Plant Extracts and Natural Products for the Control of Animal Pathogens in a ONE-Health Perspective

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change, anthropization, intensive farming systems, pesticides, and environmental pollutants are major risk factors for animal health and human welfare. Furthermore, the reckless and inappropriate use of synthetic drugs, often administered without any diagnosis, has favored the growing spread of drug resistance phenomena. These factors, in addition to negatively impacting animal health, also have important impacts on the environment and human health. Therefore, from a One Health perspective, there is a need to identify more sustainable remedies for the control of animal pathogens. Numerous studies show that animal health and human welfare can be supported by natural products derived from plant organisms, such as essential oils, and animal products, such as hive products and colostrum. Many of these products contain active ingredients that can indirectly and directly counteract pathogens and disease effects in domestic and farm animals by promoting immunity or suppressing pathogens. This allows for their use both as therapeutic products, which can also be used in a complementary way to drugs, and as nutraceuticals. In addition, their use would have important benefits for food safety and quality in species such as ruminants, pigs, laying hens, broilers, fish, and honeybees, reducing drug resistance and the spread of residues in the environment.

The aim of this Special issue is to gather contributions in this area to identify new natural molecules of plant and animal origin that have antibacterial, antiviral, antiprotozoal, and antifungal properties to replace or reduce the use of antibiotics and drugs in domestic and livestock animals. The goal is to reduce the spread of drug resistance phenomena, improve animal health and human welfare, improve the quality and safety of food of animal origin, and reduce the negative impact of drugs on the environment and human health.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, literature reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and perspective studies are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ernesto Palma
Guest Editor

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• natural products
• essential oils
• hive products
• colostrum
• pets
• livestock
• drug resistances
• antimicrobial resistances
• sustainable pathogen control
• animal health and welfare