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Pathogens
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Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Wild Animals
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Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Wild Animals

A Special Issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817) belonging to the section "Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 11380

Editors

Dr. Daniel de Aguiar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Virology and Rickettsiosis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso State, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá 78043-605, MT, Brazil
Interests: ehrlichiosis; canine morbillivirus; equine infectious anemia virus; infectious diseases; equine arboviruses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Joares Adenilson May Júnior

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departament of Biological Science and Health, Centro Universitário Univinte, 500 Avenida Nilton Augusto Sachetti, Capivari de Baixo 88745000, SC, Brazil
Interests: conservation; wildlife; felidae; canidae; ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wildlife conservation is a prominent demand worldwide. Against this trend, the increasingly promiscuous maintenance of domestic and wild animal species and their increasing contacts caused mainly by sharing the same space, as well as their close relationship with humans—often in poor sanitary conditions—are aggravating public health problems. In fact, this situation favors the emergence of different infectious diseases that can cause dangerous outbreaks and can even lead to health disasters for animals or humans. In this context, epidemiological studies of infectious diseases are essential for public health, since monitoring these diseases helps to prevent outbreaks and protect the human/animal population, which are important for the conservation of species and ecosystems. Finally, understanding the dynamics of diseases in wild populations can reveal how ecological interactions influence transmission and virulence, aiding in the development of appropriate management strategies. These studies, therefore, are fundamental to promoting ecosystem health, protecting public health, and ensuring the sustainability of human activities that depend on wildlife.

Dr. Daniel de Aguiar
Dr. Joares Adenilson May Júnior
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

Keywords

  • bacterial
  • protozoal
  • viral
  • transmission
  • diagnostic

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 2822 KB  
Article
Molecular Characterization of Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. From Bats (Chiroptera) in the Northern Pantanal, Brazil
by Nathalia de Assis Pereira, Juliane Saldanha, Thiago Borges Fernandes Semedo, Guilherme Siniciato Terra Garbino, Rogério Vieira Rossi, Sofia de Souza Pereira Gomes, Sayanne Luns Hatum, Thállitha Samih Wischral Jayme Vieira, Rafael Felipe da Costa Vieira, Jansen de Araújo, Edison Luiz Durigon and Daniel Moura de Aguiar
Pathogens 2026, 15(6), 654; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060654 - 22 Jun 2026
Viewed by 416
Abstract
In this study, we conducted a molecular investigation of hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in bat species captured in the northern region of the Pantanal biome, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Tissue samples were screened by qPCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Positive samples were subsequently [...] Read more.
In this study, we conducted a molecular investigation of hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in bat species captured in the northern region of the Pantanal biome, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Tissue samples were screened by qPCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Positive samples were subsequently subjected to conventional PCR assays targeting partial fragments of the 16S rRNA (~900 bp) and 23S rRNA (~800 bp) genes. Hemoplasma DNA was detected in four bat species: Glossophaga soricina, Molossops temminckii, Molossus rufus, and Desmodus rotundus. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial 16S and 23S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that the detected hemoplasmas clustered predominantly with previously described bat-associated hemoplasmas from Brazil and other countries in the Americas. Notably, the detection in M. temminckii represents, to our knowledge, the first molecular evidence of hemotropic Mycoplasma infection in this bat species. These findings expand current knowledge regarding the occurrence, host range, and genetic diversity of hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in bats from the Pantanal biome and contribute to wildlife surveillance efforts in this ecologically important region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Wild Animals)
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8 pages, 613 KB  
Communication
Wild Mammals as Sentinels for West Nile Virus Circulation: Evidence from Serbia
by Ljubiša Veljović, Milan Paunović, Dimitrije Glišić, Sofija Šolaja, Zorana Zurovac Sapundžić, Jelena Maletić, Bojan Milovanović and Vesna Milićević
Pathogens 2025, 14(11), 1167; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14111167 - 15 Nov 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1102
Abstract
West Nile fever is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease caused by West Nile virus (WNV), maintained in an enzootic cycle between avian hosts and Culex mosquitoes. While birds are the principal reservoirs, WNV also infects a wide range of mammals, including humans, horses, and [...] Read more.
West Nile fever is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease caused by West Nile virus (WNV), maintained in an enzootic cycle between avian hosts and Culex mosquitoes. While birds are the principal reservoirs, WNV also infects a wide range of mammals, including humans, horses, and wildlife species. In this study, we assessed WNV seroprevalence in wild ungulates, wild boars, golden jackals, and the invasive rodent nutria in Serbia. A total of 522 serum samples from wild animals were tested. Antibodies against WNV were detected across all tested species, with seroprevalence rates of 37% in wild boars, 11.9% in nutrias, 32.4% in golden jackals, 50.6% in red deer, and 9.1% in roe deer. Detection of antibodies in both adults and juveniles provides evidence of recent transmission during the study period. These findings confirm widespread circulation of WNV in Serbian wildlife and suggest that wild ungulates, carnivores, and invasive rodents may serve as useful sentinel species for monitoring WNV prevalence and geographic spread in natural ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Wild Animals)
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10 pages, 3529 KB  
Communication
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild European and American Mink (Mustela lutreola and Neogale vison) from Spain
by María Eugenia Lebrero, José Villora, María Asunción Gómez, Madis Podra, María del Carmen Aranda, Sergio Villanueva-Saz, Antonio Fernández, Patricia Lizarraga, Pablo Quilez, Álex Gómez and Diana Marteles
Pathogens 2025, 14(5), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14050427 - 28 Apr 2025
Viewed by 3972
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, affects a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Domestic and wild felines serve as definitive hosts, excreting oocysts that contaminate the environment. Intermediate hosts, such as the endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola [...] Read more.
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, affects a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Domestic and wild felines serve as definitive hosts, excreting oocysts that contaminate the environment. Intermediate hosts, such as the endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola) and the non-native American mink (Neogale vison), can become infected primarily through the ingestion of tissue cysts present in prey, while the ingestion of oocysts from contaminated soil or water plays a secondary role. This study analyzed the seroprevalence of T. gondii in 179 mink specimens (137 American mink and 42 European mink) collected in northern Spain from 2014 to 2020. Using an optimized indirect immunofluorescence assay, antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 47 samples (37 American mink and 10 European mink). Seroprevalence was higher in the Ebro basin than in the Cantabrian region, although the difference was not statistically significant. No significant associations were observed between seropositivity and species, sex, or habitat. These findings suggest environmental contamination by T. gondii oocysts in northern Spain and underscore the potential value of invasive American mink as sentinel species for monitoring public health risks associated with this parasite. The study also highlights the importance of wildlife surveillance in assessing environmental contamination and understanding transmission dynamics of infectious diseases in ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Wild Animals)
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14 pages, 1103 KB  
Article
One Health Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Non-Human Primates and Small Mammals in Minas Gerais, Brazil
by Pedro Augusto Almeida-Souza, Thamires Gabriele Macedo Silva, Gabriele Barbosa Penha, Thaynara de Jesus Teixeira, Ramon Oliveira-Silva, Iago Alves Celestino, Maria Eduarda Gonçalves-dos-Santos, Cirilo Henrique de Oliveira, Alice dos Santos Nunes Ferreira, Emerson Márcio Gusmão, Vinícius de Oliveira Ottone, Danilo Simonini-Teixeira, Fabrício Souza Campos, Paulo Michel Roehe, Leonardo Camilo de Oliveira, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Filipe Vieira Santos de Abreu and Danilo Bretas de Oliveira
Pathogens 2025, 14(4), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14040356 - 6 Apr 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2734
Abstract
Although the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic primarily affected the human population, the virus has also been detected in various animal species worldwide, raising concerns about its potential to establish new animal reservoirs. This study aimed to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in non-human primates (NHPs) [...] Read more.
Although the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic primarily affected the human population, the virus has also been detected in various animal species worldwide, raising concerns about its potential to establish new animal reservoirs. This study aimed to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in non-human primates (NHPs) and synanthropic small mammals (SSMs) in the Jequitinhonha Valley and Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Between October 2021 and October 2023, 119 animals were sampled, 82 NHPs and 37 SSMs, across 22 municipalities. A total of 342 biological samples—including oral and nasal swabs, lungs, livers, spleens, blood, and feces—were collected and analyzed using RT-qPCR, while 37 serum samples were submitted to neutralization tests. Despite the diversity of sampled species, habitats, and biological materials, no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection or specific antibodies was detected in any of the individuals tested. The results suggest that NHPs and SSMs in these regions did not act as reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2 during the study period. This finding is particularly relevant given the high synanthropy of species such as Callithrix penicillata (black-tufted marmoset) and Rattus rattus (black rat), which frequently interact with human populations. Our study underscores the importance of integrating animal, human, and environmental health perspectives under a One Health framework to monitor emerging zoonotic threats. By providing baseline data on SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in wildlife, we emphasize the need for ongoing ecological and epidemiological surveillance to assess potential spillover events and their implications for biodiversity and public health in Brazil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Wild Animals)
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Review

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19 pages, 1081 KB  
Review
Toxoplasma gondii in Wild Cervids and Wild Canids: Feeding Ecology, Environmental Exposure, and Trophic Transmission
by Vy Dinh Bao Tran and Dong-Hyuk Jeong
Pathogens 2026, 15(7), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15070746 - 16 Jul 2026
Viewed by 539
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan transmitted by environmentally persistent oocysts and by tissue cysts in infected prey or meat. Although wild cervids and wild canids are increasingly used as wildlife sentinels, their complementary ecological roles in integrated T. gondii surveillance have not [...] Read more.
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan transmitted by environmentally persistent oocysts and by tissue cysts in infected prey or meat. Although wild cervids and wild canids are increasingly used as wildlife sentinels, their complementary ecological roles in integrated T. gondii surveillance have not been comprehensively synthesized. This structured narrative review compares infection evidence in five wild cervid species and three wild canid species to examine how feeding ecology shapes exposure and to assess their complementary value in wildlife surveillance. Peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2026 was retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Studies reporting evidence of T. gondii exposure or infection in wild cervids or wild canids were included, with serological evidence evaluated separately from molecular or histological detection. Cervids showed geographically variable exposure consistent with ingestion of oocysts from contaminated vegetation, soil, and water, supporting their use as sentinels of environmental contamination. Wild canids often showed higher reported seropositivity, although direct comparisons were limited by assay, sampling, and demographic heterogeneity. Their predatory, scavenging, and omnivorous diets allow access to both environmental oocysts and tissue cysts. Cervids and canids should therefore be treated as complementary rather than interchangeable indicators: cervids primarily reflect environmental exposure, whereas canids integrate environmental and trophic transmission. This review provides an ecological framework to support integrated One Health wildlife surveillance by combining environmental and trophic indicators for improved risk assessment and food-safety planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Wild Animals)
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37 pages, 1566 KB  
Review
Ticks and Tick-Borne Microorganisms in Australian Wildlife: A Scoping One Health Evidence Synthesis of Reported Associations and Knowledge Gaps
by Kabir Brar, Bahar E. Mustafa, Ian Beveridge, Charles Gauci, Abdul Jabbar and Abdul Ghafar
Pathogens 2026, 15(6), 646; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060646 - 18 Jun 2026
Viewed by 1654
Abstract
Ticks are haematophagous ectoparasites and vectors of a diverse range of pathogens, exerting substantial impacts on wildlife, domestic animals and public health. In Australia, despite the country’s rich and unique biodiversity, a comprehensive understanding of ticks and tick-borne pathogens associated with wildlife remains [...] Read more.
Ticks are haematophagous ectoparasites and vectors of a diverse range of pathogens, exerting substantial impacts on wildlife, domestic animals and public health. In Australia, despite the country’s rich and unique biodiversity, a comprehensive understanding of ticks and tick-borne pathogens associated with wildlife remains limited. Environmental change, urban expansion and climate variability are increasingly disrupting wildlife habitats, potentially intensifying interactions between wildlife hosts, ticks and humans. A broad evidence synthesis of studies published between January 1940 and March 2024 was conducted, retrieving 133 eligible records from Web of Science, CABI Abstracts and PubMed databases. Fifty tick species parasitising 160 wildlife species were identified, predominantly from the genera Ixodes, Amblyomma and Haemaphysalis. The most commonly reported hosts included marsupials, particularly bandicoots, wallabies and possums, with notable tick species being Ixodes tasmani, Ixodes holocyclus and Amblyomma triguttatum. Microorganism records were relatively limited and mostly represented molecular detections or reported associations, including Babesia, Borrelia, Coxiella, Rickettsia and Theileria species, rather than confirmed vector competence, reservoir status or pathogenicity. Key limitations included geographic sampling biases towards eastern Australia, limited molecular identification of ticks and infrequent pathogen screening, particularly regarding the ecology, epidemiology and molecular diversity of host–vector–microorganism interactions. Improved surveillance, expanded molecular characterisation, and integrated One Health investigations are required to better understand the ecological and public health significance of these host–vector–microorganism interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in Wild Animals)
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