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Bacterial Disease Research in Livestock and Poultry
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Bacterial Disease Research in Livestock and Poultry

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal System and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2026) | Viewed by 4753

Editor

Prof. Dr. Yang Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, China
Interests: molecular pathogens and immunology of livestock and poultry; co-infection and synergistic pathogenic mechanism of pathogens; bacterial meningitis infection; antibiotic resistance; quorum sensing systems; biofilms; phage–microbe interaction; antimicrobial agents; plant extracts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bacterial infections remain a critical threat to livestock and poultry health, welfare, and productivity worldwide, posing significant risks to food security, economic stability, and public health through zoonotic transmission and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This Special Issue, “Bacterial Disease Research in Livestock and Poultry”, seeks to compile cutting-edge research addressing the multifaceted challenges of bacterial diseases in these vital animal sectors.

We enthusiastically welcome researchers to submit their original research and review articles, brief research reports, and opinions. The potential themes covered by this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Antimicrobial resistance, virulence, pathogenicity, and transmission mechanisms of bacterial diseases in livestock and poultry;
  • Emerging and endemic bacterial infections in livestock and poultry;
  • Development of accurate typing methods to track the dissemination of zoonotic bacteria;
  • Development of sustainable detection methods to tackle bacterial infections in livestock and poultry;
  • Development of effective vaccines to prevent bacterial diseases in livestock and poultry；
  • Development of novel antibacterial agents—encompassing natural products, small-molecule compounds, bacteriophages, and other therapeutic modalities—to counteract pathogen-mediated antimicrobial resistance and virulence.

Prof. Dr. Yang Wang
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • livestock and poultry
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • pathogenesis
  • antimicrobial agents
  • pathogen detection methods
  • vaccines
  • phage
  • plant extracts

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 11145 KB  
Article
In Vitro and In Vivo Antibacterial Efficacy of a Ciprofloxacin Delivery System Based on Streptococcus suis Extracellular Vesicles
by Wenjie Jin, Zhiheng Chang, Yahao Yu, Aoqi Zhan, Shenao Song, Yuxin Wang, Baobao Liu, Yang Wang and Li Yi
Animals 2026, 16(14), 2262; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16142262 - 22 Jul 2026
Abstract
Conventional antibiotics exhibit limited ability to penetrate host cell membranes, making intracellular bacterial infections difficult to eradicate completely. As naturally derived nanoscale membrane structures, bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) possess excellent biocompatibility and intrinsic transmembrane transport capability, thereby demonstrating unique advantages for in vivo [...] Read more.
Conventional antibiotics exhibit limited ability to penetrate host cell membranes, making intracellular bacterial infections difficult to eradicate completely. As naturally derived nanoscale membrane structures, bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) possess excellent biocompatibility and intrinsic transmembrane transport capability, thereby demonstrating unique advantages for in vivo drug delivery. The present study investigated the feasibility of using EVs derived from the avirulent Streptococcus suis T15 as novel carriers for ciprofloxacin delivery. We also comprehensively evaluated the biosafety and anti-infective efficacy of this nanodrug delivery system in vitro and in vivo. Cytotoxicity assays, live/dead cell staining, and hemolysis analyses demonstrated that T15-derived EVs at concentrations below 50 μg/mL did not cause significant cellular damage or hemolysis. Serum biochemical analyses in mice further confirmed the absence of obvious organ toxicity, indicating favorable biosafety within the tested concentration range. Ciprofloxacin was successfully loaded into EVs using a combination of ultrasonication and electroporation, achieving a drug concentration of 438.6 μg/mL and a loading efficiency of 10.96%. The ciprofloxacin-loaded EVs (EV-CIP) exhibited significantly greater antibacterial activity than free ciprofloxacin against both intracellular bacteria and fluoroquinolone-resistant strains exhibiting efflux pump activity. Evaluation in animal infection models showed that EV-CIP markedly reduced mortality in infected Galleria mellonella larvae. It also decreased bacterial burdens in multiple mouse organs and significantly alleviated histopathological damage. These results collectively suggest that EVs derived from the avirulent S. suis T15 were safe and effective within the tested concentration range and experimental conditions. The EV-based ciprofloxacin delivery system substantially enhanced the clearance of intracellular pathogens and fluoroquinolone efflux pump-positive bacteria, suggesting its potential application in the treatment of difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. This study provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the further development of novel EV-based anti-infective drug delivery strategies for livestock and poultry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Disease Research in Livestock and Poultry)
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13 pages, 6016 KB  
Article
Prevalence and Age-Associated Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis Lesions in Commercial Broiler Flocks in Central Java, Indonesia
by Andi Asnayanti, Aji Praba Baskara, Muhsin Al Anas, Anh Dang Trieu Do, Douglas Rhoads and Adnan A. K. Alrubaye
Animals 2026, 16(12), 1910; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16121910 - 19 Jun 2026
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Abstract
In tropical countries, broiler chickens are exposed to elevated ambient temperatures and humidity, which are sometimes exacerbated by high stocking densities and poor litter quality, thereby predisposing birds to severe stress, weakening immune function, and promoting BCO lameness progression. BCO lameness causes tremendous [...] Read more.
In tropical countries, broiler chickens are exposed to elevated ambient temperatures and humidity, which are sometimes exacerbated by high stocking densities and poor litter quality, thereby predisposing birds to severe stress, weakening immune function, and promoting BCO lameness progression. BCO lameness causes tremendous economic losses to the poultry industry and increases the risk of foodborne disease. BCO is frequently underdiagnosed in live populations, resulting in an iceberg phenomenon in which subclinical lesions are more prevalent than clinically apparent lameness. Therefore, a total of 500 Cobb500 broiler chickens from five commercial broiler flocks in Central Java, Indonesia, were randomly selected, weighed, slaughtered, and necropsied to evaluate the prevalence of BCO lameness lesions in the proximal femoral and tibial heads across distinct market ages ranging from 33 to 43 days. The ambient housing temperature in the region can reach 28–29 °C during the day. The results showed that more than 80% of the samples had normal femora at 33 days of age with an average body weight of 1.9 kg. A significant increase in the frequency and severity of femoral and tibial lesions was recorded at 35 to 36 days of age, when the average body weight reached approximately 2.5 kg. The high frequency of worsening BCO lesions observed during the 5th week suggests an age-related pattern in BCO occurrence during the late stages of grow-out. These findings suggest that improvements in nutrition, environment, and production management strategies before 36 days of age are necessary to mitigate the impact of BCO lameness in the poultry industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Disease Research in Livestock and Poultry)
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24 pages, 17450 KB  
Article
Integrated Single-Cell and Bulk Transcriptomics Unveils Immune Profiles in Chick Erythroid Cells upon Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Infection
by Fujuan Cai, Xianjue Wang, Chunzhi Wang, Yuzhen Wang and Wenguang Zhang
Animals 2026, 16(2), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020179 - 7 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1578
Abstract
Nucleated erythroid cells (NECs) have emerged as active participants in immune responses in addition to their canonical oxygen transport function. The subpopulations and immune heterogeneity of chick erythroid cells (ch-ECs) upon infection have not been fully characterized. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used [...] Read more.
Nucleated erythroid cells (NECs) have emerged as active participants in immune responses in addition to their canonical oxygen transport function. The subpopulations and immune heterogeneity of chick erythroid cells (ch-ECs) upon infection have not been fully characterized. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to profile ch-ECs in chicks infected with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). Unsupervised clustering uncovered ten distinct ch-EC subpopulations (C1–C10), with significant compositional shifts between infected and control groups. Pseudotime analysis revealed a developmental continuum: C1, C3, C5, and C9 as early progenitors; C2, C4, C6, C7, and C10 as mature erythroid cells; and C8 as a naive population. We revealed 62 immune-related genes, including protein kinases and heat shock proteins, and subpopulation-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) linked to immune functions. SCENIC analysis revealed Fos, Srf, and Stat3 as key transcription factors with elevated regulon activity and specificity following infection. Subpopulations C2, C4, C6, and C7, which exhibited marked abundance changes, were scrutinized for immune relevance through integrated multi-omics analysis. Immune-related genes including FOS, AKAP9, HS6ST1, GAB3, TFRC, HSPA8, HSP90AA1, and DNAJB6 were identified. Enrichment analysis indicated activation of the MHC class I antigen presentation pathway, while pathways such as Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling, NOD-like receptor (NLR) signaling, and the heat shock response were found to be suppressed. In conclusion, this study delineates the immune gene repertoire and signaling networks of ch-ECs during APEC infection, offering new perspectives on NEC immunoregulatory functions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Disease Research in Livestock and Poultry)
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17 pages, 1518 KB  
Article
Molecular Characterization and Antibiotic Resistance of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) Isolates from Broiler Chickens in Algeria
by Ismail Boulbair, Jiangang Hu, Abdelhamid Hammoudi, Beibei Zhang, Saad Aissat, Xinyu Wang, Mohammed Foudil and Shaohui Wang
Animals 2025, 15(22), 3324; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15223324 - 18 Nov 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1910
Abstract
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes avian colibacillosis, a disease responsible for high morbidity and mortality in commercial poultry flocks, leading to devastating economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. APEC may also act as a source of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes [...] Read more.
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes avian colibacillosis, a disease responsible for high morbidity and mortality in commercial poultry flocks, leading to devastating economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. APEC may also act as a source of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes that can be transferred to other Escherichia coli pathotypes. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the serotypes, phylogenetic background, virulence genes, and antibiotic resistance profiles of APEC in Algeria. A total of 98 APEC strains were isolated from chicken samples with characteristic colibacillosis signs between 2019 and 2020. O-serotyping identified O157 (20.41%) and O78 (11.22%) as the predominant serotypes. The isolates were classified into groups B1 (43.87%), C (29.59%), A (12.24%), E (7.14%), F (5.10%), and B2 (2.04%). Virulence gene analysis revealed that among the 31 genes investigated, a high occurrence of mat, crlA (100% each), yijP (98.98%), fimC, ibeB, ompA (97.96% each), iucD (89.80%), iroN (81.63%), iss (80.61%), and eae (79.59%) was observed. The highest resistance rates were found for ampicillin (97.96%), amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (96.94%), nalidixic acid (94.90%), tetracycline (90.82%), and ciprofloxacin (79.59%). Additionally, 92.86% of APEC isolates were resistant to three or more antibiotics, reflecting extensive antimicrobial use in Algerian poultry farms and highlighting a major challenge for animal health management and a potential risk of zoonotic transmission. Our data provide valuable insights into the characteristics of the APEC populations in broiler chickens in Algeria. This may assist in understanding APEC pathogenesis and in developing effective control strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Disease Research in Livestock and Poultry)
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Review

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25 pages, 428 KB  
Review
The Wildlife–Livestock Interface as a Bidirectional Pathway for the Spread of ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli
by Margarita González-Martín, María Teresa Tejedor-Junco, Nerea C. Rosales-González and Juan Alberto Corbera
Animals 2026, 16(12), 1859; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16121859 - 16 Jun 2026
Viewed by 298
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health challenge that requires a One Health approach integrating humans, animals, wildlife, food systems and the environment. Among resistant bacteria, extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-producing E. coli) is particularly relevant because it is widely distributed across [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health challenge that requires a One Health approach integrating humans, animals, wildlife, food systems and the environment. Among resistant bacteria, extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-producing E. coli) is particularly relevant because it is widely distributed across hosts and ecosystems, may carry mobile resistance genes and is commonly used as an indicator for antimicrobial resistance surveillance. This narrative review examines the occurrence, characteristics and transmission dynamics of ESBL-producing E. coli at the wildlife–livestock interface, with emphasis on its public health relevance and strategies for mitigation and control. The reviewed evidence indicates that livestock, wildlife and environmental matrices can be interconnected reservoirs of resistant E. coli and resistance genes. Transmission should not be interpreted as a simple linear process from livestock to wildlife or humans but rather as a bidirectional and ecological phenomenon shaped by antimicrobial use, farm management, biosecurity, wildlife ecology, environmental contamination and mobile genetic elements. Wildlife may function as a sentinel, reservoir or disperser of resistant bacteria, although detection alone does not demonstrate direct transmission. Integrated surveillance combining livestock, wildlife, food-chain and environmental sampling, supported by genomic analysis, is essential to clarify transmission pathways and guide effective control measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Disease Research in Livestock and Poultry)
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