Molecular Epidemiology, Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Animal Viral Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, viruses have undoubtedly changed our lives. Animal viral diseases pose a significant challenge to animal health, livestock production, and public health, as they can evolve into emerging and re-emerging zoonoses. The risk of zoonoses is increasing due to the invasion of wild habitats and climate change. Early diagnosis of these viral diseases, using classical or molecular tools, must be both rapid and accurate to manage outbreaks and species jumps. Molecular diagnostic tools have advanced significantly; molecular epidemiology, in particular, enables us to understand the dynamics, evolution, and spread of viruses. Combining both types of testing would enable effective surveillance.

Phylogenetic analysis enables us to identify viral strains and variants and understand viral dynamics and adaptation to new hosts. This information is essential for designing more effective control and prevention strategies, as it enables the development of immunogens. Various outbreaks of viral diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, and avian influenza, highlight the importance of complete diagnosis to identify and characterise the involved strains.

High virus transmission rates are common in countries with strong swine, bovine, or poultry industries, leading to significant economic impacts on these industries. It is important to study wild viral reservoirs, as this is crucial for both veterinary public health and the economic sustainability of animal production. This will improve our understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of diseases, as well as enabling us to develop better management strategies to prevent viral diseases from spilling over from wild animals to domestic animals.

Prof. Dr. María Gabriela Echeverría
Guest Editor

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