Veterinary Research is an open access journal that publishes high-quality and novel research and review articles focusing on infectious diseases and host-pathogen interactions in animals. 

Manuscripts should provide a substantial conceptual, mechanistic, methodological or epidemiological advance. Studies that primarily confirm established observations, report local prevalence or describe datasets without generating broader biological or epidemiological insight are unlikely to be considered.

The journal welcomes research involving: 

• Food-producing animals
• Equines and companion animals
• Wild animals, when infection is of zoonotic importance, affects ecosystem health or is epidemiologically connected to domestic animals
• Laboratory animals or other experimental models when the findings provide clear insight into animal infectious diseases, host–pathogen interactions or zoonotic transmission

Particular attention is given to zoonotic, emerging, and re-emerging pathogens. 

Studies using in vitro, ex vivo or organoid models may be considered when they address a clearly defined biological question and provide meaningful insight into infection or disease processes in the relevant host. 

Priority Areas 

Pathogens and Host-Pathogen Interactions

• Novel insight into viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths, fungi, and mammalian prions
• Pathogen biology, evolution, transmission or virulence
• The cellular, molecular or physiological  mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interaction
• Purely descriptive or correlative studies are generally not a priority. This includes routine pathogen characterization, genomic descriptions and phenotypic or genotypic antimicrobial-resistance surveys that do not provide substantial biological, clinical or epidemiological insight.

Immunity and Vaccinology  

• Fundamental studies of systemic and mucosal immune responses to infection animals
• Studies elucidating mechanisms of protective immunity or immune evasion
• The development and rigorous evaluation of novel vaccines and vaccination strategies
• Routine evaluations of established vaccine formulations or minor modifications without a clear scientific advance are not a priority.

Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control

• Hypothesis-driven research that advances understanding of the emergence, transmission, persistence, prevention or control of animal infectious diseases
• Relevant approaches may originate from veterinary science, computational biology, ecology, economics, social science or related disciplines.
• Studies conducted in a single geographical region may be considered when they address an important gap in knowledge; use a robust and clearly justified study design; and generate findings, methods or conclusions that are relevant beyond the population or location studied. Routine prevalence surveys and local outbreak descriptions without wider biological, methodological or disease-control implications are not a priority.

Diagnostic Research 

Diagnostic studies are considered when they make a substantial contribution beyond the routine application or minor adaptation of an existing method.

Priority may be given to studies that:

• Introduce and rigorously validate a diagnostic method with broad applicability or a substantial advantage over existing approaches
• Connect diagnostic findings with pathogen virulence, transmission, host response or clinical outcomes
• Address a major surveillance gap in an under-represented region, provided that the findings have implications extending beyond the surveyed population.
• Validation studies should use appropriate reference standards, representative samples and independent datasets where feasible.

Studies generally outside the journal's scope 

The following are generally not considered:

• Studies focused solely on the treatment or clinical management of disease, unless they provide important mechanistic insight or have broader implications for infectious-disease prevention or control
• Isolated clinical or pathological case reports and descriptive case series
• Technical notes, routine method comparisons or incremental modifications with limited originality 
• Purely descriptive prevalence, pathogen-distribution, genomic or antimicrobial-resistance surveys
• Studies whose findings are restricted to a narrowly defined population or location and do not provide transferable scientific or epidemiological insight
• Research whose principal focus is not infection or host-pathogen interactions.
• The direction of the results does not determine suitability for publication. Well-designed studies reporting negative or inconclusive findings may be considered when they address an important question and provide meaningful scientific insight.

Journal Article Types

Veterinary Research accepts the following types of articles:

• Research article*
• Review*
• Short review*
• Short report*
• Opinion*
• Editorial**

Target Audience

The journal serves scientists working in: 

• Universities and research institutes
• Government and non-governmental organisations
• Private companies and pharmaceutical / veterinary industries