Avian Pathogens: Importance in Animal Health and Zoonotic Risks

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 369

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Higher Studies Cuautitlan, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico
Interests: avian; poultry; animal pathology; virology; mycoplasma; Eimeria; avian immunology; coccidiosis

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
Interests: poultry; evaluation; integrity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Diseases caused by avian pathogens currently pose a significant threat to animal health, food security, and public health, particularly concerning zoonotic diseases. Among the high-risk pathogens are Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Mycoplasma spp., Clostridium perfringens, and other emerging agents, such as Enterococcus cecorum, avian influenza, and Histomonas meleagridis, which impact both the poultry industry and wild populations. An understanding of concepts such as evolutionary dynamics, genetic variability, and antimicrobial resistance—along with the necessity to enhance diagnosis, surveillance, and control—underscores the importance of expanding research and promoting a multidisciplinary approach. This encompasses the development of novel diagnostic tools, vaccines, biosecurity strategies, and microbiome studies to achieve these objectives.

The purpose of this edition is to compile a collection of articles based on research that reflects the most recent scientific advancements concerning the topic of “avian pathogens.” As a guest editor, I am honored to invite you to submit original research articles, reviews, brief communications, and case reports which address the following topics: genetic and evolutionary variation of avian pathogens; field outbreaks and risk assessment; antimicrobial resistance; the microbiome and its influence on avian health; molecular diagnosis; vaccination strategies; therapeutic options; and epidemiological investigations and field-level control measures.

We look forward your contributions, with the aim of assembling a valuable resource that will serve as a reference to augment scientific understanding and enhance strategies for controlling pathogenic agents within poultry farming.

Prof. Dr. Victor M. Petrone-Garcia
Guest Editor

Dr. Inkar Castellanos-Huerta
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

  • avian pathogens
  • zoonosis
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • microbiome
  • molecular diagnosis

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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9 pages, 8844 KB  
Brief Report
Ducklings Were Susceptible to Swine Acute Diarrhea Syndrome Coronavirus Under Experimental Conditions
by Teng Zhang, Longfa Li, Jiayi Wang, Jiale Yao, Guoqing Xu, Chaoliang Leng, Yong Wang and Lunguang Yao
Microorganisms 2025, 13(9), 2122; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13092122 - 11 Sep 2025
Viewed by 247
Abstract
Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), similar to other coronaviruses, exhibits extensive host tropism and has caused huge losses to the pig industry since its first outbreak in 2017. However, the susceptibility of SADS-CoV in waterfowl remains unclear. In the present study, 10-day-old [...] Read more.
Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), similar to other coronaviruses, exhibits extensive host tropism and has caused huge losses to the pig industry since its first outbreak in 2017. However, the susceptibility of SADS-CoV in waterfowl remains unclear. In the present study, 10-day-old ducklings were orally administered 5.95 log10 TCID50 (the tissue culture infective dose 50%) of SADS-CoV, with a medium serving as a control treatment, to assess ducklings’ susceptibility. Results indicated that the ducklings exhibited mild diarrhea symptoms, experienced slow weight gain, and one duckling died seven days after inoculation. Histopathological examination revealed that the viral infection caused pathological damage to the spleen, intestine, and lungs. Tissue immunofluorescence demonstrated viral replication in the spleen, lungs, and intestine. This study provides the first evidence that SADS-CoV can infect ducklings under laboratory conditions. Given that waterfowl may serve as significant reservoirs for various viruses, this finding raises considerable concerns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Pathogens: Importance in Animal Health and Zoonotic Risks)
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