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Microorganisms
Special Issues
One Health Research on Infectious Diseases
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One Health Research on Infectious Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 3907

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pakieli H. Kaufusi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Interests: virus; membrane remodeling
Dr. Xiaolong Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2055 Mowry Rd, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Interests: spatial epidemiology; infectious diseases; zoonotic pathogens; viruses; one health; environmental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The advent of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and other emerging RNA viruses already known in human pathology has immensely increased the research attention given to these viruses, especially SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Often, the coronavirus environmental reservoir is represented by different animal species, especially bats; humans are the final hosts of these viruses and often become infected due to spillover events. Therefore, given the presence of coronaviruses in animal hosts and their ability to spill over, it is essential to adopt a One Health approach.

This Special Issue aims to collect works concerning the study of emerging viruses in both humans and animals. We welcome articles that explore both diagnostic and research aspects, with a particular emphasis on works based on testing methods for infectious agents.

Dr. Pakieli H. Kaufusi
Dr. Xiaolong Li
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Microorganisms 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 2700 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

  • one health
  • infectious diseases
  • emerging diseases

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 726 KiB  
Article
The Impact of the Variability of RT-qPCR Standard Curves on Reliable Viral Detection in Wastewater Surveillance
by Lorena Casado-Martín, Marta Hernández, Nadine Yeramian, Daniel Pérez, José M. Eiros, Antonio Valero and David Rodríguez-Lázaro
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040776 - 28 Mar 2025
Viewed by 463
Abstract
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) is a molecular technique that has become a gold standard in various disciplines, including environmental microbiology, due to its high sensitivity and specificity. In recent years, it has been extensively used in wastewater-based epidemiology to monitor the prevalence [...] Read more.
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) is a molecular technique that has become a gold standard in various disciplines, including environmental microbiology, due to its high sensitivity and specificity. In recent years, it has been extensively used in wastewater-based epidemiology to monitor the prevalence of different viruses in the population. In this study, we evaluated whether the no inclusion of a standard curve in each single experiment to reduce time and costs could have an impact on the accuracy of the results. Thirty independent RT-qPCR standard curve experiments using quantitative synthetic RNA material were conducted for seven different viruses, which include two targets of the novel SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis A and E, noroviruses genogroups I and II, human astrovirus, and rotavirus. Results showed that although all the viruses presented adequate efficiency rates (>90%), variability was also observed between them, independently of the viral concentration tested. NoVGII was the virus that presented the higher inter-assay variability in terms of efficiency while showing better sensitivity. In terms of heterogeneity in results, the two targets of SARS-CoV-2 showed the highest rates, being N2 the gene that presented the largest variability (CV 4.38–4.99%) and the lowest efficiency (90.97%). These findings indicate that including a standard curve in every experiment is recommended to obtain reliable results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health Research on Infectious Diseases)
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10 pages, 1116 KiB  
Communication
Investigating SARS-CoV-2 Neutralising Antibody Response in Sheep
by Milena Samojlović, João R. Mesquita, Sérgio Santos-Silva, Malin Neptin and Joakim Esbjörnsson
Microorganisms 2025, 13(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13010049 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 730
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 can cause clinical and inapparent disease and mortality in several animals cohabitating with humans, and sheep are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 due to virus–receptor interactions similar to those in humans. Hence, sheep have the potential to be infected, spread, and develop neutralising antibodies [...] Read more.
SARS-CoV-2 can cause clinical and inapparent disease and mortality in several animals cohabitating with humans, and sheep are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 due to virus–receptor interactions similar to those in humans. Hence, sheep have the potential to be infected, spread, and develop neutralising antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 NAbs in farm animals after natural exposure to the virus. Serum samples were collected from sheep in the Serra da Estrela region in Portugal, both prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sera were tested by established SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus systems for multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants (early—Wuhan, mid—Delta, Omicron—BA.1, and late—Omicron XBB, BQ.1.1). Partial neutralisation activity in Pre-pandemic and Mid-pandemic samples was observed, while no NAb activity was observed in Late-pandemic samples tested. Different levels of NAbs were observed between Pre-pandemic samples and those collected during the Mid-pandemic and Late-pandemic periods (p ≤ 0.01). Our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 cross-species transmission may have occurred through human–sheep contacts on sheep farms during the pandemic, and that farm animals could contribute to the One Health Approach in zoonotic virus surveillance and pandemic preparedness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health Research on Infectious Diseases)
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Review

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18 pages, 751 KiB  
Review
Current Risks and Prevention Strategies Against Vector-Borne Diseases in Cyprus
by Ender Volkan and Panagiotis Karanis
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040726 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 677
Abstract
The island of Cyprus has historically been prone to vector-borne diseases due to its location at the crossroads of three continents. The introduction of novel vectors, microorganisms, or strains in Cyprus, coupled with the global climate change and antimicrobial resistance crisis, can lead [...] Read more.
The island of Cyprus has historically been prone to vector-borne diseases due to its location at the crossroads of three continents. The introduction of novel vectors, microorganisms, or strains in Cyprus, coupled with the global climate change and antimicrobial resistance crisis, can lead to an altered infectious disease landscape and entomological status, causing a rise in vector-borne diseases on the island. The current review provides a broad snapshot of the status of vector-borne infectious diseases and associated risks in Cyprus. Our research has uncovered a pressing issue, the risk of the spread and emergence of various infectious diseases, including West Nile virus and malaria, respectively, due to the presence of Aedes and Anopheles spp. mosquitoes on the island, while underscoring the animal reservoirs of several pathogenic microorganisms. Our research emphasizes the importance of the One Health approach and the collaboration between communities for the improvement of vector control strategies to limit the spread of vector borne diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health Research on Infectious Diseases)
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Other

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17 pages, 1444 KiB  
Systematic Review
Rift Valley Fever in Rwanda Is Urging for Enhancing Global Health Security Through Multisectoral One Health Strategy
by Claude Mambo Muvunyi, Jean Claude Semuto Ngabonziza, Emmanuel Edwar Siddig and Ayman Ahmed
Microorganisms 2025, 13(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13010091 - 5 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1610
Abstract
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a devastating zoonotic mosquito-borne viral hemorrhagic fever disease that threats human and animal health and biodiversity in Africa, including in Rwanda. RVF is increasingly outbreaking in Africa, leading to devastating impacts on health, socioeconomic stability and growth, and [...] Read more.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a devastating zoonotic mosquito-borne viral hemorrhagic fever disease that threats human and animal health and biodiversity in Africa, including in Rwanda. RVF is increasingly outbreaking in Africa, leading to devastating impacts on health, socioeconomic stability and growth, and food insecurity in the region, particularly among livestock-dependent communi-ties. This systematic review synthesizes existing evidence on RVF’s epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and the prevention and control measures implemented in Rwanda. Our findings high-light the rapidly increasing prevalence of RVF and the expansion of its geographical distribution and host range in Rwanda. Furthermore, the review reveals gaps in local evidence, including the existence of competent vectors of RVFV and the risk factors associated with the emergence and spread of RVF in the country. This underscores the urgent need for prospective research to inform evidence-based health policymaking, strategic planning, and the development and implementation of cost-effective preventive and control measures, including diagnosis and surveillance for early detection and response. It also calls for the institutionalization of a cost-effective, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary One Health strategy for reducing the burden and risk of climate climate-sensitive and zoonotic diseases, including RVF, in the country. We recommend exploring cost-effective human and/or animal vaccination mechanisms for RVF, integrating AI-powered drones into dis-ease vectors surveillance and control, and the routine implementation of genomics-enhanced xenosurveillance to monitor changes in pathogens and vectors dynamics in order to inform poli-cymaking and guide the control interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health Research on Infectious Diseases)
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