Dear Colleagues,

Production animals represent one of the major sources of protein for a significant portion of the world’s population. High density livestock production systems are highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks with their large numbers of animals combined with continuous breeding of young animals that are naïve for circulating pathogens.  Additionally, livestock animals and products derived from livestock animals represent the largest area on the human-animal interaction interface.  Billions of humans interact daily with food items derived from livestock, directly with livestock, or with waste products generated from livestock facilities. This constant interaction allows viruses to sample humans as hosts, posing a threat for zoonotic transmission. Adaptation of animal viruses to humans could result in new pandemics.  This threat is not unidirectional as livestock farmers can also transmit diseases to their animals in a process known as zooanthroponosis or reverse zoonosis.  Vigilance and understanding of these pathogens are key steps to limit existing and emerging diseases.

Diseases such as influenza, COVID-19, and Rift Valley fever have highlighted the need for in-depth understanding of disease transmission. Rapid diagnostic tools in the field help generate the basic knowledge that builds the foundation for future disease prevention. Newer technologies allowing for faster, more sensitive, and more accurate diagnostics that are also cost effective are needed to monitor and treat emerging threats before they become established on farms.            

This Special Issue is intended to provide works from researchers with scientific expertise in virology, disease transmission, and diagnostics who share a common desire to (1) understand the current, emerged, and emerging viral diseases within the livestock industry, (2) use emerging technologies that can possibly contribute to new diagnostic tools, and (3) utilize new approaches to eradicate potential viral pathogenic livestock threats.

Dr. Scott P. Kenney
Guest Editor

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• viral disease
• zoonosis
• zooanthroponosis
• production animal