Emerging Diseases in Global Aquaculture Within a One Health Perspective: Pathogen Identification, Prevention, and Strategies for Control

One of the most pressing global challenges is ensuring the sustainable production of safe and nutritious food to meet the demands of a growing population. Aquaculture plays a crucial role in addressing this need by providing a consistent source of high-quality animal protein. As the fastest-growing food production sector worldwide, aquaculture not only supports global food security but also sustains the livelihoods of millions. However, the intensification of aquaculture systems has led to conditions that favor the emergence and rapid spread of infectious diseases, jeopardizing fish health, animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and food safety.

The One Health approach, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, has become increasingly relevant in aquaculture. Disease outbreaks in aquatic systems frequently prompt the use of veterinary drugs, especially antibiotics. While sometimes necessary, the widespread and often indiscriminate use of antimicrobials can lead to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with profound consequences that extend beyond aquaculture to ecosystems and public health. Preventive measures, therefore, are critical to minimizing disease risks and promoting sustainable production.

This Research Topic aims to bring together original research articles, reviews, and case studies focused on emerging diseases in global aquaculture, especially within the One Health framework. We invite contributions that address pathogen identification, disease prevention, early detection, and innovative control strategies. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

- Development and application of novel diagnostic tools for bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic pathogens;

- Epidemiological studies on disease emergence and transmission in aquaculture systems;

- Use of vaccines, immunostimulants, probiotics, and other alternatives to antibiotics;

- AMR surveillance and strategies for the responsible use of antimicrobials in fish farming;

- Risk assessment models and health monitoring programs aligned with One Health principles;

- Environmental monitoring and biosecurity measures to control pathogen dissemination.

By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers in fish pathology, microbiology, parasitology, epidemiology, and environmental science, this Research Topic seeks to advance knowledge and promote practices that safeguard the health of farmed aquatic animals, the ecosystems they inhabit, and ultimately, public health.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Emerging diseases, One Health, Pathogen identification, Disease prevention, Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Biosecurity, Epidemiology, Sustainable food production

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.