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Pathogens
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Epidemiology and Molecular Diagnosis of Vector-Borne Diseases
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Epidemiology and Molecular Diagnosis of Vector-Borne Diseases

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Ticks".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 February 2026) | Viewed by 1763

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ricardo Parreira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: RNA viruses; arthropod-borne viruses; viral ecology; phylogenetics
Dr. Sandra Antunes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: vector-borne diseases; ticks; parasite biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ana Domingos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: tick and TBP control; epidemiology; tick–host–pathogen interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Infectious vector-borne diseases of humans may be caused by eukaryotic parasites, viruses, and bacteria transmitted through the bite of infected hematophagous arthropods, such as mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas. These diseases, such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, dengue, chikungunya, or Lyme disease, represent significant public health challenges, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Altogether, recent estimates point to vector-borne diseases accounting for more than 17% of all infectious diseases, causing more than 700,000 deaths annually. Their incidence is affected by factors such as climate change, urbanization, and increased global travel which impact the geographic spread of their vectors, facilitating the introduction of vector-borne infectious agents into previously unaffected areas.

In this Special Issue, we welcome the submission of papers focused on the topics of the evaluation of vector-borne diseases and the development of new tools, technologies, and approaches for diagnosis. Review papers, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses, as well as original papers, that contribute to reaching our objectives are welcome to be submitted.

Dr. Ricardo Parreira
Dr. Sandra Antunes
Dr. Ana Domingos
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 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-blind 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 2200 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

  • vector-borne diseases
  • molecular diagnostics
  • epidemiology
  • public health surveillance

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 4367 KB  
Article
New Haplotype of Bartonella sp. in Haematopota pluvialis (Linnaeus, 1758)
by Katarzyna Bartosik, Magdalena Świsłocka-Cutter, Joanna Werszko, Anna Aftyka, Klaudia Mária Švirlochová, Dana Zubriková, Bronislava Víchová, Magdalena Raszewska-Famielec and Marek Asman
Pathogens 2026, 15(4), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15040417 - 13 Apr 2026
Abstract
Haematopota pluvialis is a widely distributed hematophagic insect occurring across Eurasia. This horse fly may be a highly efficient mechanical vector of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Furthermore, its painful bites can cause local skin lesions and systemic symptoms. The aim of [...] Read more.
Haematopota pluvialis is a widely distributed hematophagic insect occurring across Eurasia. This horse fly may be a highly efficient mechanical vector of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Furthermore, its painful bites can cause local skin lesions and systemic symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine human exposure to H. pluvialis attacks in various types of open space habitats in Eastern Poland and to perform molecular screening of these tabanids for the presence of hematopathogens: Bartonella spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Specimens of H. pluvialis were collected at three distinct sites in Eastern Poland. The presence of Bartonella spp. and A. phagocytophilum was investigated using PCR-based methods. In total, 141 H. pluvialis females were analyzed. The molecular analysis of the rpoB gene fragment yielded one new haplotype of Bartonella sp. in 0.7% (1) of all studied samples, which may hypothetically exhibit zoonotic potential. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was not detected in the studied material. Moreover, a high level of human and animals exposure to horse fly bites was noted in the studied areas of Eastern Poland. The present results highlight the need for further targeted research on H. pluvialis to quantify pathogen prevalence, transmission efficiencies, and conditions facilitating pathogen transmission in natural settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Molecular Diagnosis of Vector-Borne Diseases)
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15 pages, 6452 KB  
Article
Diseases Caused by Parasites with Invertebrate Hosts in China: Burden and Trends of Leishmaniasis and Schistosomiasis
by Cun-Chen Wang, Shu-Jing Wang, Rui Han, Gui-Zhi Xu, Hai-Ting Zhang, Xin-Xue Zhu, Qi-Long Wu, Yi-Xue Zhao, Yu-Jie Zhou, Zhen-Zhong Feng, Miao Liu and Sheng-Qun Deng
Pathogens 2026, 15(3), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15030340 - 23 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Parasitic diseases involving invertebrate hosts, notably leishmaniasis (transmitted by sandflies) and schistosomiasis (transmitted via aquatic snails), remain public health concerns in China. Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2021 data, the age-standardized prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rates for both [...] Read more.
Parasitic diseases involving invertebrate hosts, notably leishmaniasis (transmitted by sandflies) and schistosomiasis (transmitted via aquatic snails), remain public health concerns in China. Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2021 data, the age-standardized prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rates for both diseases declined significantly from 1990 to 2021. Men consistently experienced a higher burden than women. The age distribution of disease burden differed between the two conditions. Projections to 2036 suggest a continued decrease in schistosomiasis burden and in leishmaniasis mortality and DALYs, but a potential slight rise in leishmaniasis prevalence. Sustained control efforts have been effective, yet challenges persist due to demographic disparities, climate-related invertebrate host/intermediate host expansion, and imported cases. Future strategies require enhanced surveillance, targeted interventions, and multi-sectoral collaboration to advance toward elimination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Molecular Diagnosis of Vector-Borne Diseases)
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Review

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20 pages, 509 KB  
Review
West Nile Virus in Europe: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Environmental Drivers, and the Role of Equine Sentinel Surveillance in a One Health Framework
by Paula Nistor, Livia Stanga, Vlad Iorgoni, Razvan Grigore Cojocaru, Alexandru Gligor, Alexandru Ciresan, Bogdan Florea, Vlad Cocioba, Ionica Iancu, Horia Iorgoni, Cristian Zaha, Cosmin Horatiu Maris and Viorel Herman
Pathogens 2026, 15(3), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15030298 - 10 Mar 2026
Viewed by 760
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that remains an important public and veterinary health concern across Europe. Periodic outbreaks affecting humans, horses, and wildlife highlight the complex ecological interactions underlying viral circulation. This narrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge regarding [...] Read more.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that remains an important public and veterinary health concern across Europe. Periodic outbreaks affecting humans, horses, and wildlife highlight the complex ecological interactions underlying viral circulation. This narrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge regarding WNV epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and surveillance strategies in Europe, with particular attention to the Romanian context. Available surveillance data indicate recurrent seasonal transmission in several European regions; however, reported case numbers may be influenced by differences in diagnostic capacity, reporting practices, and surveillance intensity among countries. Recent studies suggest that environmental variability, vector adaptation, and host community composition play important roles in shaping regional transmission risk, although the relative contribution of these factors remains incompletely quantified. Despite expanding surveillance networks and One Health initiatives, important knowledge gaps persist regarding the integration of environmental risk indicators, vector ecology, and operational preparedness into coherent risk-assessment frameworks. This review therefore examines current epidemiological patterns, evaluates surveillance approaches, and discusses emerging drivers of WNV transmission in Europe. As a narrative synthesis based on published literature and surveillance reports, this review is subject to limitations related to heterogeneity in available data and differences in national reporting systems. Nevertheless, a clearer understanding of these interacting factors may support improved surveillance strategies and more adaptive public health responses to future WNV transmission events. Reported surveillance data should be interpreted cautiously, as differences in national surveillance intensity, diagnostic capacity, and reporting frameworks across Europe may influence notified case numbers. Consequently, reported outbreaks do not necessarily reflect proportional differences in transmission intensity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Molecular Diagnosis of Vector-Borne Diseases)
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