Global hotspots and academic trends of vector-borne diseases in the order Diptera (Arthropoda: Insecta): a bibliometric visualisation.

Abstract

Blood-sucking arthropods belonging to the order Diptera, encompassing mosquitoes, sandflies, midges, blackflies, horseflies and tsetseflies serve as vectors for a myriad of pathogens, inflicting substantial harm on both human and animal health globally. The analysis and visualisation of global hotspots and trends pertaining to vector-borne diseases, stemming from these six categories of arthropods, constituted a reliable reference for further delving into the research on Diptera insect vectors. To achieve this, we mined literature information from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), encompassing all publications related to these six arthropod groups, and leveraged VOSviewer software for bibliometric analysis and visualisation. This resulted in the construction of comprehensive relationship networks encompassing keywords, countries, institutions and authors. A comprehensive analysis encompassed 41,393 research publications, segmented into 34,363 studies on mosquitoes, 1,668 on sandflies, 3,665 on midges, 241 on blackflies, 336 on horseflies and 1,120 on tsetseflies. The bibliometric analysis, coupled with visual characterisation, offered a multifaceted synthesis of the gathered data from diverse angles. The scientometric analysis quantitatively assessed and identified the contributions of keywords, countries, institutions and authors pertaining to the research of each vector. The resulting visualisation knowledge maps elucidate collaborative network relationships within the respective vector research domains. This research endeavour stems from numerous driving forces, and a comprehensive grasp of its future trajectories and research hotspots can empower scientists with historical perspectives and forward-looking insights, fostering the formulation of innovative and impactful research ideas for the years ahead.