| Summary: | Population density and distribution of the four native European wild Caprines (<i>Rupicapra rupicapra</i>, <i>Rupicapra pyrenaica</i>, <i>Capra ibex</i>, <i>Capra pyrenaica</i>) have increased in recent decades. The improved conservation status of this valuable wildlife, while a welcome event in general terms, is at the same time a matter of concern since, intuitively, frequent and tighter contacts with sympatric livestock imply a greater risk of cross-transmission of emerging and re-emerging pathogens, and offer unexpected opportunities for pathogens to spread, persist and evolve. This article recalls the transmissible diseases that are perceived in Europe to be of major significance from a conservation perspective, namely brucellosis (BRC) by <i>Brucella melitensis</i>, infectious kerato-conjunctivitis (IKC) by <i>Mycoplasma conjunctivae</i>, pestivirosis (PV) by the border disease virus strain 4 and mange by <i>Sarcoptes scabiei</i>. Special emphasis has been put on the epidemiological role played by small domestic ruminants, and on key knowledge needed to implement evidence-based prevention and control strategies. Remarkably, scientific evidence demonstrates that major demographic downturns in affected wild Caprinae populations in recent decades have often been triggered by pathogens cross-transmitted at the livestock/wildlife interface.
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