See table of contents of this special issue.

We are pleased to present to the readers of Veterinary Research the 2009 special issue of Veterinary Research on “Adaptative strategies of vector-borne pathogens to vectorial transmission”.

The main objective for this special issue is to review how the pathogens, their vectors and their hosts have adapted to each another for a most efficient transmission of the pathogen. It includes not only the ecological factors (temperature, humidity, altitude, etc.) and population target strategies, but also the molecular, cellular and genetic mechanisms that allow such an adaptation. Through a series of 11 invited review manuscripts we aimed at covering the various adaptive strategies of viruses (West Nile virus – WNV, African Horse sickness), bacteria (Bartonellae, tick and flea borne Rickettsiae, Francisella tularensis (the agent of tularemia), Yersinia pestis (the agent of plague) and Lyme borreliosis spirochetes) and parasites (Babesia, Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi – the agent of Chagas disease). We also selected examples that illustrate the role of various vectors, such as mosquitoes, sandflies, fleas, lice and ticks. It is the first time in recent years that a special issue is entirely devoted to reviewing the mechanistic, physiopathogenic and epidemiological aspects of host/vector adaptation of vector borne pathogens.

Bruno B. Chomel
Co-editor-in-chief of Veterinary Research