Protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of immunity conferred by liver fluke recombinant protein cathepsin vaccines

ayaraj R, Madhav MR, Kumarasamy C, Ramesh R, Shanker R, Sabarimurugan S, Norbury L, Piedrafita D, Smooker P., Protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of immunity conferred by liver fluke recombinant protein cathepsin vaccines, Onl J Vet Res., 23 (2):126-134, 2019. Fascioliasis is caused by trematodes and is transmittable from animals to humans. Recent findings suggest that recombinant cathepsin proteases may have potential as vaccines against liver fluke. We systematically review immunity conferred by recombinant protein cathepsin vaccines in published animal studies through PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct databases following guidelines in Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-analysis-Protocol [PRISMA-P] [1]. We evaluate immunity conferred by adjuvanted and unadjuvanted Fasciola cathepsin vaccines, vaccination schedule, adjuvants, doses, animal model and immune response type (Th1/Th2). The data will be represented in a narrative review, meta-analysis and flow chart. Results may identify predictive factors and avoid duplication of findings.