Seroepidemiology of Human Tularemia—Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Seroprevalence Studies

Abstract

Abstract Background Seroepidemiologic studies of human tularemia have been conducted throughout the northern hemisphere. The purposes of this study were (1) to provide an overview of Francisella tularensis seroprevalence data, and (2) to generate an estimate of the proportion of study participants whose infection remained subclinical. Methods We conducted a systematic review of F tularensis seroprevalence studies according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science covering the period from 1951 to 2023. Results The weighted pooled seroprevalence among 44 486 participants recruited in 52 studies was 3.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7–5.1). Reported seroprevalences ranged between 0.2% and 31.3%. Occupational activities associated with an increased likelihood of exposure (risk ratio, 3.51 [95% CI, 3.2–3.86]) and studies from North America versus Europe and Asia (4.53 [4.15–4.94]) were associated with significantly increased seropositive rates. Twenty-eight data sets (47%) reported clinical information on a total of 965 seropositive participants. The weighted pooled estimate for subclinical seropositivity was 84.4% (95% CI, 72.9%–991.7%). Studies from F tularensis type A areas (risk ratio, 0.37 [95% CI, .27–.51) and studies from sites where pulmonary tularemia prevailed (0.38 [.28–.51]) reported lower subclinical seropositivity rates than studies from type B areas and from areas of predominance of (ulcero)glandular or oropharyngeal tularemia, respectively. Conclusions Throughout the northern hemisphere, only a small proportion of study participants showed serologic evidence of exposure to F tularensis. Eight of 10 seropositive participants had no historical evidence of past clinical tularemia.