Research Trends and Collaborative Patterns in Wolbachia and Aedes aegypti Studies: A Scientometric Analysis

Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) is the primary vector for dengue, Zika and chikungunya, which represent major global public health concerns. The use of Wolbachia as a biological control agent in Ae. aegypti has gained significant international attention following the successful establishment of field-released mosquitoes in Australia, Malaysia, Brazil, Indonesia and Singapore. This study presents a comprehensive scientometric analysis of the research landscape of Wolbachia and Ae. aegypti. Data comprising 662 English-language publications from 2000 to 2025 were extracted from the Scopus database. Analytic tools, including VOSviewer and R-based Biblioshiny, were employed to quantify author productivity, transcontinental collaboration networks, thematic evolution, research gaps and future directions, while Bradford's Law of Scattering was used to identify core dissemination channels. Publications have shown a steady upward trajectory since 2000, with an overall relative growth rate of 0.3%, while annual citations peaked in 2009 and 2011 (3337 and 3460 citations, respectively). The dataset strictly conformed to Bradford's distribution (0.16% error), identifying PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (11.9%) and Parasites and Vectors (5.6%) as the core journals. Global research networks are predominantly led by Australia and the United States, supported primarily by the National Institutes of Health (14.8%) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (14.2%). Crucially, thematic analysis using a methodological triangulation approach demonstrates a progressive maturation in the field, shifting from foundational laboratory mechanisms toward large-scale deployment logistics and microbiome dynamics. Overall, this study highlights the intellectual landscape, underscores the vital role of global collaboration, and provides strategic insights to guide future evidence-based policies in Wolbachia-Aedes aegypti research.