Seroprevalence of Q-fever among domestic ruminants, humans and ticks in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

چکیده اصلی

Q fever is a neglected zoonotic disease that poses a significant threat to the economy, animal health, and public health sectors worldwide, particularly in developing countries such as Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, where livestock production is the primary source of livelihood and food security for many communities, the implications of Q fever are particularly concerning. Despite its importance as a health issue for both animals and humans, there is insufficient national-level consolidated evidence regarding the burden of Q fever in ticks, domestic ruminants, and humans in Ethiopia. Therefore, this meta-analysis aims to assess the pooled prevalence of Q fever among ticks, ruminants, and humans in the country. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, using common databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The literature search was conducted from January 21 to January 30, 2026, to identify articles published in Ethiopia between January 1, 1990, and January 30, 2026. To evaluate the heterogeneity among studies, a random-effects model was employed to explore the pooled prevalence of Q fever in ticks, ruminants, and humans. Subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and sensitivity analysis were conducted to identify sources of variation between studies. Funnel plots, along with Egger's and Begg's correlation tests, were used to assess publication bias. The overall prevalence of Q fever across ticks, ruminants, and humans was 27.0% (95% CI: 20.0-34.0). The pooled prevalence of Q fever was 9% (95% CI: 2.0-16.0) in ticks, 29% (95% CI: 21.0-38.0) in ruminants, and 20% (95% CI: 5.0-36.0) in humans. The prevalence of Q fever was highest in Eastern Ethiopia at 41.0% (95% CI: 22.0-59.0) and lowest in Southwestern Ethiopia at 7.0% (95% CI: 2.0-13.0). Camels exhibited the highest exposure rate at 48.0% (95% CI: 0.0-1.0), while cattle had the lowest at 12.0% (95% CI: 4.0-21.0). The meta-regression analysis revealed that camel and goat species, along with the geographical regions of Eastern and Central Ethiopia, significantly affected the prevalence of Q fever. The findings highlight that Q fever continues to pose a significant threat to ticks, ruminants, and humans in Ethiopia. Therefore, collaboration among environmental, veterinary, and public health professionals is essential for designing and implementing effective prevention and control programs for Q fever in the context of a One Health approach.

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