Ticks and tick-borne pathogens with zoonotic importance in animals in Southeast Asia: A decade of evidence from systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Tick-borne zoonotic pathogens pose a growing threat across Southeast Asia, driven by high biodiversity, environmental change, and close human-animal contact. Yet, no systematic review has consolidated evidence on tick species and their host-pathogen associations across the region over the past decade. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 2015 and 2025 in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Literature findings from PubMed and Web of Science retrieved 198 articles of which 122 articles were met with inclusion criteria. Included studies reported from nine countries with Thailand (37.7%) contributing the most, followed by Malaysia (36.1%). Research involvement of countries peaked in 2020 and 2025, with uneven geographic coverage. Universities were the leading contributors often through intra- and inter-regional collaborations. Samples were mainly derived from ectoparasites (50%), followed by animal blood (34.4%), and a combination of both sources (15.6%). Eight tick genera: 6 hard and 2 soft ticks were identified, with Rhipicephalus sanguineus being the most reported, underscoring its strong association with domestic hosts. Broader tick diversity was documented through sylvatic and environmental sampling. Of the 122 included studies, 57 studies detected tick-borne pathogens from 14 vertebrate animal hosts with notable detection of zoonotic involving the genera Anaplasma, Coxiella, and Borrelia. Dogs, cats, cattle, and rodents harbored the widest pathogen spectrum, with zoonotic significance. Meta analyses revealed a strong research bias toward domestic animals, with limited wildlife and transboundary settings occurred. Expanded cross-border collaborations and integrated One-Health approaches are needed to strengthen tick-borne pathogen detection and risk assessment.