Prevalence of Dipylidium caninum among dogs and cats in Indonesia: A meta-analysis

Dipylidium caninum is a zoonotic cestode of dogs and cats whose epidemiological distribution is closely associated with flea-mediated transmission. However, evidence regarding its prevalence and epidemiological patterns in Indonesia remains geographically fragmented. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of D. caninum and characterize variation according to host, study period, and province. A systematic literature search was conducted using predefined PICOS criteria and reported according to PRISMA 2020. Eligible observational studies were independently screened and assessed for methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated using an inverse-variance random-effects model. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to evaluate epidemiological variation, while geographical distribution was visualized using QGIS. Thirteen studies comprising 1,580 animals and 108 positive events were included. The overall pooled prevalence was 5.03% (95% CI: 2.21–11.44), with a prediction interval of 0.22–100.00%. Substantial between-study heterogeneity was observed (I² = 93.4%; τ² = 1.9102; p < 0.0001). Prevalence differed significantly by study period and province, whereas the difference between cats (6.76%) and dogs (2.82%) was not statistically significant. Meta-regression showed no significant association between study period and prevalence (β = 0.1088, p = 0.4537; R² = 0.0573). No significant funnel-plot asymmetry was detected (p = 0.6926). D. caninum is prevalent among dogs and cats in Indonesia, with substantial geographical and epidemiological variability. Standardized surveillance, diagnostic approaches, and ectoparasite-control strategies are warranted to improve epidemiological understanding and reduce transmission.