Advances in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Animals

Abstract submission deadline

31 October 2025

Manuscript submission deadline

31 December 2025

Viewed by

2462

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advances in infectious and parasitic diseases of animals is an evolving field dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases that affect livestock and wildlife. This area of veterinary medicine is critical for ensuring animal welfare, protecting food security, and sustaining the economic viability of livestock industries. Infectious and parasitic diseases in animals, particularly those caused by bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogens, pose a significant threat to animal health and can lead to outbreaks that devastate populations. These diseases can also have profound economic consequences, reducing productivity and increasing veterinary costs. Key advances in this field include improved diagnostic techniques, such as molecular methods and rapid testing platforms, which allow for earlier detection and more accurate identification of pathogens. Vaccination strategies have also evolved, with new vaccines being developed to target emerging and resistant strains. Furthermore, antimicrobial and antiparasitic stewardship is becoming an essential component in controlling the spread of infectious diseases, with a growing emphasis on the responsible use of antibiotics and antiparasitics to prevent resistance. Understanding the epidemiology of infectious and parasitic diseases, including modes of transmission and risk factors, is central to devising effective control measures. Environmental factors, animal management practices, and genetic susceptibilities are being studied to reduce the incidence and spread of diseases. Additionally, the development of novel therapies, including alternative antimicrobial and antiparasitic agents and immune-modulating treatments, shows promise in the fight against resistant pathogens. The One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is gaining momentum in tackling zoonotic diseases—those that can be transmitted between animals and humans. Continued research, collaboration, and innovation in infectious disease management are essential for maintaining animal health, ensuring food safety, and mitigating the risk of zoonotic transmission.

• Pathogens Affecting Animal Health: Overview of Major Species; Virulence Factors and Host–Pathogen Interactions;
• Epidemiology and Surveillance: Geographic and Temporal Trends; Risk Factors and Transmission Dynamics;
• Diagnostic Approaches: Traditional Culture-Based Methods; Molecular and Serological Techniques; Emerging Technologies and Point-of-Care Diagnostics;
• Disease Manifestations and Clinical Presentation: Clinical Signs and Symptoms; Subclinical Infections and Carrier States;
• Immunization and Vaccination Strategies: Existing Vaccines and their Efficacy; Novel Vaccine Development and Antigen Selection;
• Antibiotic and Antiparasitic Usage and Antimicrobial/Antiparasitic Resistance: Responsible Use of Antibiotics and Antiparasitic; Surveillance of Resistance Patterns;
• Treatment Modalities: Antibiotic and Antiparasitic Therapies and Drug Selection; Alternative Therapeutic Approaches; Integrative Approaches: Combining Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines;
• Experimental Models and Study Populations: In vitro Models; Animal Trials and Field Studies; Epidemiological Surveys;
• Case Studies and Clinical Reports: Illustrative Cases of Animal Infectious and Parasitic Diseases; Diagnostic Challenges and Successes; Treatment Outcomes and Lessons Learned;
• Future Directions and Innovations: Emerging Trends in Animal Disease Research; Promising Technologies and Methodologies; Recommendations for Future Studies and Policies;
• Zoonotic Diseases: Pathogens; Risk Factors and Transmission Dynamics; Responsible Use of Antibiotics and Antiparasitic; Surveillance of Resistance Patterns; Case Studies and Clinical Reports.

Prof. Dr. Felipe M. Salvarani
Dr. Sheyla Farhayldes Souza Domingues
Prof. Dr. Júlia Angélica Gonçalves Da Silveira
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	3.3	4.9	2011	19.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Animals animals	2.7	4.9	2011	16.1 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Antibiotics antibiotics	4.3	7.3	2012	15.8 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Microorganisms microorganisms	4.1	7.4	2013	11.7 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Poultry poultry	-	-	2022	28.8 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Pathogens pathogens	3.3	6.4	2012	15.3 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
Veterinary Sciences vetsci	2.0	2.9	2014	21.2 Days	CHF 2100	Submit

MDPI Topics is cooperating with Preprints.org and has built a direct connection between MDPI journals and Preprints.org. Authors are encouraged to enjoy the benefits by posting a preprint at Preprints.org prior to publication:

1. Immediately share your ideas ahead of publication and establish your research priority;
2. Protect your idea from being stolen with this time-stamped preprint article;
3. Enhance the exposure and impact of your research;
4. Receive feedback from your peers in advance;
5. Have it indexed in Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results

Content type Publication Date

Result details

Normal Extended Compact

Journals

All Agriculture Animals Antibiotics Microorganisms Poultry Pathogens Veterinary Sciences

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

attachment

Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 10418 KiB)

14 pages, 2024 KiB  

Open AccessBrief Report

Antibody Responses and the Vaccine Efficacy of Recombinant Glycosyltransferase and Nicastrin Against Schistosoma japonicum

by Bowen Dong, Haoran Zhong, Danlin Zhu, Luobin Wu, Jinming Wang, Hao Li and Yamei Jin

Pathogens 2025, 14(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14010070 - 14 Jan 2025

Viewed by 610

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease and the second most common parasitic disease after malaria. While praziquantel remains the primary treatment, concerns about drug resistance highlight the urgent need for new drugs and effective vaccines to achieve sustainable control. Previous proteomic studies from [...] Read more.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease and the second most common parasitic disease after malaria. While praziquantel remains the primary treatment, concerns about drug resistance highlight the urgent need for new drugs and effective vaccines to achieve sustainable control. Previous proteomic studies from our group revealed that the expression of Schistosoma japonicum glycosyltransferase and nicastrin as proteins was higher in single-sex males than mated males, suggesting their critical roles in parasite reproduction and their potential as vaccine candidates. In this study, bioinformatic tools were employed to analyze the structural and functional properties of these proteins, including their signal peptide regions, transmembrane domains, tertiary structures, and protein interaction networks. Recombinant forms of glycosyltransferase and nicastrin were expressed and purified, followed by immunization experiments in BALB/c mice. Immunized mice exhibited significantly elevated specific IgG antibody levels after three immunizations compared to adjuvant and PBS controls. Furthermore, immunization with recombinant glycosyltransferase and nicastrin significantly reduced the reproductive capacity of female worms and liver egg burden, though egg hatchability and adult worm survival were unaffected. These findings demonstrate that recombinant glycosyltransferase and nicastrin are immunogenic and reduce female worm fecundity, supporting their potential as vaccine candidates against schistosomiasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Animals)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

attachment

Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 378 KiB)

15 pages, 1420 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Morphological and Molecular Identification of Sarcocystis arctica in Captive Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in China Helps Clarify Phylogenetic Relationships with Sarcocystis caninum and Sarcocystis felis

by Zhe Liao, Niuping Zhu, Yurong Yang, Shuangsheng Deng, Thomas Jäkel and Junjie Hu

Animals 2025, 15(2), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15020180 - 10 Jan 2025

Viewed by 740

Abstract

To date, only one case is known where protozoan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis were found to infect cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus); the cysts in the musculature were morphologically identified as S. felis. Here, we characterized sarcocysts by morphological and molecular [...] Read more.

To date, only one case is known where protozoan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis were found to infect cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus); the cysts in the musculature were morphologically identified as S. felis. Here, we characterized sarcocysts by morphological and molecular methods that were observed in cheetahs who died in zoos in China. Only one type of sarcocyst was present in two of six cheetahs. By light microscopy, the sarcocyst wall was striated, 1.4–2.1 μm thick. Ultrastructurally, the wall had irregular-shaped, small villar protrusions, resembling wall type 9c, similar to those of S. arctica, S. caninum, and S. felis. The samples shared their highest molecular identity values with those of S. arctica and S. caninum: 99.9–100% and 99.8–100% (18S rRNA), 99.5% and 99.3–99.5% (28S rRNA), 95.9–97.5% and 96.3–97.3% (ITS-1), and 99.6% and 99.2–99.7% (cox1), respectively. Compared with ITS-1 of S. felis, identities ranged between 87.5% and 88.9%. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that the newly sequenced Sarcocystis clustered with S. arctica and S. caninum, whereas S. felis (ITS-1) and S. canis (ITS-1, 18S rRNA, cox1) were sister species. Thus, we addressed the Sarcocystis species from the cheetahs as S. arctica, which is the first record of a Sarcocystis species believed to be specific for canids as intermediate hosts to infect a feline host. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Animals)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

attachment

Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 119 KiB)

11 pages, 3470 KiB  

Open AccessBrief Report

Effect of Praziquantel on Preventing Delayed Infection of Schistosoma japonicum in Buffaloes and Goats

by Xiang Gui, Bing Shao, Haoran Zhong, Rongxue Lv, Hao Li, Ke Lu, Yang Hong, Zhiqiang Fu, Zhenjie Lu, Mengge Xu, Yamei Jin and Jinming Liu

Microorganisms 2025, 13(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13010017 - 25 Dec 2024

Viewed by 459

Abstract

Schistosomiasis, caused by Schistosoma japonicum, continues to pose a major public health threat in East Asia, with an estimated 71 million people at risk of infection. Domestic animals, especially buffaloes and goats, serve as important reservoir hosts, facilitating the transmission of the [...] Read more.

Schistosomiasis, caused by Schistosoma japonicum, continues to pose a major public health threat in East Asia, with an estimated 71 million people at risk of infection. Domestic animals, especially buffaloes and goats, serve as important reservoir hosts, facilitating the transmission of the parasite to humans. While praziquantel (PZQ) is the first-line treatment for schistosomiasis due to its broad-spectrum efficacy against adult schistosomes, its prophylactic potential is less explored. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PZQ in preventing S. japonicum infection in buffaloes and goats via assessing worm burden, worm size, hematological changes, and immune modulation. In the present study, buffaloes and goats were pretreated with PZQ at various doses (7–25 mg/kg body weight), followed by infection with S. japonicum cercariae. The results showed significant reductions in total worm burden and female worm burden, with one oral administration at 13 mg/kg for buffaloes and one injection at 25 mg/kg for goats offering the most robust protection. Worm length was also significantly reduced in both buffaloes and goats, indicating that PZQ not only prevented infection in this study but also inhibited worm growth. Furthermore, PZQ pretreatment modulated immune responses, as evidenced by increased levels of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in buffaloes and Lym% in goats. These findings suggest that PZQ has significant prophylactic potential in livestock, offering a practical solution for reducing schistosome transmission from animals to humans in endemic regions. Additionally, this study indicates that PZQ pretreatment does not contribute to resistance development, as newly established infections are effectively cleared during the initial treatment window. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Animals)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

 

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

Displaying articles 1-3