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Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Viral Diseases: 2nd Edition
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Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Viral Diseases: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Viruses".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 October 2026 | Viewed by 3187

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Nariman Shahhosseini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Centre for Vector-Borne Diseases, National Centre for Animal Diseases, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge, AB T1J 3Z4, Canada
2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
Interests: vector-borne viruses; genomics; arbovirus; zoonosis; pathogenesis; epidemiology; bat species
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vector-borne viral diseases (VBVDs) are predominantly of zoonotic origin and represent major global concern. According to estimates from the World Health Organization, VBVDs account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases and cause approximately 700,000 deaths annually. Recent evidence suggests that some vectors, including ticks and mosquitoes, can carry multiple pathogens, potentially resulting in the co-transmission of two diseases through a single bite. While most infections are transmitted by a primary vector or reservoir, such as bats, secondary vectors, such as rodents, can also spread pathogens, providing multiple routes of infection. In addition, VBVDs can be influenced by peripheral human, animal, and environmental factors, including climate change.

In this Special Issue of Viruses, we wish to publish reviews and research articles that document current knowledge on emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases and VBVDs. We particularly encourage submissions addressing epidemiology, genomics, vector–host–pathogen interactions, ecology, and the evolution of zoonotic diseases and VBVDs, as well as associated vectors, vaccine development, prevention, and control measures.

We warmly welcome you and your team to contribute an article to this Special Issue based on your expertise in this field.

Dr. Nariman Shahhosseini
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. Viruses 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 2600 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

  • vector-borne viral diseases (VBVDs)
  • vector–host–pathogen interactions
  • emerging and re-emerging
  • zoonotic diseases
  • vectors or reservoirs
  • vaccine development, and prevention and control measures
  • One Health

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 4275 KB  
Article
Metatranscriptomic Analysis of Tick Virome Diversity in Hebei Province, China
by Minghao Geng, Xueqi Wang, Xiaoxia Huang, Yan Li, Yamei Wei, Yanan Cai, Jiandong Li, Caixiao Jiang, Wei Wu, Shiyou Liu, Nana Guo, Xinyang Zhang, Wentao Wu, Guangyue Han, Xu Han, Tiezhu Liu, Qi Li and Shiwen Wang
Viruses 2026, 18(4), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/v18040443 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 640
Abstract
Ticks serve as primary vectors for a wide array of RNA viruses, yet the diversity and distribution of tick-associated RNA viruses remain incompletely characterized in Hebei province. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic metatranscriptomic investigation of 986 ticks representing six species, [...] Read more.
Ticks serve as primary vectors for a wide array of RNA viruses, yet the diversity and distribution of tick-associated RNA viruses remain incompletely characterized in Hebei province. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic metatranscriptomic investigation of 986 ticks representing six species, collected from the diverse ecological landscapes of Hebei Province in northern China. Our analysis recovered 25 complete or near-complete viral genomes spanning 12 families, including Phenuiviridae, Flaviviridae, and Nairoviridae. Of critical public health significance, we identified Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTSV) in both Haemaphysalis longicornis and Dermacentor nuttalli. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed marked geographic stratification where strains from the coastal plains clustered with the dominant Genotype F, while those from the mountainous north formed a characteristic and divergent lineage phylogenetically linked to isolates from Inner Mongolia. Furthermore, a novel viral agent provisionally named Zhangjiakou Hepacivirus was discovered in Haemaphysalis japonica. This virus shared less than 80% nucleotide identity with the rodent-associated Hepacivirus P, consistent with a rodent origin and possible cross-species transmission. Collectively, these findings reveal descriptive variation associated with vector identity, physiological status, and ecological context in shaping viral evolution and underscore the need for continuous metagenomic surveillance to mitigate emerging tick-borne disease risks within a One Health framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Viral Diseases: 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 1677 KB  
Article
Detection of Bovine Leukemia Virus in Bone Marrow of Patients with B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case–Control Study
by Kerlimber Núñez-Gutiérrez, José Fuentes-Montoya, Leonardo Enciso, Jairo Jaime and Adriana Corredor-Figueroa
Viruses 2026, 18(3), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/v18030342 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 592
Abstract
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is an oncogenic deltaretrovirus that infects B cells, and its possible presence in humans has garnered increasing attention. This study included 58 participants: 11 with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL, cases) and 47 healthy individuals (controls). Researchers assessed [...] Read more.
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is an oncogenic deltaretrovirus that infects B cells, and its possible presence in humans has garnered increasing attention. This study included 58 participants: 11 with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL, cases) and 47 healthy individuals (controls). Researchers assessed anti-gp51 antibodies and BLV proviral DNA in bone marrow and blood samples. Seropositivity was observed only in the B-ALL group (18.2%; 2/11), while all controls were seronegative. Quantitative PCR targeting the pol gene detected proviral DNA in 74.1% of samples, with similar detection rates between cases and controls. Although proviral load was higher in controls, this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conventional and nested PCR for other viral genes revealed a differential pattern: amplification of the tax gene was significantly associated with B-ALL, whereas gag and env were not. Bayesian Chow–Liu network analyses identified dependencies among viral genes and suggested that contextual factors, such as fieldwork, may influence the association between molecular positivity and B-ALL. Sequence analyses showed that the detected BLV strains clustered with previously reported bovine and human sequences from Colombia, all within genotype 1. These findings support human exposure to BLV and raise important questions about its persistence and potential connections to hematological diseases in humans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Viral Diseases: 2nd Edition)
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9 pages, 1550 KB  
Communication
Rhodnius prolixus Viruses Interfere with Proliferation and Metacyclogenesis of the Chagas Disease Agent Trypanosoma cruzi
by Maira Arruda Cardoso, Carolina Silva Dias Vieira, Isabel Cristina de Faria Moreira, Francis Monique de Souza Saraiva, Ingrid Alexandre de Abreu Brito, Ana Caroline P. Gandara, Rubem F. S. Menna-Barreto, Pedro L. Oliveira, Marcia Cristina Paes and Attilio Pane
Viruses 2026, 18(3), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/v18030275 - 24 Feb 2026
Viewed by 613
Abstract
The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease that mostly affects the population of Latin American countries, with an estimated 7 million infected people and more than 10,000 deaths per year worldwide. T. cruzi is typically [...] Read more.
The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease that mostly affects the population of Latin American countries, with an estimated 7 million infected people and more than 10,000 deaths per year worldwide. T. cruzi is typically transmitted by hematophagous triatomine insects, with Rhodnius prolixus being a major insect vector in South America. While the microbiome of triatomine insects has been investigated to a certain extent, the ternary interaction between triatomes insects, T. cruzi, and viruses remains virtually unexplored. In this study, we show by transmission electron microscopy and by RT-PCR that Rhodnius prolixus viruses (RpVs) can infect the intestine of R. prolixus, which places them in close contact with the gut microbiota. These observations suggest that T. cruzi can be infected by the insect viruses while transiting through the gut. Here, we show that the RpVs are capable of infecting the epimastigote forms of T. cruzi in vitro and maintain the viral load stabilized for 3 to 7 days after infection. We also show that, at least in the case of the iFlavirus RpV1, viral genomes are detectable in the T. cruzi cytoplasm. Interestingly, R. prolixus ovarian extracts enriched with RpVs decrease epimastigote proliferation and their capacity for differentiation into the ineffective metacyclic trypomastigotes in vitro. Our results start to shed light on the interaction between RpVs and T. cruzi, suggesting possible routes of infection and unveiling a role for viral infections in the development of this important pathogen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Viral Diseases: 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 15765 KB  
Article
Repurposing FDA-Approved Drugs as Hendra Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Inhibitors: A Comprehensive Computational Drug Discovery Approach
by Anjana C. Lalu, Varun Thachan Kundil, Bristow Ben Joseph, Radul R. Dev, Amritha Thaikkad, Suhail Subair, Rajesh Raju and Abhithaj Jayanandan
Viruses 2025, 17(12), 1613; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17121613 - 13 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 848
Abstract
Hendra virus (HeV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic paramyxovirus that poses a serious threat to human and equine health, yet no approved antivirals or vaccines currently exist. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of Hendra virus represents a critical and attractive target for antiviral drug [...] Read more.
Hendra virus (HeV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic paramyxovirus that poses a serious threat to human and equine health, yet no approved antivirals or vaccines currently exist. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of Hendra virus represents a critical and attractive target for antiviral drug development, given its essential role in both viral genome replication and mRNA transcription. Due to the lack of a human homolog, it is more druggable and less likely to cause host toxicity. Its sequence conservation among related paramyxoviruses further highlights its potential for the development of broad-spectrum inhibitors. This study offers the first comprehensive computational analysis of the Hendra virus RdRp, potentially promising FDA-approved drugs as possible inhibitors. A homology model of RdRp was generated in the absence of experimental three-dimensional (3D) structure, followed by virtual screening and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to evaluate the drug binding and stability. Based on the highest energy, four FDA-approved drugs selected were menadiol diphosphate (−49.88 kcal/mol), masoprocol (−39.69 kcal/mol), pamidronic acid (−34.29 kcal/mol), and dinoprostone (−46.90 kcal/mol). Furthermore, these compounds exhibited significant interactions with the catalytic GDNE motif. With strong conformational stability and pharmacokinetic profile, masoprocol and menadiol diphosphate showed the most stable and energetically favorable interactions within the RdRp active site. These findings suggest their potential as repurposed therapeutic candidates against Hendra virus infection and they provide a structural basis for the development of broad-spectrum paramyxovirus inhibitors, justifying additional experimental confirmation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Viral Diseases: 2nd Edition)
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