Occupational Exposure to Zoonotic Vector-Borne Diseases: Risks, Prevention, and Emerging Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

Zoonotic vector-borne diseases (ZVBDs) pose significant health risks to workers in various occupational settings, including agriculture, forestry, veterinary medicine, laboratory research, and public health. This Special Issue aims to explore the occupational dimensions of ZVBDs, highlighting the epidemiological burden, risk factors, preventive strategies, and emerging threats associated with workplace exposure.

The primary objective of this Special Issue is to consolidate current research and innovative approaches that address occupational exposure to ZVBDs. The issue will cover the epidemiology of occupational ZVBDs, including incidence, prevalence, and emerging trends among workers in high-risk sectors. It will also examine occupational risk factors related to work environments and job-related activities that increase exposure to vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and sandflies. Additionally, it will explore biological and environmental determinants, including the influence of climate change, land use, and ecological shifts, on the occupational risk of ZVBD transmission.

The Special Issue will include discussions on personal protective strategies and workplace safety, focusing on the effectiveness of protective clothing, repellents, vaccination, and biosecurity measures in reducing exposure. It will also highlight surveillance and early detection in occupational settings through workplace monitoring, vector control, and diagnostic advancements. The impact on worker health and well-being, including occupational illnesses, long-term effects, and psychosocial consequences for affected workers, will be addressed. Furthermore, regulatory and policy perspectives at the national and international levels will be explored to understand how occupational exposure to ZVBDs is managed and what workplace safety regulations are in place. Lastly, the issue will showcase innovative interventions and technologies, such as remote sensing, geospatial mapping, and artificial intelligence, in tracking and mitigating occupational ZVBD risks. We invite researchers to contribute original research articles, systematic reviews, and case studies that enhance our understanding of occupational exposure to zoonotic vector-borne diseases. Contributions should focus on evidence-based practices, innovative solutions, and interdisciplinary collaborations that advance occupational health protection.

Dr. Angela Stufano
Guest Editor

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens 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 2400 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.