Vet Res Commun. 2026 Jul 4;50(5):438. doi: 10.1007/s11259-026-11365-3.
ABSTRACT
Opisthorchis viverrini infection remains a major public health concern in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Although animal reservoirs contribute to sustaining parasite transmission, comprehensive evidence on infections in these hosts remains limited. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess O. viverrini infection in animal reservoirs (cats and dogs). Pooled prevalence and infection intensity were estimated using random-effects models and meta-regression, and associated factors were synthesized. Subgroup analyses were performed to examine variability, and heterogeneity was evaluated using the Q statistic and the I² index. The pooled prevalence of O. viverrini infection in animal reservoirs was 4.76% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.83-7.90%, prediction interval (PI): 0.15-61.76%). After trim-and-fill adjustment, the estimate increased to 16.31% (95% CI: 10.00-25.49%, PI: 0.28-93.09%), with wide prediction intervals indicating substantial heterogeneity. Cats showed significantly higher prevalence (11.97%) than dogs (1.89%; p < 0.01). Infection intensity followed a similar pattern, with mean eggs per gram (EPG) higher in cats (151.07) than in dogs (45.77; p < 0.01). No significant difference in overall prevalence was observed between Thailand (4.36%) and Lao PDR (13.44%; p = 0.19), although significant subgroup differences were detected for cats (p = 0.01) and dogs (p < 0.01). Overall reservoir-host prevalence was higher in endemic areas (5.64%) than in non-endemic regions (2.28%; p < 0.001); this difference was significant in cats but not in dogs. Meta-regression showed no significant temporal trend. Linear regression revealed positive associations between human and animal infections, with stronger correlation for cats (R² = 0.86, p < 0.01) than dogs (R² = 0.62, p = 0.02). These findings support an important role of animal reservoirs, particularly cats, in transmission and emphasize the need for improved surveillance and integrated control strategies.
PMID:42400729 | DOI:10.1007/s11259-026-11365-3
