Insights into hookworm prevalence in Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction Hookworm infections are neglected tropical diseases of humans and animals worldwide. A meta-analysis and systematic review was designed to evaluate the prevalence of hookworm infection in animal and human hosts in Asia until July 2018. Methods The available online articles of five English databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar) were explored. Results The most parasitized carnivores were jackal (48%, CI: 4 to 91%), followed by dog (41%, CI: 29 to 53%), cat (26%, CI: 14 to 38%) and the red fox (19%, CI: 13 to 24%). The weighted prevalence of Ancylostoma braziliensis, A. caninum, A. ceylanicum, A. tubaeforme and Uncinaria stenocephala isolated from different canids were found to be 27% (CI: 21 to 33%), 23% (CI: 7.0 to 53%), 24% (CI: 12 to 35%), 44% (CI: 37 to 51%) and 37% (CI: 18 to 55%), respectively. In total, 98 records were obtained for human hookworms from 3209 760 examined individuals and the calculated weighted prevalence in this population was 19% (CI: 17 to 20%). Conclusions These findings highlight a desirable ecological milieu for parasite survival and transmission in such territories, which implicates revisiting control programs and public health infrastructures in those areas.