Dear Colleagues,

Avian production is one of the fastest-growing agricultural subsectors worldwide and provides a relatively healthy and efficient source of protein to humans. The industry makes a considerable contribution to the worldwide efforts to ensure food security to the rapidly growing global human population. However, one of the biggest challenges facing the industry is the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases which continue to impact its competitiveness and profitability. The adverse effects of these diseases are associated with widespread morbidity and mortality, animal welfare issues, public health and food security risks, and considerable economic losses.

Several factors are suggested to contribute to the surge in the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases which include the overtime evolution of pathogens, spillover events and species jumps, expanded trans-boundary trade of avian species and their products, climate change, deforestation, the increased rate of emergence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, etc. Development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is currently considered one of the top public health threats by the World Health Organization (WHO). As a result, the poultry industry of many countries has voluntarily withdrawn from the prophylactic use of antibiotics. Additionally, there is an increased consumer demand for antibiotic-free farming. This calls for alternative approaches for the control of re-emerging pathogens in the poultry industry. Thus, continuous research and prompt data sharing on the identification and characterization of emerging and re-emerging pathogens of avian species is critical for the development of effective and safe control and prevention strategies.

Therefore, the objective of this Special Issue is to publish and widely share peer-reviewed original scientific data on emerging and re-emerging avian pathogens focused on, but not limited to:

• Epidemiological investigation;
• Antigenic, genetic, and phenotypic characterization;
• Pathogenicity and host–pathogen interaction studies;
• Novel diagnostic technique development;
• Studies on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and/or alternatives to antibiotics;
• Development of vaccine candidates and vaccination strategies.

Dr. Lisanework Ayalew
Dr. Tadele Kiros
Guest Editors

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• Avian species
• Emerging/re-emerging pathogens
• Pathogen Evolution
• Pathogenicity
• Vaccine
• AMR
• Alternative to antibiotics
• RWA (Raised without antibiotics)
• Microbiome