Bibliometric analysis of Japanese encephalitis research over the past 15 years

Zheng Wu¹, Yingmei Feng^1*

¹Department of Science and Technology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

*Correspondence: Yingmei Feng; Email: yingmeif13@ccmu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an acute mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by Japanese encephalitis virus. JE is primarily endemic in Asia, with high mortality and disability rates. In this study, we used bibliometric methods to analyze global research on JE from 2010 to 2024, identifying development trends and hotspots. The results indicated that between 2010 and 2019, annual publications remained stable at 110–130 articles per year; however, a notable increase occurred from 2020, likely related to global public health events. Since 2017, average annual citations have declined, suggesting topic saturation or a shifting research focus. Publications were mainly concentrated in 10 journals, notably Vaccine, and keyword analysis showed that “Japanese encephalitis virus” and “vaccine” were the core themes. Coupling cluster analysis identified three major research areas—virology, epidemiology, and vaccine development—with the latter playing a key role in disease control. International collaboration analysis revealed that China, India, and the United States were the main contributors, with the most frequent cooperation between China and the United States. This study systematically delineated the development of research on JE and revealed the evolutionary trend in research hotspots. Our findings provide a scientific basis for the optimization of future research directions and the rational allocation of research resources. Our findings will help to promote further research on the prevention, control, and treatment of JE.

Keywords: Japanese encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis virus, bibliometrics, international collaboration, vaccine