Visualization and analysis of mapping knowledge domains for coronavirus research

In recent years, many countries around the world have been threatened by COVs. The aim of this study was to better grasp developments and trends in research on coronavirus around the world and to promote theoretical research into their prevention and control.

Research on coronavirus was reviewed and analyzed using bibliometrics based on a total of 4860 publications collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Yearly quantitative distribution of literature, country/region distribution, organization distribution, main source journal distribution, subject category distribution, research knowledge bases, and research hotspots and frontiers were all analyzed, and CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to plot knowledge domain maps, Excel was used to plot keyword strategy diagram.

Coronavirus research could be roughly divided into 4 stages: preliminary development stage (before 2000), rapid growth stage (2000-2005), slow decline stage (2006-2011) and sustained growth stage (since 2012). America had taken the leading position in this field. The study of COVs involves many subject categories, mainly includes virology, veterinary sciences, biology, and immunology. At present, the key words in the field of coronavirus research were mainly divided into 6 major hot clusters, namely, the introduction and structure analysis of coronavirus, the research on the outbreak source and transmission of coronavirus, the research on the infection pathway of coronavirus in human body, the research on the pathogenesis of coronavirus, the research on the diagnosis and symptoms of coronavirus infection, and the research on the treatment of coronavirus.

Coronavirus, which occurs all over the world, often causes huge casualties and economic losses, and poses a serious threat to the safe and stable operation of the social and economic system. Objective literature review and analysis can help scholars in related fields to deepen their overall understanding. And, there are several key issues that should be further explored in future research.