[Analysis of research status and hotspots of snail intestinal flora based on bibliometrics].

OBJECTIVE

To understand the current research focus and trends in the field of snail intestinal flora.

METHODS

The literature focusing on snail intestinal flora and published from 1998 to 2017 were retrieved from the core database of Web of Science. The quantitative analysis of literature was then conducted by using CiteSpace software based on the bibliometricsmethod.The research trends were then summarized systematically, and the potential research fronts and focuses were explored.

RESULTS

Totally 139 articles were identified in the field of snail intestinal flora. The top three countries with highest publications included the United States of American, Brazil, and South Korea; while the top three institutions were Kyung Hee University, Osvaldo Cruz Foundation, and Oxford University. Five terms were identified as the key words in this field, including diversity, cellulose, Achatina fulica, lignocelluloses, and species nova. Meanwhile, 5 critical papers with the citation frequency over 15 were recognized, and 5 study clusters were formed including the application, diversity, and function of intestinal flora, difference of snail source and flora, and newly discovered bacteria in the snail intestine.

CONCLUSIONS

The current research focuses on intestinal flora of snails include the diversity, function and application of intestinal flora.