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Pathogens
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New Insights into Viral Infections of Domestic Animals
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New Insights into Viral Infections of Domestic Animals

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2026 | Viewed by 1152

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hugo Ramírez-Álvarez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Virology, Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Higher Education Cuautitlan, Veterinary Medical School, Campus 4, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico City CP 54714, Mexico
Interests: retroviral infections; genetic resistance; diagnostics
Dr. Ramsés Reina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CSIC-GN-UPNA—Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia (IDAB), Pamplona, Spain
Interests: immunology; small ruminant lentivirus; vaccine design; orf virus; viral vectors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue of Pathogens, entitled “New Insights into Viral Infections of Domestic Animals.” This Special Issue aims to bring together groundbreaking research and innovative insights that enhance our understanding and management of these infections, which pose significant challenges to animal health, economic stability, and public health.

Viral infections in domestic animals, including livestock and companion animals, have widespread impacts on the productivity and welfare of animals, as well as substantial economic repercussions, and pose zoonotic risks to human populations. Recent outbreaks, such as those caused by SARS-CoV-2 and avian influenza H5N1, underscore the urgent need for continued research and the development of effective control measures.

We are particularly interested in original research articles, review articles, and case studies that address various aspects of viral infections in domestic animals. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Epidemiology and surveillance of viral infections
  • Pathogenesis and host–virus interactions
  • Advances in diagnostic methodologies
  • Development and evaluation of vaccines and antiviral therapies;
  • Genetic and molecular characterization of viruses;
  • Zoonotic potential and public health implications;
  • Strategies for prevention and control;
  • Emerging and re-emerging viral infections;
  • Genetic resistance to viral infections.

We encourage submissions that present novel findings and methodologies, contribute to the development of new diagnostic tools and treatments, and explore the genetic and immunological factors underlying viral infections. Interdisciplinary studies that integrate veterinary science, virology, immunology, and public health are particularly welcomed.

All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the highest standards of scientific quality and integrity. Accepted papers will be published online with open access, providing broad visibility to your research within the scientific community and beyond.

We look forward to your valuable contributions to this Special Issue, which aims to foster collaboration, advance knowledge, and develop innovative solutions to the pressing challenges posed by viral infections in domestic animals. Together, we can make significant strides in safeguarding animal and public health.

Dr. Hugo Ramírez-Álvarez
Dr. Ramsés Reina
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

  • emerging viral diseases
  • zoonoses
  • immunogens, diagnostics
  • genetic resistance
  • one health

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 920 KB  
Article
Simulating the Spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Densely Populated Areas as Part of Contingency Plans to Establish the Best Control Options
by Silvia Bellini, Alessandra Scaburri, Marco Tironi, Veronica Cappa, Alessandro Mannelli and Giovanni Loris Alborali
Pathogens 2025, 14(9), 933; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090933 - 16 Sep 2025
Abstract
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease of livestock caused by the FMD virus (FMDV). It is not dangerous to humans but can cause severe disruption to the farming sector and hampers trade in animals and animal products. Given the characteristic of [...] Read more.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease of livestock caused by the FMD virus (FMDV). It is not dangerous to humans but can cause severe disruption to the farming sector and hampers trade in animals and animal products. Given the characteristic of transmissibility of the virus, the legislation in force in the European Union requires that some control activities be initiated in peacetime: the so-called “emergency preparedness”. As part of a research project on FMD, a dynamic transmission model was developed to test the effectiveness of the main control strategies in different livestock settings in Italy. This manuscript focuses on the control of the disease in densely populated livestock areas (DPLAs). Reduction in farm density was simulated to identify a threshold density compatible with disease control in the study area and to understand whether this was acceptable in terms of the sustainability of the livestock production system. Considering that in some municipalities the density of animals greatly exceeded the identified threshold, we adopted an original risk-based approach aimed at identifying farms which were most likely to play a central role in FMDV transmission. This approach has proven to be the most effective in controlling the spread of FMDV and can be proposed for practical applications where limited information on contacts between farms is available. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Viral Infections of Domestic Animals)
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23 pages, 3749 KB  
Article
Differential Gene Expression and Protein–Protein Interaction Networks in Bovine Leukemia Virus Infected Cattle: An RNA-Seq Study
by Ana S. González-Méndez, Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin, Fernando Cerón-Téllez, Gabriel Eduardo Acevedo-Jiménez, Cecilia Rodríguez-Murillo, Víctor David González-Fernández, Lucero de María Ávila-De la Vega, Marisela Leal-Hernández and Hugo Ramírez Álvarez
Pathogens 2025, 14(9), 887; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090887 - 4 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Introduction: Bovine leukemia virus is a single-stranded RNA virus that targets B cell CD5+ lymphocytes in cattle. Only a tiny percentage of individuals develop malignant lymphoproliferative disorders, while most remain healthy carriers or experience persistent lymphocytosis. The exact mechanisms leading to lymphoma [...] Read more.
Introduction: Bovine leukemia virus is a single-stranded RNA virus that targets B cell CD5+ lymphocytes in cattle. Only a tiny percentage of individuals develop malignant lymphoproliferative disorders, while most remain healthy carriers or experience persistent lymphocytosis. The exact mechanisms leading to lymphoma development are complex and not fully understood. RNA-seq analysis of cows’ peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) with and without Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) antibodies was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of molecular events beyond BLV infection. Method: Eighteen samples were selected, and their RNA was sequenced. For gene expression analysis and protein–protein network interactions, three groups were selected, including healthy negative samples (CT, n = 7), asymptomatic carriers (AC, n = 5), and persistent lymphocytosis (PL, n = 6), to provide the differentially expressed gene (DEG) and protein–protein interaction network (PPIN) outputs. Results: Our results demonstrated that in comparison to CT, ACs upregulated TLR7 and transcription activation factors. In the CT vs. PL group, MHC class II, transcription activation factors, and anti-inflammatory cytokines increased, while the acute-phase proteins, antiviral receptors, and inflammatory cytokines decreased. Additionally, antiviral receptors, acute-phase proteins, and inflammatory receptors were downregulated in the PL versus the AC groups. Moreover, PPINs analysis suggested that nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCOR1), serine/arginine repetitive matrix 2 (SRRM2), LUC7 like 3 pre-mRNA splicing factor (LUC7L3), TWIST neighbor (TWISTNB), U6 small nuclear RNA and mRNA degradation associated (LSM4), eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (EEF2), ubiquitin C (UBC), CD74, and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (HNRNP A2B1) are possible hub gene candidates in the PL group. Conclusions: Our results suggest that innate and cellular immune responses are more loose in severe BLV infectious conditions, while the PPINs revealed that new protein interactions are necessary for oncogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Viral Infections of Domestic Animals)
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10 pages, 220 KB  
Article
Identification of Risk Factors and Production Practices Associated with Type 2 Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) Positivity on Pig Farms in Jalisco, Mexico
by Alberto Jorge Galindo-Barboza, José Francisco Rivera-Benítez, Jazmín De la Luz-Armendáriz, José Iván Sánchez-Betancourt, Jesús Hernández, Suzel Guadalupe Sauceda-Cerecer and Jaime Enrique De Alba-Campos
Pathogens 2025, 14(9), 881; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090881 - 3 Sep 2025
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Abstract
The modernization of pig farming has resulted in increasingly dense pig populations. While this accelerates production and ensures a steady pork supply, it also increases the risk of infection transmission. As an endemic and widely distributed pathogen, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus [...] Read more.
The modernization of pig farming has resulted in increasingly dense pig populations. While this accelerates production and ensures a steady pork supply, it also increases the risk of infection transmission. As an endemic and widely distributed pathogen, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) type 2 can cause disease, depending on the production practices implemented. This study evaluated pig production conditions in Jalisco, Mexico, as well as how these conditions correlated with PRRSV detection. In total, 4207 serum samples obtained from 80 pig farms were subjected to analysis, and epidemiological information was collected to evaluate potential determinants of PRRSV presence. Positive samples were most frequently found in pigs up to 10 weeks of age, raised in semi-intensive, intensive, farrow-to-finish farm, and multisite systems, with relative frequency values ranging from 58.6% to 76.9%. The results revealed that various production practices, particularly related to biosecurity protocols, were associated with the presence of PRRSV on the farms evaluated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Viral Infections of Domestic Animals)
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