and malaria burden. Termed as 'neglected', many of these diseases have been wiped out from most of the developed societies, while still persisting in the poor and most marginalised ones (Álvarez-Hernández et al. 2020). Despite the progress, including eliminating the guinea worm disease in most regions and reducing trachoma and yaws significantly, many NTDs still persist in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America (Srivastava et al. 2023;Ca et al. 2024;Mohapatra et al. 2024) Structural housing measures in animal farming could be pivotal, as they would facilitate or prevent vector's entry, impacting both disease transmission and animal productivity. This special issue reviews the global NTD burden that affects over a billion humans, primarily in the impoverished regions, and also emphasises the urgent need to innovate affordable and rapid diagnostic tools and techniques. While technological advances such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based diagnostics, biosensors and artificial intelligence hold great promises, their use remains limited. This Editorial also discusses therapeutic strategies, including mass drug administration, and outlines the challenges posed by drug resistance and supply chain management issues. The 2021-2030 roadmap of WHO sets forth ambitious elimination targets, emphasising the importance of One Health frameworks, public-private partnerships, and sustainable financing (WHO, 2025). It also calls for multidisciplinary solutions encompassing improved diagnostics, novel therapeutics, vector control and international collaborations.Hanthorn et al. stress the necessity to integrate approaches that combine microbial and vector-focused biosecurity, particularly within swine housing. Current pig farming biosecurity protocols largely focus on microbial pathogens, often neglecting the significant role of mosquitoes and other insect vectors. Their study demonstrates that the design and structural components of swine farms, like walls, ventilation systems and openings serve either as barriers or as entry points for mosquitoes, with direct implications for disease transmission, animal wellbeing and the overall productivity. Mosquito infestations not only facilitate the spread of vector-borne diseases affecting both pigs and humans, but also lead to mechanical damage, irritation, secondary infections, stress and reduced productivity.Effective mosquito control could additionally minimise the burden of other insect pests, contributing to improved animal wellbeing and reduced production losses. Structural design aimed at preventing mosquito entry is integral to maintaining robust farm biosecurity and overall animal health. pathogens have adopted the mechanisms to evade detection by the immune system to invade the host. 'Trojan Horse Theory' in immunology describes the ability of some microbes, using the immune system cells as vectors, to escape the immune action. Trojan Horse is the process used by pathogens to exploit the phagocytic cells-neutrophils and macrophages-which are among the first to respond at the infection site. These cells possess microbicidal mechanisms designed to eliminate the invading microbe and help control infection, relying on the release of cytokines, chemokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and IFNs. However, pathogens evolve to evade or suppress these defense responses. By doing so, they survive within the host and disseminate to target tissues where they replicate while remaining shielded from the actions of the immune system. In terms of therapy, targeting IFN pathways is promising.Animal studies confirmed the necessity of intact IFN signalling to limit neuroinvasion, and preliminary clinical data suggest interferon therapy could alleviate flavivirus diseases.However, recent insights are derived from the in vitro studies that highlight the need for more robust in vivo evidence. The review underscored the evolutionary arms race between flaviviruses and host immunity, as well as the therapeutic potential to harness IFN pathways. Lee et al. provided a comprehensive review of neurocysticercosis (NCC) by Taeniasolium larvae, the most prevalent parasitic infection of the CNS and is a leading cause of acquired epilepsy worldwide. NCC is now recognised as a complex neurological condition requiring multidisciplinary care. Clinical spectra of NCC have broadened significantly and include psychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairment and atypical radiological findings in addition to traditional presentations like seizures and focal neurological deficits. This diversity reflects the differences in parasite burden, lesion location, host immune response and disease stage.Advances in diagnostics improved sensitivity and specificity in detecting NCC, with neuroimaging modalities including the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) remaining central, complemented by serological, antigen-detection and molecular assays. These tools enable better differentiation between active and calcified lesions and help develop informed treatment strategies. Integrating imaging with immunological and molecular diagnostics is crucial to define a case accurately. Therapeutic approaches are shifting from standard antiparasitic regimens (albendazole and praziquantel) towards more individualised strategies, including adjunctive corticosteroids, antiepileptic drugs, immunomodulators, combination therapies and targeted interventions. Emerging evidence supports tailored treatment for lesion type, number and stage, balancing parasite clearance with inflammation control to minimise neurological complications. The authors opined that continued research to refine management, address drug resistance and improve access to care in endemic regions was needed.The contributions highlighted in this Editorial collectively emphasise the urgent need for integrated, multidisciplinary strategies to address complex infectious diseases challenges.From vector-borne threats in livestock production to NTDs, cutaneous leishmaniasis, flavivirus infections, Chikungunya infections and neurocysticercosis, the studies reviewed and illustrated both the diversity of pathogens and the commonalities in their impact on human and animal health. Several overarching themes emerge. First, diagnostic innovation remains the most pressing gap, with current tools often slow, invasive or inaccessible in resource-limited settings. Advances in molecular assays, biosensors and AI-driven platforms hold promise but require broader adoption. Second, therapeutic strategies are evolving, with traditional regimens increasingly complemented by novel nanotechnology-based delivery, immunomodulators and combination therapy approaches. These innovations must be matched by efforts to overcome drug resistance, cost barriers and supply-chain limitations. Third, integrated frameworks including 'One Health' approaches, vector control and biosecurity measures were essential to reduce transmission, improve patient outcomes and strengthen resilience against emerging threats. Finally, the expanding clinical spectrum of many infections underscores the need for heightened awareness among clinicians, improved surveillance, and tailored management strategies. Taken together, these insights reinforce that progresses against infectious diseases depend not only on scientific advancements but also on sustained global cooperation, policy reforms, and investment in health systems. By aligning diagnostics, therapeutics and public health interventions within a holistic framework, the ambitious elimination and control targets set for the coming decade could become an achievable reality.
Mohapatra et al. (Fri,) studied this question.