Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.5
2.3
Journals
Veterinary Sciences
Special Issues
Wildlife Health and Disease: Implications for Animal Welfare and Conservation
share announcement

Wildlife Health and Disease: Implications for Animal Welfare and Conservation

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 June 2026 | Viewed by 2716

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Bárbara Martín-Maldonado

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain
Interests: pathologies of wildlife; wildlife welfare; conservational medicine; one health; environmental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The health of wildlife is integral to the balance of ecosystems and biodiversity. As wildlife faces escalating threats from diseases, environmental pollutants, and genetic vulnerabilities, it is crucial to explore the dynamics that influence their health. This Special Issue, “Wildlife Health and Disease: Implications for Animal Welfare and Conservation”, seeks to showcase cutting-edge research that highlights the intersection of wildlife disease, animal welfare, and conservation science. We invite contributions that explore the following topics:

  • Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and their spillover dynamics at the wildlife–livestock–human interface;
  • Antimicrobial resistance in wildlife and its implications for One Health;
  • The impact of environmental pollutants (e.g., pesticides, heavy metals, micro- and nanoplastics) on wildlife physiology and health;
  • Effects of climate change, habitat loss, and human–wildlife conflict on disease susceptibility and population resilience;
  • Advances in diagnostics, monitoring, and surveillance tools (eDNA, genomics, remote sensing) for wildlife health assessment;
  • The role of conservation medicine and evidence-based management strategies to mitigate disease risks and improve animal welfare;
  • Ethical, policy, and community-engagement approaches that enhance conservation outcomes.

By emphasizing the implications of wildlife health on both animal welfare and ecosystem sustainability, this issue aims to foster an integrated understanding of the complex drivers of wildlife health in a rapidly changing world. Researchers, conservationists, biologists, veterinarians, policy specialists, and other experts are encouraged to submit work that inspires innovative solutions for sustainable wildlife management, disease prevention, and biodiversity conservation.

Dr. Bárbara Martín-Maldonado
Guest Editor

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 health
  • emerging infectious diseases
  • conservation strategies
  • animal welfare
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • pollutants
  • climate change
  • habitat fragmentation
  • ecosystem sustainability
  • One Health

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.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

22 pages, 3156 KB  
Article
Whole-Genome Sequencing and Comparative Genomic Analysis of Citrobacter farmeri and Enterobacter cloacae from Unhatched Green Turtle Eggs
by Nurcan Önen, Bahadır Törün and Can Yılmaz
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(5), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13050462 - 10 May 2026
Viewed by 355
Abstract
Bacteria associated with unhatched sea turtle eggs remain poorly characterized at the genomic level. This study provides genome-scale characterization of bacterial isolates recovered from unhatched green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) eggs at Akyatan Beach—a critical nesting site in the Eastern Mediterranean. [...] Read more.
Bacteria associated with unhatched sea turtle eggs remain poorly characterized at the genomic level. This study provides genome-scale characterization of bacterial isolates recovered from unhatched green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) eggs at Akyatan Beach—a critical nesting site in the Eastern Mediterranean. Sampling 30 nests during the nesting season, we isolated bacteria from infected eggshells and dead embryos. Following Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS) identification and 16S rRNA validation, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on Citrobacter farmeri and Enterobacter cloacae, two opportunistic pathogens of significant clinical and ecological concern. High-quality draft genomes revealed remarkable metabolic versatility, particularly within carbon and nitrogen pathways. Most notably, we identified extensive resistomes including resistance to β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides, alongside virulence factors for adhesion and iron acquisition. ANI analysis confirmed high genomic similarity to clinical reference strains, comparative genomic analysis revealed a substantial accessory gene pool, suggesting potential genomic flexibility between the two isolates. These findings provide the first genome-scale insight into these pathogens in C. mydas nests, and highlighting their genomic potential for opportunistic pathogenicity. Our results advocate for integrating genomic microbial surveillance into nesting beach management through a ‘One Health’ lens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Health and Disease: Implications for Animal Welfare and Conservation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1010 KB  
Article
Development of Stereotypic Behaviors and Personality Traits of Captive Male Forest Musk Deer and Relationships with Musk Secretion
by Xiaoping Lu, Yan Sheng, Hong Ye, Zisong Yang and Xiuxiang Meng
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(3), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13030261 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 431
Abstract
Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) are endangered ungulates, and captive breeding has been effective for its ex situ conservation and sustainable medicinal musk utilization in traditional Asian traditional medicine. Methods of focal sampling and all-occurrence recording were used to evaluate the [...] Read more.
Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) are endangered ungulates, and captive breeding has been effective for its ex situ conservation and sustainable medicinal musk utilization in traditional Asian traditional medicine. Methods of focal sampling and all-occurrence recording were used to evaluate the intensity of stereotypic behaviors and personality traits in 25 captive male forest musk deer. Additionally, musk secretion was monitored in this study, and muscone content was measured with gas chromatography, thereby analyzing the interrelationship between their stereotypic behavior, personality traits, and musk secretion. The results revealed no significant differences in stereotypic behaviors or personality traits across age groups (p > 0.05). Individuals with stereotypic behaviors showed a tendency toward secreting higher amounts of musk and muscone content compared to those without stereotypic behaviors, although these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the exploratory behavior level and active behavior level were not significantly correlated with the secretion amount of musk. However, both the exploratory behavior level and active behavior level exhibited significant positive correlations with muscone content (p < 0.05). These findings provide valuable insights for the breeding, welfare, and ex situ conservation of endangered forest musk deer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Health and Disease: Implications for Animal Welfare and Conservation)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

10 pages, 689 KB  
Article
Utilization of Enclosure Space by Critically Endangered Musk Deer in Captivity
by Rongxin Li, Hong Ye, Xiaoping Lu, Qingxin Lv, Zisong Yang and Xiuxiang Meng
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(3), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13030255 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 376
Abstract
Enclosure space constitutes the fundamental habitat for captive animals, directly influencing domestication success and production performance. Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), an endangered ungulate present on the Tibet plateau and surrounding areas, has been commonly farmed in captivity as an essential [...] Read more.
Enclosure space constitutes the fundamental habitat for captive animals, directly influencing domestication success and production performance. Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), an endangered ungulate present on the Tibet plateau and surrounding areas, has been commonly farmed in captivity as an essential strategy for the ex situ conservation and sustainable musk production. In captive musk deer farming, understanding spatial selection patterns within enclosures is critical for improving farming practices. To evaluate patterns of space use under captive conditions and the effect of enclosure designing, we studied 70 captive Alpine musk deer housed in 17 enclosures at the Zhuanglang Musk Deer Breeding Farm (Gansu, China) during the summer of 2022 (from July 1st to August 29th). Focal sampling and all-occurrence recording were adopted to collect the behavioral data of the musk deer, and the point occupancy rate was calculated to analyze the enclosure space utilization patterns. The results showed significant differences in activity site selection and shelter use time among captive musk deer (p < 0.05). The central enclosure site (G5), which contains the shelter, exhibited the highest utilization rate (21.21 ± 9.19%). Shelter use was significantly higher in adults (22.09 ± 7.80%) than in subadults (17.27 ± 3.98%) (p < 0.05), and significantly higher in males (29.55 ± 5.65%) than in females (20.86 ± 7.95%) (p < 0.05). However, at equal population density, the shelter use time between all-male and mixed-sex groups was not significant (p > 0.05). These results reveal that captive Alpine musk deer display distinct shelter use patterns, with shelters acting as key spatial resources. Therefore, this study provides practical implications for optimizing enclosure design (e.g., increasing shelter quantity and improving spatial distribution) to enhance the welfare and productivity of captive Alpine musk deer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Health and Disease: Implications for Animal Welfare and Conservation)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 1217 KB  
Article
Herpesvirus Diversity in Atlantic Procellariiformes
by Laura Baes, Carolina Reigada, Aricia Duarte-Benvenuto, Roberta Zamana Ramblas, Carlos Sacristán, Juliana Mariotti Guerra, Thais Marcondes Schreiner, Rafael Sardinha Murro, José Luiz Catão-Dias and Ana Carolina Ewbank
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(12), 1143; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12121143 - 29 Nov 2025
Viewed by 649
Abstract
Procellariiformes are among the most threatened seabirds globally, yet viral pathogens affecting this group remain poorly understood. Herpesviruses are widespread in birds and capable of establishing latency, reactivating under immunosuppression, and causing severe disease, particularly in cross-species transmission. We surveyed herpesvirus in 50 [...] Read more.
Procellariiformes are among the most threatened seabirds globally, yet viral pathogens affecting this group remain poorly understood. Herpesviruses are widespread in birds and capable of establishing latency, reactivating under immunosuppression, and causing severe disease, particularly in cross-species transmission. We surveyed herpesvirus in 50 individuals (12 species) that stranded along the southeastern Brazilian coast (2017–2023). A nested pan-PCR protocol targeting the DNA polymerase gene detected herpesvirus DNA in 24% (12/50) of the birds. Seven distinct herpesvirus sequence types were identified, all clustering within the genus Mardivirus, including two previously known variants and novel lineages. To our best knowledge, this represents the first herpesvirus report in the Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris), Cape Verde Shearwater (Calonectris edwardsii), Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus), and Southern Giant-Petrel (Macronectes giganteus), as well as new host reports for the Yellow-nosed Albatross (T. chlororhynchos) and Cory’s Shearwater (C. borealis). No associated lesions were observed in histopathology. Our findings expand the known host range of herpesviruses in Procellariiformes and reveal possible circulation among colonies and non-breeding areas across the Southern and Northern hemispheres. Our results underscore the need for integrative ecological-, virological-, and population-based studies to clarify how seabird ecology influences herpesvirus transmission dynamics and long-term persistence in this group. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Health and Disease: Implications for Animal Welfare and Conservation)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Other

Jump to: Research

9 pages, 1213 KB  
Case Report
Spinal Epidural Empyema Associated with Bite Wounds in an Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica)
by Avital Levy, Ruthie Shviro, Shira Gonen, Nitzan Adam, David Eshar, Orit Chai and Hagar Merav Shamir
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(5), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13050432 - 28 Apr 2026
Viewed by 316
Abstract
Spinal epidural empyema (SEE) is an uncommon but potentially severe cause of spinal cord compression and neurological dysfunction in veterinary patients. Bite wounds involving the vertebral column may result in deep tissue contamination, paraspinal abscessation, and secondary epidural infection; however, such injuries are [...] Read more.
Spinal epidural empyema (SEE) is an uncommon but potentially severe cause of spinal cord compression and neurological dysfunction in veterinary patients. Bite wounds involving the vertebral column may result in deep tissue contamination, paraspinal abscessation, and secondary epidural infection; however, such injuries are poorly described in wildlife species. We report a case of SEE associated with chronically infected bite wounds in an adult Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) with paraplegia. Physical and neurological examinations revealed exudative paravertebral wounds, paraplegia with preserved nociception, and findings consistent with a thoracolumbar spinal cord lesion. Survey radiography and contrast myelography demonstrated an extradural compressive lesion at L1–L2. Surgical exploration revealed a purulent tract extending from the skin and paraspinal tissues into the vertebral canal, and a left L1–L2 hemilaminectomy was performed with drainage, debridement, lavage, and Penrose drain placement. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the abscess, and antimicrobial therapy was adjusted based on susceptibility testing. Postoperative management included physiotherapy and environmental modifications to support ambulation. The porcupine regained ambulation within 4 days after surgery and was released back into the wild approximately 50 days postoperatively with normal gait and tail-rattling behaviour. This case highlights bite-wound-associated SEE as an important differential diagnosis in porcupines presenting with paraplegia and draining paraspinal wounds and suggests that surgical decompression combined with prolonged culture-guided antimicrobial therapy and environmental modifications may result in a favourable outcome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Health and Disease: Implications for Animal Welfare and Conservation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop