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Updated: May 7, 2026
Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors
Published on: September 13, 2018
Current epidemiological status of mosquito-borne arboviruses in Gulf countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Khalid Hajissa1,2,3, Mutiat Hammed-Akanmu4, Hussain Omar Alfaqih5
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. khalid541983@yahoo.com.
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 I2 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.
