Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Microbiology13 Oct 2026

Efficacy of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome vaccines in animal models: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Eric Sibomana¹
Eurade Ntakiyisumba¹
Fabrice Hirwa¹
Maryum Tanveer¹
Noutlady Inthavong¹
Jaime C. Cabarles²
John Hwa Lee¹
Gayeon Won¹

¹Bio-Safety Research Institute and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University
²College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental Science, Central Philippine University

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne zoonosis that threatens both animal and human health across East Asia, yet no licensed vaccine is currently available. We therefore conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical murine and ferret studies to evaluate severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus vaccine efficacy. Seven electronic databases were searched for studies published between 2009 and 2025. Random-effects meta-analyses evaluated mortality, viremia, and post-challenge weight loss. Quantitative viral burden was further evaluated using standardized mean differences for mean and peak viremia, whereas body-weight trajectories were assessed using generalized linear mixed models. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Vaccination markedly reduced mortality (RR = 0.10, 95% CI 0.05–0.21), post-challenge weight loss (RR = 0.21, 95% CI 0.12–0.37), and detectable viremia (RR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.27–0.73), although the effect estimate was attenuated in the trim-and-fill sensitivity analysis (RR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.36–1.51). Furthermore, significantly suppressing both mean and peak viremia under homologous and heterologous challenge conditions. Longitudinal analyses further demonstrated improved preservation of body weight, particularly following mRNA and vector vaccination. These findings provide the strongest quantitative evidence supporting the development of broadly protective SFTSV vaccines for both human and veterinary use within a One Health framework.

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Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{sibomana2026efficacy,
  title = {{Efficacy of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome vaccines in animal models: a systematic review and meta-analysis}},
  author = {Eric Sibomana and Eurade Ntakiyisumba and Fabrice Hirwa and Maryum Tanveer and Noutlady Inthavong and Jaime C. Cabarles and John Hwa Lee and Gayeon Won},
  journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2026.1978600},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1978600/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Efficacy of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome vaccines in animal models: a systematic review and meta-analysis
AU  - Eric Sibomana
AU  - Eurade Ntakiyisumba
AU  - Fabrice Hirwa
AU  - Maryum Tanveer
AU  - Noutlady Inthavong
AU  - Jaime C. Cabarles
AU  - John Hwa Lee
AU  - Gayeon Won
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/13
JO  - Frontiers in Microbiology
DO  - 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1978600
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1978600/full
AB  - Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne zoonosis that threatens both animal and human health across East Asia, yet no licensed vaccine is currently available. We therefore conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical murine and ferret studies to evaluate severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus vaccine efficacy. Seven electronic databases were searched for studies published between 2009 and 2025. Random-effects meta-analyses evaluated mortality, viremia, and post-challenge weight loss. Quantitative viral burden was further evaluated using standardized mean differences for mean and peak viremia, whereas body-weight trajectories were assessed using generalized linear mixed models. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Vaccination markedly reduced mortality (RR = 0.10, 95% CI 0.05–0.21), post-challenge weight loss (RR = 0.21, 95% CI 0.12–0.37), and detectable viremia (RR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.27–0.73), although the effect estimate was attenuated in the trim-and-fill sensitivity analysis (RR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.36–1.51). Furthermore, significantly suppressing both mean and peak viremia under homologous and heterologous challenge conditions. Longitudinal analyses further demonstrated improved preservation of body weight, particularly following mRNA and vector vaccination. These findings provide the strongest quantitative evidence supporting the development of broadly protective SFTSV vaccines for both human and veterinary use within a One Health framework.
SN  - 1664-302X
ER  -

Abstract

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