Qin et al.
The prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in the ticks and humans of China from 2000 to 2023: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Vet Sci. 2025;12(2):146. doi:10.3390/vetsci12020146
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis examined studies on the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus and its prevalence in ticks and human hosts in China, covering publications from 2000 to 2023. From this body of literature, 2,467 relevant articles on TBE virus prevalence in ticks and 2,034 on TBE seroprevalence in humans were initially identified. Following preliminary screening, 1,018 and 1,230 studies were included in the analysis, respectively.
In China, the TBE virus has been detected in several tick species, including Dermacentor silvarum, D. nuttalli, Ixodes persulcatus, I. ovatus, and Hyalomma asiaticum kozlovi. The highest infection rate was observed in D. silvarum (8.1%), followed by I. persulcatus (6.7%).
Human seroprevalence data indicate that the provinces most affected by TBE virus–infected ticks include Xinjiang, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Tibet, Guizhou, Liaoning, and Yunnan. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of TBE virus in ticks has shown a gradual upward trend. The highest seroprevalence in humans was reported among homemakers and unemployed individuals.
The study concluded that vaccination remains a critical preventive measure. The authors recommend expanding immunization efforts to include additional high-risk populations beyond forestry workers.