Global prevalence and epidemiological determinants of African horse sickness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AHS remains highly prevalent globally with substantial heterogeneity requiring region-specific surveillance strategies.

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized 25 observational studies (1978-2025) to evaluate global African horse sickness (AHS) prevalence. The overall pooled prevalence was 50.34% (95% CI: 26.95-73.58%), demonstrating substantial heterogeneity (I² = 98.1%) and a wide prediction interval (0.50-99.51%). Significant variation was identified across host species, equid age groups, geographic regions, diagnostic methods, seasons, and study periods. Meta-regression analysis revealed no significant temporal trends, while funnel plot asymmetry and Egger's test suggested potential publication bias. The findings underscore AHS as a highly prevalent and epidemiologically complex vector-borne viral disease with considerable economic and animal health impacts, particularly in endemic regions. The authors emphasize that strengthened surveillance systems, targeted vector control strategies, and standardized epidemiological reporting protocols are critical for mitigating disease burden and enhancing global preparedness against AHS outbreaks.

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