Author Guidelines
The Journal of Zoonotic Pathogens and One Health Policy invites the submission of original manuscripts that align with the journal’s scope, which includes zoonotic disease research, surveillance, clinical practice, veterinary science, environmental health, and health policy. Authors are advised to read the following guidelines carefully before preparing their manuscripts for submission.
All submissions must be written in clear and grammatically correct English and should reflect high standards of academic integrity. Manuscripts that do not follow the formatting and structural requirements outlined below may be returned to the authors for revision before they are sent for peer review.
Article Categories
The journal accepts a range of article types, each of which serves a distinct purpose in advancing the understanding and management of zoonotic diseases. Authors should select the article category that best reflects the structure and objectives of their submission.
1. Original Research Articles
These are full-length manuscripts presenting novel findings from clinical, laboratory, veterinary, epidemiological, or policy-related research. Submissions should include detailed methodology, robust data analysis, and a discussion grounded in relevant literature.
2. Review Articles
These articles provide comprehensive overviews of specific topics relevant to zoonotic diseases or One Health policy. Reviews may be narrative or systematic and should include critical evaluation of the existing evidence and identify gaps in current knowledge.
3. Case Reports and Case Series
Authors may submit case-based manuscripts that describe unique or instructive clinical, veterinary, or public health scenarios. The journal encourages detailed accounts that highlight diagnostic, therapeutic, or programmatic lessons.
4. Short Communications
These are brief manuscripts reporting preliminary data, concise research findings, or urgent observations relevant to the journal’s themes. These articles should be focused and include a clear research question or finding.
5. Field Reports and Operational Reflections
Submissions that describe field-based experiences, surveillance outcomes, programme implementation, or community engagement strategies are welcome under this category. These reports should be structured and supported by contextual data or experience.
6. Policy Briefs and Regulatory Commentary
Authors may submit concise, focused papers analysing legislation, public health policy, or governance structures relevant to zoonotic risk. These may include commentary on national or international approaches and lessons learned.
7. Letters to the Editor
This category includes brief, focused responses to previously published content or short contributions on emerging ideas or observations.
Manuscript Preparation
All manuscripts should be prepared using a standard word processing software and submitted in an editable format (such as .doc or .docx). The document should be typed in a standard font (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt), double-spaced, with page numbers indicated.
1. Title Page
The title page must include:
- The full title of the manuscript
- Full names of all authors, along with institutional affiliations
- The name, email address, and institutional address of the corresponding author
- A statement of funding, if applicable
- Disclosure of any conflicts of interest
2. Abstract
Each manuscript must be accompanied by a structured abstract of 250 to 300 words. The abstract should summarise the objective, methods, results, and conclusion of the study. Abstracts for review articles should provide an overview of the topic, sources reviewed, and the key points discussed.
3. Keywords
Authors should include 4 to 6 keywords that accurately reflect the subject matter of the manuscript. Keywords should be specific and should facilitate searchability and indexing.
4. Main Text
The structure of the manuscript should follow a logical and coherent format. While the standard structure for research articles includes the following sections, authors may adjust these based on article type:
- Introduction: Clearly outline the background, objectives, and rationale for the study.
- Materials and Methods: Describe the study design, sampling, data collection procedures, and analysis. Ensure that sufficient detail is provided to allow reproducibility.
- Results: Present findings clearly and concisely, with appropriate tables or figures where relevant.
- Discussion: Interpret findings in the context of existing literature, highlight implications, limitations, and relevance to One Health or policy.
- Conclusion: Summarise key takeaways and, if appropriate, suggest areas for further research.
5. References
All references cited in the text must be listed at the end of the manuscript. The journal accepts citations in APA style. Authors must ensure accuracy and consistency in referencing.
6. Tables and Figures
- Tables should be inserted after the reference section or uploaded as separate files. Each table should have a clear title and numbered sequentially.
- Figures should be of high quality and submitted in acceptable formats (JPEG, PNG, or TIFF). Each figure must include a caption.
- All tables and figures should be referred to in the main text.
7. Ethical Considerations
Manuscripts involving human or animal research must include appropriate ethical clearances. For studies involving human participants, authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained. For animal studies, compliance with institutional and international animal care guidelines is required.
Submission Process
Authors must submit manuscripts via the journal’s designated online submission system. Each submission must include:
- The main manuscript file
- Tables and figures (if separate)
- Supplementary files (where applicable)
- A cover letter briefly stating the manuscript’s significance and relevance to the journal
Authors must confirm that the manuscript is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by another journal.
Peer Review
All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review process. Manuscripts are reviewed by experts in the field to assess scientific merit, methodological clarity, originality, and relevance. Authors may be asked to revise their work based on reviewer feedback. Revised manuscripts should be submitted within the timeline specified in the editorial decision letter.
Plagiarism Policy
The Journal of Zoonotic Pathogens and One Health Policy maintains a strict anti-plagiarism policy. All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software. Any manuscript found to contain unoriginal content or unattributed material will be rejected.
Conflicts of Interest
All authors must declare any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could be perceived to influence their work. Conflicts of interest should be stated on the title page and, where relevant, within the main text.
Article Processing Charges (APC)
An Article Processing Charge will be levied upon acceptance of the manuscript. Details of the APC and payment process will be communicated to the corresponding author at the time of acceptance.
Copyright and Licensing
Authors retain the copyright of their work and grant the journal the right to publish and distribute the article under an open-access license. Proper attribution must be provided when the material is reused or shared.
Editorial Assistance
For questions regarding submission requirements, formatting, or article suitability, authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office. The journal’s editorial team is available to guide authors throughout the submission and review process.
