spp. at the Wildlife-Livestock Interface: An Evolutionary Trajectory through a Livestock-to-Wildlife "Host Jump"?

infections in wildlife have gained a lot of interest from the scientific community and different stakeholders. These interests are often different and sometimes conflicting. As a result, different management perspectives and aims have been implemented (One Health, public health, veterinary public health, maintenance of a brucellosis free status in livestock, sustainable wildlife harvesting by hunters, wildlife and environmental health). When addressing infection in wildlife, the most important features of infection should be considered and the following questions need to be answered: (1) Is infection a result of a spillover from livestock or is it a sustainable infection in one or more wildlife host species? (2) Did the epidemiological situation of infection in wildlife change over time and, if so, what are the main drivers of change and does it impact the wildlife population dynamics? (3) Does infection in wildlife represent a reservoir of strains for livestock? (4) Is infection in wildlife of zoonotic concern? These questions point to the fundamental biological question of how animal (domestic and wildlife)/ spp. partnerships are established. Will we be able to decipher an evolutionary trajectory through a livestock-to-wildlife "host jump"? Whole genome sequencing and new "omics" techniques will help in deciphering the molecular basis of host preference and open new avenues in brucellosis management aimed at preventing opportunities for host jumps.