Editorial: Pathogens at the interface of animals in close contact with humans: risks and benefits, with special regard to immunosuppressed people

Martina Jelocnik ^1* José Soares Ferreira Neto ² Alda Natale ³

• ¹ School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Caost, Sippy Downs, Australia
• ² Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
• ³ Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of the Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Piedmont, Italy

Zoonotic disease, caused by a range of pathogens (including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa), remains in the global spotlight. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 60% of all human pathogens are indeed zoonotic, with 75% of new and emerging human diseases caused by zoonotic pathogens. Whilst some zoonotic diseases demonstrated pandemic potential (such as H5N1 bird flu, or Coronavirus COVID-19), there is a significant gap in awareness and perceived risk of broader veterinary zoonotic disease among both the general population and medical professionals. The goal of this Research Topic was to gather current research on veterinary zoonotic infections and diseases, with a specific focus on assessing the real risk associated with close contact between humans and animals, both in professional and recreational contexts. Immunocompromised people are particularly exposed to zoonoses widely spread, but also to minor and emergent pathogens. This Research Topic presents six new papers that expand our understanding of the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens, describe development of new tools to safeguard against these, and assess the role of veterinary bacterial pathogens in the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with potential risks to human health.Understanding the reservoirs, host range, exposure and variation in shedding rates of zoonotic pathogens within the environment is crucial to decipher the dynamics of zoonotic spillover at the human-animal-environment interface and inform targeted One Health interventions to reduce disease risks.Rats are major reservoirs for the pathogenic Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae, the bacteria causing zoonotic disease leptospirosis. However, the impact of variation in rat abundance and pathogen shedding rates on spillover transmission A total of 976 properties comprising 17,151 animals were tested. The prevalence of infected properties in the regions ranged from 3.1% to 18.6%, while tuberculin-positive animals ranged from 0.24% to 4.8%. The implications of these results for both livestock and public health were discussed, and denote coordinated One Health strategies for controlling or eradicating the disease. This research topic demonstrates that the close relationship between humans, animals, and environment plays a significant role in the transmission and distribution of zoonotic diseases, with zoonotic diseases and/or infections posing serious risks to human health.