ahmad A. Alshehri
Mohammed Dauda Goni
Maha Al-Asmakh
author_sort Khalid Hajissa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Mosquito-borne viral (MBV) infections caused by dengue virus (DENV), Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), West Nile virus (WNV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) pose a significant global public health concern. The aim of this systematic review is to summarise the reported prevalence data for these viruses in Gulf countries. Methods A web search in four electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) was conducted, and forty-four eligible studies were fulfilled the selection criteria and were therefore included in this study. The Pooled prevalence of MBVs was estimated using a random-effects model. The heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane Q test and I 2 test, while publication bias was evaluated using Egger’s test. Results Using meta-analysis of proportions, the pooled prevalence of MBVs in Gulf countries among 34,367 human and 19,062 Animal samples was estimated to be 22.5% (95% CI: 13.7–31.4) and 11.6% (95% CI: 0.5 − 22.7%), respectively. In human, DENV was the most predominant virus reported in 19 studies, with an overall pooled prevalence of 32.4%, followed by RVFV in 9 studies, with an infection rate of 10.1%, while WNV and CHIKV were only reported in two studies, with overall prevalence rates of 6.4% and 2.4%, respectively. On the other hand, the overall prevalence of WNV and RVFV in animals was estimated to be 27.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Conclusion This review revealed that MBVs are highly prevalent among humans in Gulf countries but relatively low in animals. As a result, additional therapeutic and preventive measures are required. However, the study highlights the need for further studies and surveillance to precisely monitor the burden of these viruses in the region.
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spelling doaj-art-68a90e8e2d1d4a5dbdd8d0dedeca57e62025-08-20T02:55:28ZengBMCTropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines2055-09362025-05-0111111110.1186/s40794-025-00247-2Current epidemiological status of mosquito-borne arboviruses in Gulf countries: a systematic review and meta-analysisKhalid Hajissa0Mutiat Hammed-Akanmu1Hussain Omar Alfaqih2Ahmad A. Alshehri3Mohammed Dauda Goni4Maha Al-Asmakh5Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Biomedicine, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains MalaysiaFaculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran UniversityFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia KelantanDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar UniversityAbstract Background Mosquito-borne viral (MBV) infections caused by dengue virus (DENV), Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), West Nile virus (WNV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) pose a significant global public health concern. The aim of this systematic review is to summarise the reported prevalence data for these viruses in Gulf countries. Methods A web search in four electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) was conducted, and forty-four eligible studies were fulfilled the selection criteria and were therefore included in this study. The Pooled prevalence of MBVs was estimated using a random-effects model. The heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane Q test and I 2 test, while publication bias was evaluated using Egger’s test. Results Using meta-analysis of proportions, the pooled prevalence of MBVs in Gulf countries among 34,367 human and 19,062 Animal samples was estimated to be 22.5% (95% CI: 13.7–31.4) and 11.6% (95% CI: 0.5 − 22.7%), respectively. In human, DENV was the most predominant virus reported in 19 studies, with an overall pooled prevalence of 32.4%, followed by RVFV in 9 studies, with an infection rate of 10.1%, while WNV and CHIKV were only reported in two studies, with overall prevalence rates of 6.4% and 2.4%, respectively. On the other hand, the overall prevalence of WNV and RVFV in animals was estimated to be 27.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Conclusion This review revealed that MBVs are highly prevalent among humans in Gulf countries but relatively low in animals. As a result, additional therapeutic and preventive measures are required. However, the study highlights the need for further studies and surveillance to precisely monitor the burden of these viruses in the region.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-025-00247-2ArbovirusesMosquito-borneDengueChikungunyaRift Valley feverWest Nile virus
spellingShingle Khalid Hajissa
Mutiat Hammed-Akanmu
Hussain Omar Alfaqih
Ahmad A. Alshehri
Mohammed Dauda Goni
Maha Al-Asmakh
Current epidemiological status of mosquito-borne arboviruses in Gulf countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines
Arboviruses
Mosquito-borne
Dengue
Chikungunya
Rift Valley fever
West Nile virus
title Current epidemiological status of mosquito-borne arboviruses in Gulf countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Current epidemiological status of mosquito-borne arboviruses in Gulf countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Current epidemiological status of mosquito-borne arboviruses in Gulf countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Current epidemiological status of mosquito-borne arboviruses in Gulf countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Current epidemiological status of mosquito-borne arboviruses in Gulf countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort current epidemiological status of mosquito borne arboviruses in gulf countries a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Arboviruses
Mosquito-borne
Dengue
Chikungunya
Rift Valley fever
West Nile virus
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-025-00247-2
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