Infectious Diseases and Immunization in Animals

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Vaccines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 1017

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV), Oeiras, Portugal
2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Lusófoma, Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: infectious diseases; virology; immunology; microbiology; veterinary pathology; vaccination; new technology; artificial intelligence; host–pathogen interactions
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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Interests: veterinary bacteriology; veterinary virology; veterinary pathology; antimicrobial resistance; vaccination in animals; host–pathogen interactions; zoonoses; diagnostics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled "Infectious Diseases and Immunization in Animals", focuses on the latest research and strategies for combating infectious diseases in animal populations through immunization. These diseases impact animal and human health, food security, and global economic stability. As pathogens evolve, there is a growing need for effective immunization and disease management approaches across various species. We invite high-quality manuscripts covering themes such as the emergence of infectious diseases, zoonotic disease transmission, and the role of immunization in preventing spillover events. Topics of interest include host–pathogen interactions, vaccine efficacy, and advancements in vaccine technologies like mRNA and vector-based systems. We also encourage submissions that assess vaccination campaigns, case studies on controlling animal diseases, and animal immunization's economic and ethical dimensions. This issue fosters dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, promoting understanding and innovation in infectious disease control and animal immunization. We look forward to receiving contributions that help shape this critical field's future.

Dr. Fábio Abade dos Santos
Dr. Ezgi Akdesir
Dr. Jelena Prpić
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • animal vaccination
  • zoonotic diseases
  • One Health
  • host–pathogen interaction
  • veterinary immunology
  • emerging infectious diseases
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • vaccine development

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1066 KiB  
Article
Comparative Study of Two Immunisation Protocols in Goats Using Thiol-Sepharose Chromatography-Enriched Extracts from Adult Haemonchus contortus Worms
by Magnolia M. Conde-Felipe, José Adrián Molina, Antonio Ruiz, Otilia Ferrer, Mª Cristina Del Rio, Emma Carmelo, Juan R. Hernández-Fernaud, Francisco Rodríguez and José Manuel Molina
Vaccines 2025, 13(7), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13070708 - 29 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Background: A comparative analysis was conducted between two immunisation protocols using different amounts of protein extracts from adult Haemonchus contortus worms, purified by thiol-Sepharose chromatography (625 μg/animal vs. 200 μg/animal). These protocols involved either five or two inoculations of the immunogen, respectively. [...] Read more.
Background: A comparative analysis was conducted between two immunisation protocols using different amounts of protein extracts from adult Haemonchus contortus worms, purified by thiol-Sepharose chromatography (625 μg/animal vs. 200 μg/animal). These protocols involved either five or two inoculations of the immunogen, respectively. Methods: To evaluate the level of immunoprotection, animals were challenged with L3 of H. contortus two weeks after the last inoculation of the immunogen and humanely sacrificed at 8 weeks post-infection. Parasitological, biopathological, and serological parameters were monitored through the experiment. Parasite burden, abomasal-specific antibody responses, and histopathological changes were determined at the end of the trial. Results: The immunisation protocols resulted in similar reductions in cumulative faecal egg counts (60.5–64.9%) and the total worm burden (47.5–50%) compared to non-immunized (control) animals. Overall, these parasitological data showed an early recovery of the haematocrit (PCV) after challenge in the immunised groups relative to control. Similarly, levels of H. contortus-specific IgG and IgA antibodies increased in both the serum and gastric mucus of immunised groups. Conclusions: These findings represent a further step towards the potential application of this type of immunogen under field conditions, as protective responses (associated with a reduction in faecal egg output) were achieved using a simplified protocol, with lower immunogen doses and fewer inoculations required to induce immunoprotection, thereby mitigating the pathological effects of the parasite and reducing its ability to spread and infect susceptible hosts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases and Immunization in Animals)
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21 pages, 2842 KiB  
Article
Efficacy and Safety of a Tri-Valent Ready-to-Use Porcine Circovirus Type 2a, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Lawsonia intracellularis Vaccine in Weaned Pigs
by Michelle Allen, Frank Roerink, Abigail Crowley, Susan Knetter, Chandra Morgan, Huiling Wei and Ruud Segers
Vaccines 2025, 13(7), 681; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13070681 - 25 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study describes multiple trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy of a tri-valent vaccine against diseases caused by Porcine Circovirus Types 2a and 2d (PCV2a, PCV2d), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, and Lawsonia intracellularis. Methods: For each of the PCV2a and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study describes multiple trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy of a tri-valent vaccine against diseases caused by Porcine Circovirus Types 2a and 2d (PCV2a, PCV2d), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, and Lawsonia intracellularis. Methods: For each of the PCV2a and PCV2d onset of immunity (OOIs) and duration of immunity (DOI) studies, 25 pigs were vaccinated with a tri-valent vaccine and 25 with placebo. After dual challenge with PCV2a and porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV) (OOI) or single challenge with PCV2d (OOI and DOI), respectively, viremia and lymphoid depletion data were collected. For each of the M. hyopneumoniae OOI and DOI studies, 35 to 70 pigs were vaccinated with the tri-valent vaccine and 35 to 70 with placebo. After M. hyopneumoniae challenge, the lungs were scored for disease. For the L. intracellularis OOI study, 40 to 50 pigs were vaccinated with the tri-valent and 40 to 50 with placebo. After L. intracellularis challenge, the intestines were scored for disease. All pigs were vaccinated at approximately 3 weeks of age, and all placebo vaccines were product matched. Results: Vaccinating pigs with a tri-valent vaccine reduced viremia and lymphoid depletion due to PCV2a and PCV2d, reduced lung lesions due to M. hyopneumoniae and reduced ileum and colonization scores due to L. intracellularis. Conclusions: The trials reported here demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the first ready-to-use PCV2, M. hyopneumoniae, and L. intracellularis vaccine for pigs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases and Immunization in Animals)
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13 pages, 1386 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin Vaccination and Mycobacterium bovis Infection on Diagnostic Antibody Tests for Mycobacterial Infections
by Thomas Holder, Nick Robinson and Gareth J. Jones
Vaccines 2025, 13(6), 578; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13060578 - 28 May 2025
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Abstract
Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an infectious disease which causes significant damage to the farming industry and remains a disease of global significance. Although control strategies have focused on a test and cull approach primarily based around specific cell-mediated immune responses, serological assays [...] Read more.
Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an infectious disease which causes significant damage to the farming industry and remains a disease of global significance. Although control strategies have focused on a test and cull approach primarily based around specific cell-mediated immune responses, serological assays are increasingly being used as a supplementary test alongside skin testing and interferon-gamma release (IGRA) assays. The UK is moving towards the use of the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination of cattle as an additional targeted control tool against bTB. However, there are concerns over its potential impact on the outcomes of bTB diagnostic tests and other non-TB assays, such as serological tests for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Methods: We investigated the performance of commercially available serology tests designed to detect bTB and MAP using serum samples from BCG-vaccinated animals which were subsequently infected with Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). Results: BCG vaccination per se did not significantly impact the specificity of serological diagnostic tests for bTB or Johne’s disease. However, increased numbers of false-positive responses in bTB serology tests were seen in BCG-vaccinated animals 3 weeks following a tuberculin skin test, where up to 23% and 54% of animals gave a positive result in IDEXX and Enferplex tests, respectively. Furthermore, M. bovis infection gave rise to false-positive test results for Johne’s disease, irrespective of the animals’ prior BCG vaccination status. Conclusions: Caution should be taken when assessing results from serology tests for bTB if tuberculin skin testing has occurred shortly before collection of blood from BCG-vaccinated cattle. Furthermore, these results highlight the potential for misdiagnosis of MAP infection when using serology tests in bTB-infected cattle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases and Immunization in Animals)
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