Infection and Drug Resistance

Integrating One Health in Infectious Disease Prevention and Control

It is increasingly recognized that the management of infectious diseases can be improved through intersectoral or interdisciplinary collaborations. One of the most prominent examples is the development of the rabies vaccine, which first demonstrated efficacy in dogs and was later adapted as post-exposure prophylaxis in humans. In 1964, Calvin Schwabe, a distinguished veterinarian and epidemiologist, coined the term “One Medicine” in response to the separation of human and veterinary medicine. This concept was later reintroduced in the 21st century and evolved into “One Health.” Following its adoption and advocacy by public health agencies, One Health is now defined as “an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems. It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent.”

Several case studies have demonstrated the public health benefits of implementing One Health principles. For instance, CIPARS (the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance) is an integrated antimicrobial resistance surveillance network that primarily monitors enteric bacteria from humans, animals, and the environment. This program has not only informed policy development but has also led to stewardship interventions (e.g., the banning of ceftiofur use in poultry due to resistant Salmonella). Since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there has been renewed interest in zoonotic diseases. To this end, a joint vaccination program for humans and animals has been piloted under the One Health framework. Despite its promise, more work is needed before One Health principles can be fully realized. One current challenge is the emergence of Aspergillus fumigatus, an environmental fungus that causes resistant invasive fungal infections and is linked to the use of dual-use antifungals in agriculture. Tackling this issue will require not only clinicians but also the agricultural sector.

In this article collection, we welcome submissions that advance our understanding of infectious diseases and their management through the broader lens of One Health, incorporating animal and environmental health. This may include fundamental research, policy proposals, and initiatives or implementation studies. Case studies, reviews, perspectives, and short communications are also welcome.

Keywords

• One Health
• Communicable Diseases
• Drug Resistance, Microbial
• Antimicrobial Stewardship
• Environmental Health

­­All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 28 February 2027.

Please contact Zhiyuan Zhang at [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Guest Advisor

Dr Aditya K. Gupta is a dermatologist with about 35 years of experience and more than 900 publications. Dr. Gupta received his medical degree from the University of Southampton, UK. He completed a dermatology residency/clinical research fellowship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and has received a Ph.D. from the University of Göteborg, Sweden. He is Professor of Dermatology at the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine. He is a Principal Investigator of the Mediprobe Research Inc., Canada. He has organized and conducted active clinical trial units in London, Ontario, and is the director of a basic research laboratory. His clinical research has focused on superficial fungal infections (onychomycosis, tinea pedis, tinea capitis), psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, actinic keratosis, and skin cancer.