RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Global prevalence of <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> and <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em> coinfection in <em>Ixodes</em> tick populations: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
JF BMJ Open
JO BMJ Open
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e083052
DO 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083052
VO 14
IS 6
A1 Luo, Suyi
A1 Bao, Fukai
A1 Wu, Hanxin
A1 Ma, Weijie
A1 Zhu, Liangyu
A1 Huang, Xun
A1 Yang, Rui
A1 Peng, Li
A1 Gao, Li
A1 Wu, Xinya
A1 Zhong, Lei
A1 Dong, Yan
A1 Li, Bingxue
A1 Ma, Weijiang
A1 Liu, Aihua
YR 2024
UL http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/6/e083052.abstract
AB Introduction Ixodes ticks are pivotal in transmitting diseases like Lyme disease and human granulocytic anaplasmosis, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, respectively. These pathogens not only affect humans through single or multiple tick bites but also pose risks to animal hosts, leading to potential coinfections. Despite regional studies indicating significant prevalence, their global coinfection data remain sparse. This study aims to bridge this gap through a systematic review and meta-analysis of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum coinfections in Ixodes ticks worldwide. Addressing data limitations and study variability, it seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of coinfection patterns, their epidemiological implications and inform targeted prevention strategies.Methods and analysis Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols 2015 guidelines and PROSPERO registration, this study will undertake a thorough database search without constraints on language or publication date, using standardised screening and data extraction protocols. The quality and bias of studies will be evaluated using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. In the statistical analysis phase, conducted in R, we will initially determine the use of fixed or random-effects models based on the assessment of data heterogeneity. This choice will guide the framework for subsequent analyses. Within the selected model’s framework, we will perform subgroup analyses and meta-regression to investigate the effects of various factors, ensuring that each step is tailored to the initial model selection to maintain analytical consistency.Ethics and dissemination As this study does not involve clinical research or data collection from subjects, ethical approval is not required. We will uphold ethical standards in synthesising and reporting data. Study outcomes will be published in peer-reviewed journals, communicating findings to the scientific community and contributing to the understanding of Ixodes tickborne diseases.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023449735.