Piscirickettsiosis, caused by the intracellular bacterium Piscirickettsia salmonis, remains one of the most significant bacterial diseases in farmed salmonid aquaculture. Although endemic in Chile for over three decades, recent reports from Ireland, Norway, Australia, Tasmania, and more recently Scotland, indicate the expanding presence of this pathogen in global salmon-producing regions. These emerging cases highlight the disease’s potential to become a transboundary threat with complex epidemiological dynamics.

This Research Topic aims to gather multidisciplinary contributions that explore the biology, epidemiology, and control of P. salmonis from both endemic and emerging perspectives. Key drivers of disease expression and spread—such as water temperature, salinity, and coinfections with sea lice and other pathogens—are becoming increasingly relevant in the context of environmental change and intensifying aquaculture practices. The impact of climate change on host susceptibility and pathogen ecology underscores the need for adaptive and sustainable approaches to disease prevention and management.

We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives that address diagnostic innovations, risk factor assessments, spatial analysis, epidemiological and economic modeling, vaccine development, antimicrobial stewardship, and broader One Health considerations. Comparative regional studies and integrated control strategies are particularly encouraged.

To improve our understanding of Piscirickettsiosis by addressing its complex epidemiology, environmental drivers, and control strategies. By facilitating international collaboration, we aim to generate knowledge that supports more effective surveillance, risk-based management, and sustainable disease control frameworks for global aquaculture. Integrating data from endemic and emerging regions, this collection will support the development of evidence-based practices and policy recommendations tailored to current and future challenges.

We invite contributions covering the following themes:

-Epidemiological risk factors and modeling approaches

-Environmental and co-infection influences on disease dynamics

-Surveillance and diagnostic advancements

-Vaccine performance and immunological insights

-Antimicrobial use, resistance, and alternatives

-Economic and policy analysis of control programs

-Impacts of climate change on disease emergence

Manuscript types include original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and data reports that enhance understanding and foster innovation in managing Piscirickettsiosis in aquaculture systems.

Topic Editor Hamish Rodger is employed by private company PatoGen AS (www.patogen.no). Topic Editor Fernando Mardones has no competing interests to declare.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Piscirickettsiosis in Aquaculture: Emerging Trends, Epidemiology, and Integrated Disease Management