Surveillance and Control of Vectors of Zoonotic Agents

Dear Colleagues,

Several arthropods, such as mosquitoes, flies, sand flies, ticks, fleas, and lice, are suitable vectors for several pathogens as nematodes, protozoa, bacteria, and viruses. Many vector-borne diseases (VBDs) display a zoonotic potential, including, but not only, West Nile disease, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Rickettsiosis, and Babesiosis. Several VBDs are considered emerging or re-emerging diseases.

Some vectors are able to cover enormous distances with consequent repercussions on the range of action of the related zoonoses. Carriers can enter new geographic areas, for example, through travels and international trade, transport of animals, migratory birds, etc. Other factors, including climatic conditions, can influence vector spread and persistence in new areas. The active surveillance of the vectors of zoonotic pathogens may represent an important system to alert and prepare the public health services, in order to properly address diagnostics and care measures.

In addition, the integration between veterinary and public health services is recommended in the perspective of a “One Health” approach.

This Special Issue will include original research articles as well as case reports concerning surveillance and control related to the vectors and the zoonotic pathogens they are able to transmit. In addition, reviews on more recent advances in this topic will be considered.

The collection of data on geographical distribution as well as the study of innovative control methods contribute toward a prompt response to vector-borne diseases.

Dr. Valeria Blanda
Dr. Francesco La Russa
Dr. Ettore Napoli
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 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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects 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 2600 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.