Detecting Early Zoonotic Viral Spillovers at Human–Animal Interfaces Using Serological, Virological, and Metagenomic Approaches

Most zoonotic viruses do not emerge with a dramatic outbreak. Instead, they often begin with small, unnoticed spillover events—sporadic infections that never reach clinical attention and leave only faint traces in human or animal populations. These early signals are rarely captured by current surveillance systems, yet they may hold the key to preventing the next major epidemic.This Research Topic aims to explore how serological testing, basic virological methods, and metagenomic approaches can be combined to detect silent spillover events at an early stage. It also aims to promote a framework that is both inclusive and practical for public health, veterinary, and environmental laboratories of all sizes, recognizing that laboratory capacities vary widely across regions.By bringing together serology, classical virology, and modern sequencing, this topic highlights how diverse laboratory methods can work in synergy to detect spillover events long before they escalate. The ultimate goal is to encourage practical, scalable surveillance strategies that can be adopted across different regions and resource settings, strengthening global preparedness for emerging zoonotic threats.We encourage studies that investigate, but are not limited to:• Use of routine diagnostic tools—such as ELISAs, neutralization assays, PCR panels, virus isolation, and antigen detection—to detect unusual exposure patterns or cross-reactivity, with attention to maintaining diagnostic validity and ensuring standardization across settings• Application of classical laboratory methods that remain central in many regions, emphasizing their feasibility, accessibility, and potential to generate consistent epidemiological insights when systematically deployed.• Utilization of metagenomic sequencing to characterize viral diversity, reveal shared genomic signatures among species, and identify recombinant strains, while assessing its scalability, cost-effectiveness, and interpretive reliability.• Integration of classical diagnostics and high-throughput sequencing to strengthen the validity and completeness of surveillance at high-risk human–animal interfaces—including farms, wildlife centers, markets, and rapidly changing ecological zones Topic editors: Jelena Prpić, Fábio A. Abade Dos Santos Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79605/detecting-early-zoonotic-viral-spillovers-at-human-animal-interfaces-using-serological-virological-and-metagenomic-approaches