Pathogeny, Diagnosis, and Management Strategies in Diseases Threatening Terrestrial Wildlife

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Wildlife".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 April 2026 | Viewed by 1357

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Servicio de Análisis, Investigación y Gestión de Animales Silvestres (SAIGAS), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, C/Tirant lo Blanc 7, Alfara del Patriarca, 46115 Valencia, Spain
Interests: zoonoses; veterinary parasitology; wildlife diseases

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Guest Editor
School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Health Sciences, San Francisco University of Quito (USFQ), Quito, Ecuador
Interests: conservation biology; wildlife management; animal health; public health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Diseases, along with other global threats such as habitat loss, climate change, and pollution, are severely affecting the viability of numerous species and, in some cases, entire groups of wildlife. The growing globalization of pathogens, combined with factors such as loss of genetic diversity, population fragmentation, and exposure to additional environmental stressors, has made certain species particularly vulnerable to these threats. This precarious situation leaves them facing significant challenges, including the emergence of diseases that can trigger episodes of mass mortality, sudden population declines, and even local or global extinctions, which can have cascading effects on ecosystems.

In light of these alarming scenarios, it is essential to promote rigorous research and the widespread dissemination of information about the mechanisms of action of pathogens. This includes advancing the development of innovative diagnostic techniques and implementing effective containment and control strategies that can mitigate these threats. Therefore, the goal of this Special Issue is to share and disseminate the most recent advances in these critical areas. Only through a collaborative and science-based approach can we effectively support the preservation of global biodiversity and contribute to the survival of the most threatened species, ensuring the stability of ecosystems that are vital for the health of our planet.

Dr. Víctor Lizana
Dr. Eduardo Alfonso Díaz-Alcázar
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • wildlife diseases
  • terrestrial wildlife
  • disease management
  • ecopathology
  • conservation medicine
  • One Health
  • population fragmentation
  • diagnostic techniques
  • biodiversity preservation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 707 KB  
Article
Genomic Investigation of Bacterial Co-Infection in Southern Pudu (Pudu puda) with Fatal Outcome: Application of Forensic Microbiology in Wildlife Impacted by Anthropogenic Disasters
by Valentina Aravena-Ramírez, Edhnita Inostroza-Muñoz, Fredy Riquelme, César Mellado, Nilton Lincopan, Paula Aravena and Danny Fuentes-Castillo
Animals 2025, 15(16), 2435; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15162435 - 20 Aug 2025
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Abstract
The southern pudu (Pudu puda) faces significant threats from anthropogenic activities and infectious diseases. Using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and forensic microbiology research, we describe a triple bacterial co-infection in a southern pudu impacted by wildfire disasters. The deer presented infected burn [...] Read more.
The southern pudu (Pudu puda) faces significant threats from anthropogenic activities and infectious diseases. Using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and forensic microbiology research, we describe a triple bacterial co-infection in a southern pudu impacted by wildfire disasters. The deer presented infected burn wounds on the extremities and dog bite wounds in the lumbosacral region, from which a multidrug-resistant CTX-M-1-producing Escherichia coli sequence type (ST) ST224 and a Klebsiella oxytoca ST145 were isolated, respectively. The patient died 13 days after admission in a wildlife rehabilitation center. During the necropsy, a sample from intracardiac blood was collected, and WGS analyses confirmed systemic dissemination of an E. coli ST224 clone. The broad virulome (adhesins, invasins, toxins, and immune evasion genes) and resistome against beta-lactams (blaCTX-M-1), aminoglycosides [aac(3)-IId, aph(3′)-Ia, aph(3″)-Ib, aph(6)-Id], macrolides [mph(A)], sulfonamides (sul2), trimethoprim (dfrA17), and fluoroquinolones (gyrA and parC mutations) of E. coli ST224 contributed to the treatment failure and death of the wild animal. Additionally, an oval nodule was identified in the abdominal cavity caused by Acinetobacter baumannii ST1365, the first WGS-confirmed report in wildlife. This study highlights the value of applying forensic microbiology and WGS to investigate and understand One Health pathogens threatening wildlife impacted by natural and anthropogenic disasters. Full article
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Review

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30 pages, 1034 KB  
Review
Review of Molecular Tools Used in Diagnosis of Babesia spp. and Anaplasma spp. Infection in Wild Boar and Their Ticks—20 Years Retrospective Review
by Ioan Cristian Dreghiciu, Diana Hoffman, Mirela Imre, Ion Oprescu, Simona Dumitru, Tiana Florea, Sorin Morariu, Vlad Iorgoni, Anamaria Plesko, Gabriel Orghici and Marius Stelian Ilie
Animals 2025, 15(15), 2211; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152211 - 27 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Wild boars (Sus scrofa) and their associated ticks represent important reservoirs and vectors for a variety of zoonotic pathogens, particularly Anaplasma spp. and Babesia spp. The aim of this review is to highlight the diagnostic methods employed throughout the past two [...] Read more.
Wild boars (Sus scrofa) and their associated ticks represent important reservoirs and vectors for a variety of zoonotic pathogens, particularly Anaplasma spp. and Babesia spp. The aim of this review is to highlight the diagnostic methods employed throughout the past two decades to detect these pathogens in wild boars and their associated ticks, focusing especially on PCR methods (conventional and real-time), on sample origin (host or vector), and on specific primers. This review compiles data from studies conducted between 2005 and 2024, providing a comparative overview of targeted genes, such as groEL, msp2, and 16S rRNA for Anaplasma, and 18S rRNA for Babesia. Despite the prevalence of molecular diagnostic techniques, serological methods like ELISA have not been applied to wild boar or tick samples in this context. The review also analyzes geographical trends, with a higher research output noted in Central and Eastern Europe, Japan, and the United States. The performance of the methods is discussed based on reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity, pathogen prevalence, and technical variables. By synthesizing these findings, the review identifies methodological gaps and offers a reference framework for improving diagnostic accuracy in wildlife disease surveillance. Full article
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