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Pathogens
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One Health and Neglected Zoonotic Diseases
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One Health and Neglected Zoonotic Diseases

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 14921

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ricardo Pereira Igreja

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Guest Editor
Department of Preventive Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Interests: infectious and parasitic diseases; tropical medicine; travel medicine
Dr. Maria Cristina Schneider

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of International Health, Georgetown University, District of Columbia, Washington, DC, USA
2. Institute of Collective Health, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Interests: One Health; zoonotic diseases; infectious diseases
Dr. Priscila Marques de Macedo

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Co-Guest Editor
Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Dermatologia Infecciosa, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Interests: medical mycology; endemic mycoses; neglected diseases; sporotrichosis; paracoccidioidomycosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The One Health concept emphasizes the importance of working collaboratively at the human–animal–ecosystem interface to predict, prevent, detect, respond to, and control infectious diseases. To understand disease transmission, it is important to review some definitions; the host or reservoir of a pathogen is the habitat in which the agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies while the host could be animals, humans, or the environment. It is estimated that 61% of human pathogens worldwide are zoonoses, a subgroup that comprises 75% of all emerging pathogens of the past decade. COVID-19 exposed the gaps in scientists’ knowledge on how diseases could spillover from animals to humans. This Special Issue therefore aims to discuss the current status and root causes of zoonotic diseases and the human–animal interphase.

Prof. Dr. Ricardo Pereira Igreja
Dr. Maria Cristina Schneider
Dr. Priscila Marques de Macedo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

 

Keywords

  • pathogen spillover
  • emerging zoonoses
  • One Health
  • environment
  • neglected zoonotic diseases

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1029 KiB  
Article
One Health Priorities: Advancing Veterinary Public Health in Latin America and the Caribbean
by Felipe Rocha, Alessandra Cristiane Sibim, Baldomero Molina-Flores, Wagner Antonio Chiba de Castro, Louise Bach Kmetiuk, Renato Vieira Alves, André Luis de Sousa dos Santos, Margarita Corrales Moreno, Álvaro A. Faccini-Martínez, Natalia Margarita Cediel, Alexander Welker Biondo, Ottorino Cosivi and Marco Antonio Natal Vigilato
Pathogens 2024, 13(8), 710; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13080710 - 21 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1474
Abstract
One Health (OH) is an integrative approach to human, animal, and environmental health and can be used as a comprehensive indicator for comparative purposes. Although an OH index has been proposed for comparing cities, states, and countries, to date, no practical study has [...] Read more.
One Health (OH) is an integrative approach to human, animal, and environmental health and can be used as a comprehensive indicator for comparative purposes. Although an OH index has been proposed for comparing cities, states, and countries, to date, no practical study has compared countries using this approach. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess OH initiatives using a survey with a veterinary public health focus. The questionnaire contained 104 quantitative questions and was sent to representatives of governmental institutions of 32 countries in the Americas. After exclusion criteria were considered, a total of 35 questionnaires from 17 countries were analyzed, with country names remaining undisclosed during the statistical analyses to protect potentially sensitive information. Principal component analysis (PCA) of health parameters in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as a function of country perception (self-vector) showed that food safety was ranked higher than public policies (p = 0.009), and that both (p = 0.003) were ranked higher than institutional routines related to zoonosis programs. National policies in accordance with international standards, regulations, recommendations, and guidelines was considered the standout topic for public policy, with higher-ranking topics including standard. Meanwhile, challenging topics included tools, preparedness, governance, and research. Food safety showed both strengths and challenges in the coordination of its activities with other sectors. Food safety communication was scored as a strength, while foodborne diseases prevention was ranked as a challenge. Institutional routines for zoonosis maintained both strong and challenging topics in the execution and implementation of attributions and daily routine. Thus, the survey showed that topics such as access to and compliance with international guidelines and intercountry integration were ranked higher than in-country articulation, particularly among food safety, zoonoses, and environmental institutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health and Neglected Zoonotic Diseases)
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21 pages, 3543 KiB  
Article
Identifying the Drivers Related to Animal Reservoirs, Environment, and Socio-Demography of Human Leptospirosis in Different Community Types of Southern Chile: An Application of Machine Learning Algorithm in One Health Perspective
by Himel Talukder, Claudia Muñoz-Zanzi, Miguel Salgado, Sergey Berg and Anni Yang
Pathogens 2024, 13(8), 687; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13080687 - 14 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1038
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis with global public health impact, particularly in poor socio-economic settings in tropical regions. Transmitted through urine-contaminated water or soil from rodents, dogs, and livestock, leptospirosis causes over a million clinical cases annually. Risk factors include outdoor activities, livestock production, [...] Read more.
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis with global public health impact, particularly in poor socio-economic settings in tropical regions. Transmitted through urine-contaminated water or soil from rodents, dogs, and livestock, leptospirosis causes over a million clinical cases annually. Risk factors include outdoor activities, livestock production, and substandard housing that foster high densities of animal reservoirs. This One Health study in southern Chile examined Leptospira serological evidence of exposure in people from urban slums, semi-rural settings, and farm settings, using the Extreme Gradient Boosting algorithm to identify key influencing factors. In urban slums, age, shrub terrain, distance to Leptospira-positive households, and neighborhood housing density were contributing factors. Human exposure in semi-rural communities was linked to environmental factors (trees, shrubs, and lower vegetation terrain) and animal variables (Leptospira-positive dogs and rodents and proximity to Leptospira-positive households). On farms, dog counts, animal Leptospira prevalence, and proximity to Leptospira-contaminated water samples were significant drivers. The study underscores that disease dynamics vary across landscapes, with distinct drivers in each community setting. This case study demonstrates how the integration of machine learning with comprehensive cross-sectional epidemiological and geospatial data provides valuable insights into leptospirosis eco-epidemiology. These insights are crucial for informing targeted public health strategies and generating hypotheses for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health and Neglected Zoonotic Diseases)
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27 pages, 2849 KiB  
Article
Fifty Years of the National Rabies Control Program in Brazil under the One Health Perspective
by Maria Cristina Schneider, Kyung-Duk Min, Phyllis Catharina Romijn, Nelio Batista De Morais, Lucia Montebello, Silene Manrique Rocha, Sofia Sciancalepore, Patricia Najera Hamrick, Wilson Uieda, Volney de Magalhães Câmara, Ronir Raggio Luiz and Albino Belotto
Pathogens 2023, 12(11), 1342; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12111342 - 11 Nov 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5426
Abstract
In 1973, the National Rabies Program was created in Brazil through an agreement between the Ministry of Health and Agriculture. Since its beginning, it developed integrated action through access to free post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for people at risk, dog vaccination campaigns, a joint [...] Read more.
In 1973, the National Rabies Program was created in Brazil through an agreement between the Ministry of Health and Agriculture. Since its beginning, it developed integrated action through access to free post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for people at risk, dog vaccination campaigns, a joint surveillance system, and awareness. This study aims to describe human rabies in Brazil under the One Health perspective in recent decades, including achievements in the control of dog-mediated cases and challenges in human cases transmitted by wild animals. This paper also explores possible drivers of human rabies in the Northeast Region with half of the cases. The first part of this study was descriptive, presenting data and examples by periods. Statistical analysis was performed in the last period (2010–2022) to explore possible drivers. Dog-mediated human cases decreased from 147 to 0, and dog cases decreased from 4500 to 7. A major challenge is now human cases transmitted by wild animals (bats, non-human primates, and wild canids). Most current human cases occur in municipalities with a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest biome and a Gini index higher than 0.5. In the multivariable analysis, an association with temperature was estimated (OR = 1.739; CI95% = 1.181–2.744), and primary healthcare coverage (OR = 0.947; CI95% = 0.915–0.987) was identified as a protector. It is possible to significantly reduce the number of dog-mediated human rabies cases through the efforts presented. However, Brazil has wildlife variants of the rabies virus circulating. The association of human cases with higher temperatures in the Northeast is a concern with climate change. To reduce human cases transmitted by wild animals, it is important to continue distributing free PEP, especially in remote at-risk areas in the Amazon Region, and to increase awareness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health and Neglected Zoonotic Diseases)
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Review

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16 pages, 1035 KiB  
Review
Zoonotic Threats: The (Re)emergence of Cercarial Dermatitis, Its Dynamics, and Impact in Europe
by Maria Teresa Bispo, Manuela Calado, Isabel Larguinho Maurício, Pedro Manuel Ferreira and Silvana Belo
Pathogens 2024, 13(4), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13040282 - 26 Mar 2024
Viewed by 2315
Abstract
Cercarial dermatitis (CD), or “Swimmer’s itch” as it is also known, is a waterborne illness caused by a blood fluke from the family Schistosomatidae. It occurs when cercariae of trematode species that do not have humans as their definitive host accidentally penetrate human [...] Read more.
Cercarial dermatitis (CD), or “Swimmer’s itch” as it is also known, is a waterborne illness caused by a blood fluke from the family Schistosomatidae. It occurs when cercariae of trematode species that do not have humans as their definitive host accidentally penetrate human skin (in an aquatic environment) and trigger allergic symptoms at the site of contact. It is an emerging zoonosis that occurs through water and is often overlooked during differential diagnosis. Some of the factors contributing to the emergence of diseases like CD are related to global warming, which brings about climate change, water eutrophication, the colonization of ponds by snails susceptible to the parasite, and sunlight exposure in the summer, associated with migratory bird routes. Therefore, with the increase in tourism, especially at fluvial beaches, it is relevant to analyze the current epidemiological scenario of CD in European countries and the potential regions at risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health and Neglected Zoonotic Diseases)
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Other

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9 pages, 2341 KiB  
Case Report
Mycobacteriosis in a Pet Ferret (Mustela putorius furo) Caused by Mycobacterium xenopi: A Case Report on Neglected Risk of Zoonotic Transmission
by Željko Mihaljević, Irena Reil, Josipa Habuš, Zrinka Štritof, Šimun Naletilić, Gabrijela Jurkić Krsteska, Tajna Kovač, Maja Zdelar-Tuk, Sanja Duvnjak and Silvio Špičić
Pathogens 2024, 13(4), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13040328 - 16 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1589
Abstract
Ferrets are highly susceptible to a wide range of mycobacteria, mainly M. bovis, M. avium, and M. triplex. Therefore, ferrets pose a risk of transmission of mycobacteriosis, especially zoonotically relevant tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to describe the [...] Read more.
Ferrets are highly susceptible to a wide range of mycobacteria, mainly M. bovis, M. avium, and M. triplex. Therefore, ferrets pose a risk of transmission of mycobacteriosis, especially zoonotically relevant tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to describe the findings of M. xenopi mycobacteriosis in a pet ferret and emphasize its zoonotic potential. A pet ferret had a history of weight loss, apathy, hyporexia, and hair loss. Abdominal ultrasound revealed splenomegaly with two solid masses and cystic lesions of the liver. Fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed numerous acid-fast bacilli in epithelioid cells, thus leading to the suspicion of mycobacterial infection. Because of its poor general condition, the ferret was euthanized. Necropsy examination revealed generalized granulomatous lymphadenitis, pneumonia, myocarditis, splenitis, and hepatitis. Histologically, in all organs, there were multifocal to coalescing areas of inflammatory infiltration composed of epithelioid macrophages, a low number of lymphocytes, and plasma cells, without necrosis nor multinucleated giant cells. Ziehl–Neelsen staining detected the presence of numerous (multibacillary) acid-fast bacteria, which were PCR-typed as M. xenopi. This is the first study showing the antimicrobial susceptibility testing of M. xenopi in veterinary medicine, describing the resistance to doxycycline. Overall, our results could facilitate further diagnosis and provide guidelines for the treatment protocols for such infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health and Neglected Zoonotic Diseases)
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10 pages, 2580 KiB  
Perspective
Wildlife as Food and Medicine in Brazil: A Neglected Zoonotic Risk?
by Caio Graco Zeppelini, Ianei de Oliveira Carneiro, Poliana Mascarenhas de Abreu, Ann Katelynn Linder, Romulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves and Federico Costa
Pathogens 2024, 13(3), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13030222 - 2 Mar 2024
Viewed by 2026
Abstract
The practice of consuming wild fauna in Brazil is both culturally and socioeconomically questionable. Wild animals and their byproducts are sought for nutritional, medicinal, and/or supernatural reasons, with some taxa (e.g., songbirds) being kept as pets. This practice is concentrated in traditional and [...] Read more.
The practice of consuming wild fauna in Brazil is both culturally and socioeconomically questionable. Wild animals and their byproducts are sought for nutritional, medicinal, and/or supernatural reasons, with some taxa (e.g., songbirds) being kept as pets. This practice is concentrated in traditional and rural communities, as well as the rural exodus populations in large urban centers, maintained both by cultural preferences and for their role in food safety in part of the rural exodus community. A total of 564 taxa are known to be sold in wet markets in Brazil, with birds, fish, and mammals being the most commonly listed. There is great zoonotic outbreak potential in this consumption chain given the diversity of species involved (with several listed being known reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens), invasion of wild environments for hunting, unsanitary processing of carcasses, and consumption of most/all biotopes of the animal, as well as the creation of favorable conditions to cross-species pathogen transmission. Given its socioeconomic situation and the global trends in disease emergence, there is a risk of the future emergence of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in Brazil through wildlife consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health and Neglected Zoonotic Diseases)
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