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Pathogens
Special Issues
Emergence and Transmission of Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases in Europe
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Emergence and Transmission of Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases in Europe

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 June 2025) | Viewed by 2281

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ana Cláudia Coelho

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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary and Animal Science Research Center (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: biosafety; infectious diseases; microbiology; one health; zoonosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ana Patrícia Lopes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: one health; parasitology; parasitic diseases; toxoplasmosis; zoonosis
Prof. Dr. Luís Cardoso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary and Animal Research Center (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: veterinary sciences; parasitology; parasitic diseases; epidemiology; one health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Europe is facing increasingly favorable conditions for climate-sensitive infectious diseases, posing significant health risks to vulnerable populations and certain occupational groups. About two-thirds of pathogens affecting humans and animals in Europe are climate-sensitive, leading to heightened risks of diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and West Nile fever. Vulnerability varies across regions, with Southern Europe susceptible to heat-related illnesses and Central and Eastern Europe facing increased risks from diseases like dengue and malaria.

Climate change prolongs transmission seasons and expands the distribution of disease vectors, heightening the probability of outbreaks. Tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease are spreading, and warming sea waters are fostering new health threats from bacteria like Vibrio. Leishmaniasis and viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, such as chikungunya and dengue fever, are also spreading to new areas in Europe.

Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive research, improved surveillance systems, and international cooperation. Social inequalities exacerbate vulnerability, necessitating resilient healthcare systems and targeted interventions. Despite the risks, Europe lacks sufficient preparedness, highlighting the need for enhanced mitigation and adaptation efforts. By prioritizing vulnerable groups and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, Europe can effectively mitigate the health impacts of climate-change-induced infectious diseases.

Dr. Ana Cláudia Coelho
Dr. Ana Patrícia Lopes
Prof. Dr. Luís Cardoso
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • climate-sensitive infectious diseases
  • disease transmission
  • health risk
  • tick-borne diseases
  • vectors

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2293 KiB  
Article
Mytilus galloprovincialis as a Natural Reservoir of Vibrio harveyi: Insights from GFP-Tagged Strain Tracking
by Arkaitz Almaraz, Flor O. Uriarte, María González-Rivacoba, Inés Arana, Itziar Arranz-Veiga, Beñat Zaldibar and Maite Orruño
Pathogens 2025, 14(7), 687; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14070687 - 13 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Vibrios are widespread in marine environments, and their persistence is often linked to natural reservoirs such as filter-feeding bivalves. This study investigated the capacity of the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, to act as a reservoir of Vibrio harveyi using a GFP-tagged strain [...] Read more.
Vibrios are widespread in marine environments, and their persistence is often linked to natural reservoirs such as filter-feeding bivalves. This study investigated the capacity of the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, to act as a reservoir of Vibrio harveyi using a GFP-tagged strain in controlled experiments. Mussels (shell length 4–6 cm) were exposed to V. harveyi gfp in estuarine and seawater at 12 °C and 20 °C over six days. Bacterial accumulation in gills, digestive gland, and gonads, as well as in feces and pseudofeces, was quantified, and the immune response following microbial challenge was assessed by histopathological analysis. Mussels actively removed V. harveyi from the water, but not completely. Vibrios were rapidly accumulated in organs, with the highest densities in the digestive gland (up to 107–108 CFU g−1), and substantial bacterial loads detected in biodeposits (1.55–3.77 × 107 CFU g−1). Salinity had a greater effect than temperature on bacterial accumulation, with consistently higher counts in seawater assays. Concurrently with bacterial accumulation, mussels activated their immune system, as evidenced by the detection of granulocytomas and hemocytic infiltrations. Overall, these results demonstrate that M. galloprovincialis accumulates V. harveyi in tissues and biodeposits, serving as a natural reservoir for this bacterium. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emergence and Transmission of Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases in Europe)
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11 pages, 1445 KiB  
Communication
A Note on the Association Between Climatological Conditions and the Presence of Coxiella burnetii in the Milk-Tank of Dairy Sheep and Goat Farms in Greece
by Eleni I. Katsarou, Themistoklis Giannoulis, Charalambia K. Michael, Daphne T. Lianou, Natalia G. C. Vasileiou, Nikolaos Solomakos, Angeliki I. Katsafadou, Vasia S. Mavrogianni, Dimitriοs C. Chatzopoulos and George C. Fthenakis
Pathogens 2025, 14(7), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14070686 - 12 Jul 2025
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Abstract
The specific objectives of the current paper were the assessment of potential associations of weather conditions with the presence of Coxiella burnetii in the milk-tank of sheep and goat farms and the investigation for possible interactions between weather conditions and management practices on [...] Read more.
The specific objectives of the current paper were the assessment of potential associations of weather conditions with the presence of Coxiella burnetii in the milk-tank of sheep and goat farms and the investigation for possible interactions between weather conditions and management practices on these farms. The presence of C. burnetii in milk-tank samples collected from 325 sheep flocks and 119 goat herds was assessed by means of a commercially available real-time PCR. Climatic variables present at the location of each farm were downloaded from ‘The POWER Project’. Univariable and multivariable analyses were carried out. Among the climatic variables assessed, only the average wind speed during the 15 days that preceded each visit was found to be a significant predictor for both sheep (p = 0.003) and goat (p = 0.034) farms. The current findings serve to provide information about the epidemiology of C. burnetii infections in small ruminant farms and the possibilities for contamination of the milk produced in these farms, which is important due to the zoonotic nature of the pathogen; these findings thus provide guidance to implement appropriate preventive measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emergence and Transmission of Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases in Europe)
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9 pages, 1098 KiB  
Communication
Physella acuta Confirmed as Intermediate Host of Posthodiplostomum sp. from Lake Alqueva, Portugal
by Maria Teresa Bispo, Isabel Larguinho Maurício, Pedro Manuel Ferreira, Silvana Belo and Manuela Calado
Pathogens 2025, 14(4), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14040304 - 23 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Physella acuta is an invasive freshwater snail with a global distribution and a recognized role as an intermediate host for various trematodes, including Echinostoma spp. and Trichobilharzia physellae. In Portugal, P. acuta is commonly found in freshwater bodies such as Lake Alqueva, [...] Read more.
Physella acuta is an invasive freshwater snail with a global distribution and a recognized role as an intermediate host for various trematodes, including Echinostoma spp. and Trichobilharzia physellae. In Portugal, P. acuta is commonly found in freshwater bodies such as Lake Alqueva, the largest artificial reservoir in Europe. The lake’s creation has altered local ecosystems, influencing freshwater snail populations and migratory bird activity, which may contribute to the dispersal of trematode parasites. While P. acuta is present in the region, its role in trematode transmission remains unclear. This study investigated P. acuta as a potential intermediate host for trematodes in Lake Alqueva. Freshwater snails were collected from 18 sites, with cercarial shedding induced under artificial light. Infected snails were found in 2 of the 18 snail populations surveyed. A sequence analysis of the amplified ITS2 rDNA region confirmed the presence of Posthodiplostomum sp., implicating, for the first time, P. acuta as an intermediate host for this parasite in Portugal. This study highlights the need for further research on P. acuta’s role in trematode transmission and potential impact on local ecosystems to assess parasitic risks to veterinary and public health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emergence and Transmission of Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases in Europe)
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