SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.
Sec. Veterinary and Zoonotic Infection
This article is part of the Research TopicUnveiling Host-Pathogen Interactions: Insights into Animal Cellular Immunity and Novel Diagnostics - Volume IIView all 26 articles
Meta-analysis of the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis infection in mosquito vectors
Provisionally accepted
- 1Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- 2Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- 3Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun, China
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Background: Lymphatic filariasis, caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori, is transmitted by mosquitoes and persists as a major neglected tropical disease. Despite extensive elimination campaigns, information on vector infection prevalence remains fragmented, hindering evidence-based vector control strategies under the World Health Organization's Global Programme to Eliminate lymphatic filariasis. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Six databases (PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang) were searched up to April 2025. Eligible studies reported mosquito infection rates with defined sample size, location, and diagnostic method. Study quality was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for prevalence studies. Statistical synthesis was conducted in R (v4.1.2) using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression explored heterogeneity by region, mosquito genus, and detection method. Results: Eighteen studies covering 160,423 mosquitoes from 10 countries were included. The pooled infection prevalence was 0.7% (95% CI [0.3–1.7]). Rates were highest in Asia (3.0%, 95% CI [0.0–10.7]), in Mansonia spp. (2.5%, 95% CI [0.8–4.9]), and when RT-PCR was applied (2.5%, 95% CI [0.0–11.0]). Higher prevalence was associated with post-2016 studies (1.9%), areas without mass drug administration programmes (1.7%), and regions with annual mean temperatures of 23–27 °C (5.2%). Considerable heterogeneity (I² = 100%) and publication bias (Egger's test, p = 0.006) were evident. Conclusions: Filarial infections in mosquitoes remain widespread, with clear regional and methodological variability. Strengthened mosquito-based xenomonitoring, particularly using molecular diagnostic approaches, will be essential to accelerate progress toward global lymphatic filariasis elimination by 2030.
Keywords: Global prevalence, lymphatic filariasis, Meta-analysis, Molecular diagnostics, Mosquito vectors, Systematic review, vector-borne diseases
Received: 18 Sep 2025; Accepted: 30 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ye, Bao, Qin, Zhao, Chen and Ma. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Bei-Ni Chen
He Ma
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