Research

Funding: Fritz-Ahrberg-Stiftung, 15.000 EUR

Project Details:
Embryonic muscle formation (myogenesis) gives rise to the various skeletal muscles of the body. Depending on their function, these muscles have different proportions of the various muscle fibre types after the animals are born. This also means that, as studies on pigs, for example, show, the muscles undergo different biochemical changes during meat maturation after the animals have been slaughtered. Research often focuses on the back muscle (Musculus (M). longissimus dorsi), which, however, is not representative of the entire musculature of the slaughtered animal, as has been shown in pigs. For this reason, in addition to the longissimus muscle, other muscles from the front and hindquarters of cattle are obtained in this project and characterised in terms of their physicochemical properties (e.g. pH, colour) before being packaged as fresh meat in a modified atmosphere. At the end of the storage period, this meat is examined physicochemically and microbiologically and then processed into raw sausages. The latter are also analysed physicochemically and microbiologically during the storage period. For comparison, these tests are also carried out on various turkey muscles, as poultry meat is also very important in meat consumption.

Funding: Nationalparkverwaltung Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer, Wilhelmshaven , 45.063 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the project is a survey of the local grey seal population in the entire Lower Saxony and Hamburg Wadden Sea during the birthing season (November-December) 2025 and at the time of the fur change (March-April) 2026.
On five trilaterally coordinated dates (three during the birthing season; two during the fur-change period), airborne surveys will be conducted with a single-engine aircraft. During the aerial surveys of the tidal flats, a high-resolution SLR camera will be used to photograph the haul-outs. In order to determine the number of young born as well as the total population, the photos taken are subsequently analyzed on the computer.

Project Details:
Preclinical investigations of the anticonvulsant efficacy range of azetukalner

Funding: Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst, 44.500 EUR

Project Details:
Pre-clinical investigations of the anticonvulsant efficacy of a specific MAGL inhibitor

Project Details:
Blutchemische SDMA-Bestimmungen

Cooperation Partners:

LABOKLIN - Fachlabor für veterinärmedizinische Diagnostik

Project Details:
Few standardized studies are available on the effect of slow-release GnRH agonists in avian patients. With this background, the aim of this study is to examine the influence of deslorelin, a slow-release GnRH agonist, on the gonadal activity of female and male budgerigars in order to optimize the clinical use of this drug. The activity of the gonads will be examined, for example, by determining the sex hormones and by radiographic assessment of the reproductive organs.

Funding: University of Glasgow, 8.400 EUR

Project Details:
The ears of 15 long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) that mass stranded on July 2023 and on July 2024 in Scotland were collected and fixed during the comprehensive post-mortem examination. They were subsequently sent to ITAW for inner ear analysis. Several complementary analysis techniques will be used to evaluate the ears, depending on the preservation status of the sample. Specifically, techniques optimized in cetaceans such as scanning electron microscopy or immunofluorescence (and histopathology for the less fresh individuals) will be performed to determine whether an animal suffered a hearing loss. With scanning electron microscopy it is possible to observe evidence of lesions within the sensory cells at very high resolution, which can be distinguished from post-mortem decomposition artifacts. On the other hand, with the immunofluorescence technique that we have implemented for ears of marine mammals, we can use a combination of several markers to label the sensory cells and associated neurons at the same time. In addition, we can distinguish between newly formed lesions (that could be associated to the stranding) from old ones. Finally, histopathology is ideal to detect hemorrhages and infections that could have impaired the hearing of the animal, as well as the evaluation of the spiral ganglion neurons, which are the neurons that bring the auditory information from the inner ear to the brain. Hearing impairment can be caused by several factors, including noise exposure, age, ototoxic drugs exposure, pollutants, infections, and congenital disorders. If cases of hearing loss are found, we will evaluate which could be the most likely causes. Including the inner ear collections and analysis within the post-mortem examination protocol in stranded cetaceans (and mass stranded, even if the logistics associated are even more challenging) is essential to detect potential cases of hearing loss, which is particularly relevant in cetaceans that use hearing for all their vital activities.

Project Details:
Overall statistics covering the last 20 breeding years to investigate influences and correlations between maternal, paternal, gender health, genetic and environmental factors and their impact on reproductive performance.

Cooperation Partners:

Deutscher Galopp e.V., Köln

Funding: MEKUN, 172.488 EUR

Project Details:
The occurrence of harbor seals in the waters of Schleswig-Holstein has increased in recent years. At the same time, the seals are exposed to an increasing amount of human activity. These include chemical pollution, offshore wind turbine constructions, the Fehmarnbelt crossing, shipping, military and civilian detonations (munitions disposal), fishing, litter, habitat loss and other disturbances such as tourism. The increasing grey seal population in the North Sea has also led to the predation and rape of seals by grey seals in recent years.
As part of this research project, a total of 30 dead seals from the Schleswig-Holstein North Sea and Baltic Sea are to be examined in-depth for their state of health. These 30 individuals will be examined in addition to the 30 seals that will be necropsied as part of the project, which is funded by the Supreme Hunting Authority in the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Areas, Europe and Consumer Protection of Schleswig-Holstein (MLLEV), bringing the total number of necropsied seals from Schleswig-Holstein to 60. Histological, microbiological and parasitological examinations will be carried out.

Project Details:
The behavior of European hedgehogs after hindlimb amputation is insufficiently researched. While some literature suggests hedgehogs may cope well with such amputations, there is a lack of systematic studies to confirm this. This project aims to evaluate the gait of hedgehogs after hindlimb amputation during rehabilitation. Healthy four-legged and three-legged hedgehogs will be analyzed and compared using accelerometers to understand the impact on their movement and survival, ultimately contributing to more effective treatments and better outcomes for wildlife rehabilitation.