Editorial: Pathogen transmission at the domestic-wildlife interface: a growing challenge that requires integrated solutions, volume II

Domestic-wildlife interfaces constitute dynamic and heterogeneous systems in which ecological, epidemiological, and socio-economic processes converge, creating opportunities for pathogen transmission between wildlife, domestic animals, humans, and the shared environment. These interfaces evolve in response to several factors including land-use change, agricultural intensification, wildlife population recovery, animal trade, globalization, or human mobility, among others, all of which reshape pathogen transmission pathways across spatial and temporal scales (1,2).Volume I emphasized the need for integrative and interdisciplinary research to characterize eco-epidemiological drivers in these complex epidemiological systems to inform disease management and control strategies (1). Building directly upon this conceptual framework, Volume II continues the reflection around this topic by focusing on applied eco-epidemiology, risk-based surveillance, and intervention-oriented research. Together, both volumes provide a coherent and complementary background that promotes the implementation of One Health approaches at different domestic-wildlife interfaces.The eight articles included in Volume II reflect the diversity and complexity of domestic-wildlife interfaces worldwide. While conceptually aligned with Volume I, the thematic structure of this second collection is shaped by the applied nature of the individual contributions and can be grouped into three interconnected thematic axes: i) eco-epidemiological drivers and pathogen transmission pathways (50.0%; 4/8); ii) surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (12.5%; 1/8); and iii) management and intervention strategies (37.5%; 3/8).Rosen et al. critically reassess the long-standing paradigm of veterinary fencing as a disease control measure in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), the largest terrestrial TFCA in the world. Historically erected to prevent transboundary animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, and peste des petits ruminants, these fences have fragmented habitats and disrupted migratory routes for many wild mammals like African elephants (Loxodonta spp.). Using a qualitative risk-assessment framework, the authors demonstrate that removing selected fence sections does not increase the risk of disease transmission, particularly when complemented by measures such as strategic herding. They also show that, in other areas, fencing effectiveness is often compromised by landscape heterogeneity, wildlife movement ecology, and practical constraints related to fence maintenance. These findings support a shift towards science-based, integrative solutions for disease prevention and control that reconcile animal health, wildlife conservation, and community well-being within a One Health framework, consistent with previous studies in Southern Africa or Mediterranean contexts (3,4).Minicucci et al. examine the eco-epidemiology of Neospora caninum at the domestic-wildlife interface in Minnesota, where neosporosis remains a major cause of abortion in cattle. They aimed to evaluate both producer and veterinarian perceptions of disease risk, to assess seroprevalence in cattle, domestic animals, and wildlife, and to identify management factors influencing pathogen transmission. By integrating human assessments with ecological and epidemiological data, the authors sought to clarify whether wolves (Canis lupus) -often blamed by producers-play a significant role in disease dynamics compared to other hosts. Their results reveal a clear mismatch between perceived and empirically supported transmission risks, particularly regarding the role of wildlife hosts and on-farm management practices. This aligns with a growing body of literature indicating that human perception and behavior are key, yet often under-recognized, drivers of disease dynamics at these interfaces (5,6).Interestingly, the authors show that incorporating social dimensions into disease risk analyses demonstrates that management decisions are usually taken following perceptions rather than scientific evidence, which may inadvertently shape transmission pathways. Raptors and cervids, though ecologically distinct, share the capacity to maintain and disseminate parasites with zoonotic potential, creating transmission pathways that extend beyond species boundaries. Together, these findings support previous observations that pathogens often move through complex food networks and multi-trophic interactions, underscoring the relevance of considering entire ecological networks rather than isolated host pairs at different interfaces (7).Enterobacterales in captive common leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) and central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) in Portugal. They found a total of 17.9% of reptiles sampled harbored third-generation cephalosporin-resistant strains such as Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella aerogenes, and Escherichia coli.Detected resistance genes (blaCMY-2, blaCTX-M-15, blaTEM-1) and multidrug resistance profiles point the role of non-traditional hosts (exotic pets) as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance in urban settings. These findings align with existing evidence that antimicrobial resistance determinants can circulate across wildlife, domestic animals, and human-managed environments, in this case, facilitated by the exotic pet trade, captive management, and environmental contamination (8). This contribution underscores the need to expand surveillance efforts beyond conventional livestock and wildlife species to capture emerging and unconventional interface scenarios.African swine fever (ASF) continues leading to significant economic losses at the swine husbandry worldwide, while disease control in wild boar (Sus scrofa) frequently interact with humans in tourist settings, creating opportunities for cross-species transmission. These findings have significant implications for bTB disease surveillance and public health. This case series underscores the complexity of multi-host disease dynamics and the relevance of One Health approaches in high-contact environments, reinforcing the need for integrated management strategies that address ecological, veterinary, and human health dimensions in endemic conservation landscapes. introducesThe second volume of this Research Topic consolidates and extends the contributions presented in Volume I, offering new empirical evidence, methodological developments, and management perspectives on pathogen transmission at different domestic-wildlife interfaces worldwide. The applied focus of the contributions underscores the urgency of translating eco-epidemiological knowledge generated by research into practicable, feasible strategies that protect animal health and conserve biodiversity.Together, Volumes I and II highlight the growing complexity of domesticwildlife interfaces worldwide and the need for integrated, evidence-based solutions grounded in One Health principles to address this ongoing and evolving challenge.