Birds (Class Aves) and bats (Order Chiroptera) as drivers of emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases

Numerous infectious diseases have emerged or re-emerged into human populations in the past few decades. Strikingly, many of these agents utilize or birds (Class Aves) or bats (Order Chiroptera) as hosts, both of which migrate over long distances, which facilitates pathogen emergence and re-emergence in new locations. Examples of such agents include but are not limited to West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, H5N1, henipaviruses, bacteria of Leptospira spp., fungi of Cryptococcus spp, and avian malaria.

The overall goal of this Research Topic is to provide a medium for cutting edge research on bird and bat-borne infectious diseases. We welcome studies describing the basic biology of under-characterized pathogens using either bats or birds as hosts. In depth analyses of the pathology/pathogenesis, epidemiology, ecology, evolution, immunology, and interactions of agents with their hosts are also encouraged.

We welcome the submission of work conducted in the context of any bird or bat-borne infectious disease that can pose a risk to human and animal health, whether the agent is viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic, including but not limited to:
-Basic pathogen biology
-Description and basic characterization of novel agents
-Interactions between agents and reservoirs
-Agent evolution
-Agent ecology
-Development of laboratory models of infection
-Control strategies and/or One Health perspectives

Keywords: Zoonoses, Chiroptera, Aves, Ecology, Spillover, Animal models, Host range, Infectious diseases, Human and veterinary pathogens

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.