Monitoring Wildlife Health: Surveillance and Management of Infectious Diseases—2nd Edition
A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 4
Special Issue Editors
Interests: veterinary; virus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: veterinary virology and immunology; vector-borne diseases and zoonoses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: animal viruses; laboratory diagnostic methods; virus detection and molecular characterization; phylogenetic analyses; swine influenza virus; rabies virus; passive surveillance
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Building upon the success of the first volume of ‘Monitoring Wildlife Health: Surveillance and Management of Infectious Diseases’ (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/vetsci/special_issues/D13OIL316W), which included 16 high-quality contributions, this second volume continues to deepen the discussion on the critical role of wildlife health surveillance in a rapidly changing world. As human activities increasingly encroach on natural ecosystems, the risk of zoonotic spillover events grows, underscoring the need for robust monitoring systems capable of detecting and responding to emerging infectious threats.
The interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health—highlighted once again by the lessons learned from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic—demonstrates the urgency of strengthening One Health-oriented surveillance frameworks. Wildlife populations continue to shift in distribution and density, yet significant gaps remain in our understanding of the pathogens they harbor. These gaps hinder effective disease risk assessment and the development of preventive strategies for safeguarding biodiversity, domestic animals, and human communities.
This second volume aims to highlight innovative methodologies, case studies, and interdisciplinary approaches that enhance wildlife disease monitoring and management. From standardized surveillance tools such as carcass reporting, hunter-harvest sampling, and non-invasive environmental DNA techniques to advanced analytical methods including agent-based modeling, we seek to feature research that improves detection sensitivity, reduces sampling biases, and informs evidence-based decision-making. Moreover, real-world examples—such as chronic wasting disease surveillance in cervids or disease management in wild boar and carnivore species—continue to demonstrate the value of integrating epidemiological insights into adaptive wildlife management.
We invite contributions that advance national and international collaborations, promote harmonized surveillance systems, and strengthen the capacity of wildlife health programs to respond effectively to emerging and endemic diseases. By fostering cross-sector dialog and scientific innovation, Volume II aims to further support the development of resilient and comprehensive wildlife health monitoring strategies within the broader One Health framework.
We look forward to your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.
Dr. Branislav Kureljušić
Dr. Diana Lupulović
Dr. Jelena Maksimović Zorić
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. Veterinary Sciences 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 2100 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
- 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
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
