Summary

Dear Colleagues,

The study of One Health addresses complex global challenges arising from interactions between human, animal, and environmental health. These domains have become increasingly apparent in the face of emerging infectious diseases and environmental degradation.

Zoonotic diseases, crossing the species barrier from animals to humans, strongly support the need for a One Health perspective. Diseases like Ebola, SARS, and COVID-19 have originated in animals and crossed species barriers to cause human health crises. Additionally, the increasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has typically been accredited to the overuse of antibiotics in human health settings. However, following a One Health approach, AMR can be linked to veterinary antimicrobial use, from livestock farming to the movement of AMR through the environment. By studying One Health topics, factors contributing to the emergence of such diseases and infections can be identified and strategies can be developed to aid in their prevention and control.

Environmental changes, driven by human activities, also influence health outcomes. Climate change, deforestation, and pollution both impact human and animal health, affecting the availability of resources, altering disease patterns, and threatening biodiversity. A One Health approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of interconnected relationships between humans, animals, and the environment, supporting the development of sustainable solutions.

Furthermore, the intensification of agriculture and globalisation has increased the risk of disease spread. Livestock farming practices can lead to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, posing a threat to both animal and human health. One Health research is essential for developing responsible agricultural practices, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring food security.

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Editors
Thomas Wilkes

Institution: Department of Psychology, Sport and Geography, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield AL10 9AB, Hertfordshire, UK

Interests: environmental microbiology; antmicrobial resistance; gene transfer; microbial community dynamics

Milva Pepi

Institution: Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy

Interests: microbiology of coastal and lagoon areas; pathogenic microorganisms and public health; sustainability; bacteria of biogeochemical cycles; microbial metabolisms and valorization of agro-industrial substrates in circular economy contexts

Entries
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Evidence on Vector-Associated Dissemination of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella in the Philippines Food Supply Chain: A One Health Scoping Review
This scoping review evaluates the role of vector-associated dissemination in contaminating the Philippine food supply chain with antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) Salmonella, an emerging infectious disease threat, using a One Health perspective to map the mechanisms through which insects and rodents bridge environmental reservoirs to human food systems. This scoping review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. From 1969 records identified through systematic database searches, 52 studies met the inclusion criteria. These comprised 21 primary Philippine studies, 28 non-Philippine studies (including ASEAN-based historical baseline reports), and 3 policy/gray literature studies, prioritized to reflect tropical ecological and agricultural settings. Results suggest that intensive swine and poultry farming may contribute to the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) linked to genes such as blaTEM and qnr. Evidence suggests that Salmonella persists in environmental matrices, such as manure and irrigation water, and that synanthropic vectors, including Rattus rattus and various fly species, potentially serve as biological and mechanical bridges in transmission. Clinical data reveal an alarming trend toward invasive non-typhoidal salmonellosis (iNTS) showing reduced susceptibility to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. Despite these findings, major evidence gaps remain, particularly regarding the prevalence of vector-borne Salmonella in pre-harvest produce. Consequently, mitigation requires a One Health framework that integrates non-antibiotic interventions, pest management to disrupt transmission pathways, and rapid diagnostic tools, such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), to enhance market surveillance.
  • 17
  • 07 Jul 2026
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
One Health Observatories—The Example of Southeast Asia
One Health Observatories operationalize the One Health approach. The One Health Joint Plan of Action drafted by the Quadripartite (WHO, FAO, WOAH, and UNEP) insists on the need to strengthen scientific evidence-based knowledge and its translation into data for evidence, technical tools, protocols, guidelines, and information and surveillance systems for the effective implementation of One Health at all levels. One Health Observatories are crucial for this task. Drawing from the experience of the existing One Health Observatory in Thailand—a unique, on-the-ground initiative—we outline the key features of this model for potential replication in other regions or countries. Such observatories play a critical role in advancing ecosystem-based innovations and locally adapted solutions, which are necessary to improve the prevention of disease transmission at the interface between human, animal, and ecosystem health.
  • 164
  • 23 Dec 2025
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Spatial Planning Education Across Cultures
Planning education is the transmission of technical knowledge applied to the design and regulation of space in towns and countries, together with the ethical consciousness of how this knowledge can affect society and the environment.
  • 347
  • 23 Dec 2025
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
From ONE Health to ONE Paleopathology: Deep-Time Perspectives on Health in the Face of Climate and Environmental Change
This entry explores the emergence of ONE Paleopathology as a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to understanding health through deep time. The entry discusses key areas where paleopathological research provides crucial insights: animals as sentinels of environmental health, the evolution and transmission of infectious diseases, the impacts of urbanization and pollution on human health, and the effects of climate change on disease patterns. Special attention is given to case studies involving malaria, tuberculosis, and environmental toxicity, demonstrating how past human–environment interactions inform current health strategies. The entry also emphasizes the importance of indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) systems in understanding and managing health challenges, highlighting how traditional ecological knowledge complements scientific approaches. By bridging past and present, ONE Paleopathology offers valuable perspectives for addressing modern health challenges in the context of accelerating environmental change, while promoting more equitable and sustainable approaches to global health.
  • 633
  • 13 Mar 2025

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