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Bibliometric Insights into Human Metapneumovirus Interventions: Trends, Gaps, and Future Directions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2025

Sridevi Gnanasekaran*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute (IGMC&RI), Puducherry, India
Vignesh Murugan
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute (IGMC&RI), Puducherry, India
Surendran Venkataraman
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute (IGMC&RI), Puducherry, India
Vinoth Rajendran
Affiliation:
Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, UP, India
Jayaraj Vinothini
Affiliation:
Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibinagar, TG, India
Kavita Vasudevan
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute (IGMC&RI), Puducherry, India
*
Corresponding author: Sridevi Gnanasekaran; Email: srilakshan25@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a significant cause of respiratory tract infections, particularly in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Despite its global impact, research on therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventive interventions remains fragmented. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to evaluate global trends, advancements, and gaps in HMPV intervention research.

Methods

Bibliometric data were retrieved from the Scopus database using keywords related to HMPV interventions, including “treatment,” “vaccine,” and “diagnostics,” for the period 2000–2025. Data were analyzed using Biblioshiny, the graphical interface of the Bibliometrix R package. Descriptive metrics, keyword analysis, thematic evolution, and collaboration networks were assessed, with results visualized as charts, maps, and network diagrams.

Results

A total of 2482 publications were analyzed. Research output accelerated markedly after 2015, driven by advances in molecular diagnostics and global interest in respiratory viruses. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China emerged as leading contributors, while low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remained underrepresented. The most productive journals were Journal of Clinical Virology and Journal of Medical Virology. Prominent themes included vaccine development, antiviral therapies, and molecular diagnostics. However, key research gaps were identified in the areas of coinfections, long-term sequelae, and interventions tailored for high-risk and resource-limited populations. Collaboration networks highlighted concentrated partnerships among high-income countries, indicating limited global equity in HMPV research.

Conclusion

While progress in HMPV research is evident, critical disparities remain in global collaboration and focus areas. Future efforts should prioritize inclusive partnerships, increased research in LMICs, and the development of affordable diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. This bibliometric analysis serves as a roadmap to guide equitable and impactful global HMPV research.

Information

Type
Review Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc
Figure 0

Table 1. Leading contributors to HMPV: journals, authors, organizations, and countries

Figure 1

Table 2. Summary of key bibliometric indicators in HMPV intervention research (2000–2025)

Figure 2

Figure 1. Temporal trends in author productivity and citation impact: a visualization of scholarly contributions.

Figure 3

Figure 2. Heatmap showing keywords across the publications.

Figure 4

Figure 3. Trends in research topics related to HMPV: term frequency analysis.

Figure 5

Figure 4. Co-occurrence network illustrating frequently occurring terms in HMPV research.

Figure 6

Figure 5. Thematic clustering of research topics on HMPV: a visual representation of term relationships.