Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Bovine Tuberculosis among Cattle (Domestic) and Buffaloes (Wild) Animals’ Species in Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol - Abstract
Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a chronic, debilitating zoonotic disease of major global importance, affecting
both animals and humans, particularly in low- and middle-income countries especially in developing countries. Globally, bovine tuberculosis is widely distributed,
with the highest prevalence reported in Asia and Africa, while Antarctica remains free of the disease.
Methods: A comprehensive and structured literature search will be conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Relevant studies published
between January 1990 and October 2025 will be systematically retrieved from multiple scientific databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of
Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, CAB Abstracts, SpringerLink, and African Journals Online [1], and additional articles will be also identified manually from
reference lists of articles generated in database search, systemically for papers that presented bTB prevalence data, published in English and French
language. A total of 62 published articles will be selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis.
Results: The analysis will be designed on the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis among animals’ species and also will consider effect of various potential risk
factors (age, weight, breed of different animals’ species, herd size, animal status) along with different geographical factors associated with bTB prevalence, will
be considered for consideration of their impact in the elaboration and strategies control programs of diverse animals’ ailments especially bovine tuberculosis.
Conclusion: In conclusion, while this systematic review is expected to provide robust evidence on the bovine tuberculosis among animals’ species, these
limitations will be kept in mind when interpreting the results.