Bibliometric analysis of the use of pathological techniques in camel research

Abstract

Background: Camel pathology research has evolved significantly over the past five decades, reflecting the growing recognition of camels' importance in agriculture, zoonotic disease control, and economic contributions. However, there has been limited evaluation of research trends, thematic advancements, and international collaborations in this field. Aim: This study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis of camel pathology research published between 1971 and 2024. The study identified key research themes, assessed collaboration patterns, and highlighted gaps to guide future research efforts in camel pathology.

Results: The analysis included 297 research articles retrieved from Scopus. A steady increase in publications was observed, with a notable surge after 2010 due to advancements in molecular techniques and rising global interest in camel health. Thematic analysis identified well-established motor themes, such as camel histopathology and tuberculosis, while basic themes, such as infertility and postmortem studies, were found to be underexplored. Collaboration analysis revealed the dominance of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, emphasizing their pivotal role in camel research. However, under- represented regions, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, showed limited participation in collaborative networks.

Conclusion: This study highlights the transition from traditional pathological techniques to advanced molecular and epidemiological approaches, enabling better disease detection, diagnosis, and management in camels. Despite significant progress, the slower adoption of cutting-edge technologies in certain regions indicates the need for targeted capacity-building initiatives. By addressing these gaps and fostering international collaborations, camel pathology research can contribute to sustainable development, improved public health, and improved global food security.

Keywords: Bibliometric; Camel; Histopathology; Pathology; Trend.

Fig. 1.. Summarization of research related to pathology in camels.

Fig. 2.. Annual research outgrowths for pathological techniques in camel from 1971 to 2023. This graph shows the increasing interest and use of pathological techniques in camel research.

Fig. 3.. Average citations for pathological techniques used in camel research from 1971 to 2024.

Fig. 4.. Word map with a blue gradient showing the countries with the highest cited countries in articles using pathological techniques in camel research. The dark blue countries are the highest, indicating that Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, and Iran have the highest number of citations, respectively.

Fig. 5.. VOSviewer international collaboration network. This figure illustrates which countries are highest in the number of collaborations defined by the size of the circles, and which countries participated in the collaboration defined by the lines between the countries. The thicker the link, the stronger the collaboration. Therefore, it is clear that most of the collaboration was initiated by Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and the link between the two countries is thick, suggesting a strong collaborative relationship. Next comes Iran, the UAE, and the United States.

Fig. 6.. Most relevant journals in relation to articles using pathological techniques in camel research.

Fig. 7.. Illustrated impact of journals according to their H-index.

Fig. 8.. Visual illumination of impact by different authors based on their H-index.

Fig. 9.. The network visualization generated by VOSviewer illustrates thematic clusters in camel research using pathological techniques, with each cluster representing a specific area of study. The node size reflects the frequency of a research topic, and the thickness of the connecting lines represents the strength of the relationship between different topics.

Fig. 10.. VOSviewer overlay visualization highlights trends in camel pathology research, with classical topics represented in blue and more recent topics depicted in yellow.

Fig. 11.. The thematic map provides an analysis of camel pathology research using histopathological techniques, categorized into four quadrants. The Motor Themes (top-right quadrant) include camel histopathology, camelpox PCR, camel hematology, and camelid carcinomas, which are well-developed and central, acting as drivers for other research themes. The Niche Themes (top-left quadrant) represent specialized but less central topics, such as fibropapilloma/papillomavirus, Pasteurella hemolytica, she-camel, selenium, Algeria, vitamin E, and coccidiosis. The Basic Themes (bottom-right quadrant) are central but underdeveloped areas that provide foundational material for other research, including topics such as dromedary camels in Nigeria, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia, infertility, testicular biopsy, uterine, kidney, Mycobacterium bovis, abattoir, and postmortem studies. Emerging or decreasing themes (bottom-left quadrant) encompass less developed and less central topics, such as squamous cell carcinoma, sarcoptic mange, dermatitis, and she-camel, which may be either gaining traction or waning in interest.