Monitoring Wildlife Health: Surveillance and Management of Infectious Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Monitoring the health of wildlife is crucial as the expansion of human activities into natural habitats heightens the risk of zoonotic diseases. The movement of wildlife across borders has led to transboundary diseases becoming a primary concern for both animals and humans. While populations of certain species are growing, little is known about the pathogens they carry, some of which can pose risks to humans. However, wildlife can also provide valuable information that informs decision-making and guides preventive measures and disease control efforts. The surveillance and management of infectious diseases in wildlife are critical for safeguarding biodiversity, human health, and domestic animal populations. This Special Issue highlights the growing recognition of wildlife disease monitoring as a frontline defense against emerging zoonoses, exemplified by lessons from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which underscored the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Effective surveillance requires standardized methodologies, such as passive mortality reporting, hunter–harvest sampling, and non-invasive techniques (e.g., environmental DNA), to detect pathogens and assess the prevalence of disease. However, challenges persist due to ecological complexities, including fluctuations in host population dynamics and disease prevalence, which can bias surveillance outcomes and undermine risk assessments. Innovative approaches, such as agent-based modeling, have emerged to address sampling biases and optimize surveillance strategies, as demonstrated in the monitoring of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer. Case studies on sarcoptic mange in Alpine chamois and tuberculosis in wild boar further illustrate the importance of integrating epidemiological research into adaptive management. This Special Issue therefore advocates for national and international frameworks that harmonize wildlife health surveillance with One Health initiatives, emphasizing early detection, cross-sector collaboration, and capacity-building to mitigate the threat posed by endemic and emerging pathogens.

Dr. Branislav Kureljušić
Dr. Diana Lupulović
Dr. Amer Alić
Guest Editors

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• wildlife disease surveillance 
• zoonotic diseases 
• emerging infectious diseases 
• non-invasive sampling 
• population fluctuations 
• one Health approach 
• chronic wasting disease 
• biodiversity conservation 
• pathogen detection 
• surveillance frameworks