Challenges to ‘One Health’: Zoonotic and Antimicrobial-Resistant Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Zoonotic diseases are infections that are naturally transmitted between animals and humans through direct contact, contaminated food, or environmental exposure. These diseases are caused by a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, and represent a major global public health concern. In recent decades, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic pathogens—particularly bacteria—has intensified this threat. When bacteria acquire resistance to commonly used antimicrobials, they evolve into difficult-to-treat strains, often referred to as “superbugs,” which compromise the effectiveness of treatments in both human and veterinary medicine. The development and dissemination of AMR are driven by several factors, including the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in human healthcare and animal production, environmental contamination, horizontal gene transfer among bacteria, and the increased global mobility of people, animals, and food products.

Recent studies have demonstrated that many zoonotic pathogens harbor antimicrobial resistance genes that can be transmitted to humans during infection. Once inside the human host, these resistant bacteria may transfer AMR genes to the gut microbiota through mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, transposons, and integrons, thereby altering the gut microbial ecosystem and facilitating the persistence and spread of resistance. Resistant bacteria and their associated genes are subsequently excreted in human and animal waste and can enter environmental reservoirs such as wastewater, soil, and surface water. From these reservoirs, AMR genes can be absorbed by other environmental bacteria, enter the food chain, and circulate among animals, humans, and ecosystems, reinforcing the cycle of antimicrobial-resistant zoonotic transmission.

Human–animal interactions are expected to remain integral to livelihoods, particularly in rural and low- and middle-income countries where close contact between humans, livestock, and wildlife is common. Environmental changes such as habitat loss, agricultural intensification, urbanization, and poor sanitation further facilitate pathogen transmission and increase reliance on antimicrobial use. However, effective management of zoonotic AMR is often hindered by fragmented governance, limited surveillance capacity, insufficient funding, and weak coordination across human, animal, and environmental health sectors. Addressing these challenges requires integrated One Health approaches that combine robust surveillance systems, accurate pathogen detection and AMR profiling, and the application of emerging technologies such as genomics, multi-omics, and artificial intelligence to support early detection, risk prediction, and evidence-based policy interventions.

We welcome submissions that address emerging challenges and advances in the surveillance, transmission, and control of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) zoonotic pathogens within the One Health framework, encompassing human, animal, and environmental health. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: One Health surveillance systems for detecting emerging antimicrobial-resistant zoonotic pathogens; genomic epidemiology using whole-genome sequencing to characterize AMR genes, virulence factors, and transmission dynamics across humans, animals, and environmental sources; and the role of environmental reservoirs such as wastewater, soil, and agricultural systems in the dissemination of AMR. We also encourage studies exploring the human–animal interface and its role in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant zoonoses, particularly in regions with intensive livestock production or close human–animal interactions. Submissions focusing on innovative approaches, including artificial intelligence, genomics, and multi-omics technologies for predicting and monitoring AMR risks, are highly encouraged. In addition, research addressing foodborne zoonotic pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance along the food production chain is welcome. Policy-oriented studies examining surveillance systems, governance challenges, and integrated One Health strategies for controlling zoonotic AMR are also within the scope of this Special Issue.

Dr. Anusak Kerdsin
Prof. Dr. Shan Wang
Guest Editors

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• zoonotic diseases
• antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
• One Health
• zoonotic pathogens
• whole-genome sequencing (WGS)
• foodborne pathogens
• human–animal interface
• AMR transmission
• multi-omics
• artificial intelligence
• surveillance systems
• wastewater and environmental contamination
• public health microbiology