Neglected Infectious Diseases of Swine

Dear Colleagues,

Swine farming is a vital sector of the global animal agriculture industry, providing a major source of protein for human consumption. While modern pig production systems are designed to maximize efficiency and meat yield, they also present significant challenges. One of the most serious issues is infectious diseases.

Pigs are susceptible to a wide range of viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases, many of which spread quickly in high-density environments. Well-known examples include African Swine Fever (ASF), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), and swine influenza (SIV). These diseases can cause major economic losses due to mortality, reduced productivity, and trade restrictions. Consequently, they attract considerable attention from researchers, policymakers, and industry experts.

However, there is a group of infectious diseases in pigs that are often overlooked: the neglected infectious diseases. These include illnesses that pose a less immediate economic threat, but which can have serious long-term impacts. In smallholder or backyard farming systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, these diseases can affect both animal and human health alike, thereby contributing to poverty and food insecurity. Minor diseases of pigs include viral (Swine Influenza A virus (SwIAV), Hepatitis E virus (HEV), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV)), and bacterial (Erysipelas, Leptospirosis, Melioidosis), and parasitic (cysticercosis, trichinellosis, balantidiasis) diseases. Wild boars, which are widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and parts of the Americas, are also susceptible to these neglected diseases, including zoonoses. These pathogens can be transmitted through direct contact, environmental contamination, or the consumption of undercooked wild meat. As wild boars are free-ranging and often interact with farm animals, hunters, and rural communities, they represent a significant yet poorly monitored source of infection.

Neglected diseases often go undiagnosed due to the lack of surveillance, inadequate veterinary infrastructure, and limited research funding. The economic losses associated with these diseases can be disastrous for the industry, and their zoonotic potential is a public health concern. Controlling these diseases requires an integrated approach, including improved hygiene, vaccination, farmer education, and better monitoring systems.

We invite colleagues investigating any of the pathogens affecting pigs in relation to genetics, genomics, immunology, detection, public health, and vaccine development to submit their original research and review manuscripts to this Special Issue.

We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Ana Margarida Henriques
Dr. Ana Isabel Simões Pereira Duarte
Dr. Margarida Dias Duarte
Guest Editors

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• swine diseases
• swine viruses
• swine bacteria
• swine parasites
• molecular diagnosis
• serological diagnosis
• next-generation sequencing
• vaccination
• disease control
• phylogenetic analysis