Research

Funding: MEKUN, 49.996 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. The parasite fauna and its prevalence provide important information about its influence on the health of the seals. Furthermore, samples that were taken and not examined as part of the necropsies financed by the supreme hunting authority will be taken as part of this research project. This includes, for example, age determination and histological examinations. Furthermore, samples collected during the post-mortem examinations will also be taken for investigations into pollutants, litter, reproductive biology and nutritional ecology and preserved for later projects.
These investigations are to be used in future research projects for development of evaluation parameters of the GES (Good Environmental Status) in the North and Baltic Sea and applied for OSPAR, HELCOM and the Marine Protection Framework Directive.
Overall, the systematic studies of seals are very important in order to fulfill Schleswig-Holstein's obligations under the Trilateral Wadden Sea Agreement, HELCOM and OSPAR.

Results:

Untersuchungen zum Gesundheitszustand von Seehunden in Schleswig-Holstein im Jahr 2023

Bericht an das Ministerium für Energiewende, Klimaschutz, Umwelt und Natur des Landes Schleswig-Holstein, das Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, ländliche Räume, Europa und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Schleswig-Holstein und den Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz Schleswig-Holstein

https://www.schleswig-holstein.de/DE/fachinhalte/A/artenschutz/Downloads/seehundbericht2023.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2

Funding: HZI, 17.149 EUR

Project Details:
SARS-CoV-2 infection in 20-month-old mice

Funding: Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, 50.127 EUR

Project Details:
Co-infection study of viral or bacterial infectious agents
infectious agents with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a mouse model

Funding: Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Ländliche Räume, Europa und Verbraucherschutz (MLLEV), 37.245 EUR

Project Details:
Seals are the most common marine mammal species in Schleswig-Holstein and therefore cause the majority of calls for seal hunters. In addition, in the past the seal population has been frequently affected by infectious diseases such as phocine distemper, influenza, brucellosis, and erysipelas, some of which have led to mass mortalities among the seal population or are of zoonotic relevance. To support the work of seal hunters with current research results, the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) of University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) Foundation plans to continue the long-established investigation and monitoring of zoonotic and infectious diseases in the seal population of Schleswig-Holstein, their influence on the health status and the possible causes of death of the animals. Furthermore, other diseases and changes, especially those caused by anthropogenic influence, are recorded.
The research project investigates pathologic changes associated with infectious agents, with a special focus on zoonotic diseases. Given the ongoing avian influenza epidemic on the coasts of Schleswig-Holstein, the detection of serotype H5N8 in acutely deceased seals in 2021, as well as the interactions with other animals, the virologicinvestigations will be continued and also the importance of bacterial and parasitic pathogens will be evaluated. In addition, a possible increase in infectious diseases in harbor seals will also be evaluated in regard to increasing human activities.
The scientific knowledge gained is directly incorporated into the work of the seal hunters, who are trained in detection of infectious diseases and handling of marine mammals. The development and review of hygienic measures, theoretic knowledge about infectious diseases and documentation materials play an important role. A regionally representative number of seals will be selected from those recovered by the seal hunters and forwarded to the ITAW. Furthermore, any abnormalities reported by the seal hunters will be acted upon immediately. Scientific exchange with the seal hunters will take place throughout duration of the research project. The investigations include complete postmortem examinations of seals shot by seal hunters and further microbiologic examinations to reveal infectious agents.

Results:

Untersuchungen zum Gesundheitszustand von Seehunden in Schleswig-Holstein im Jahr 2023

Bericht an das Ministerium für Energiewende, Klimaschutz, Umwelt und Natur des Landes Schleswig-Holstein, das Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, ländliche Räume, Europa und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Schleswig-Holstein und den Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz Schleswig-Holstein

https://www.schleswig-holstein.de/DE/fachinhalte/A/artenschutz/Downloads/seehundbericht2023.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), 27.998 EUR

Project Details:
Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health problem worldwide and particular a challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In order to combat antibiotic resistance, it is necessary to address this in line with the One Health approach.
The aim of the project is to develop a harmonized protocol for monitoring data on antibiotic resistance in an integrated One Health approach for humans, animals and the environment and to link the data from all three One Health areas directly with each other. Furthermore, the transmission pathways of antibiotic resistance or resistance genes are to be evaluated in order to be able to take measures against the transmission and development of resistance. Support for the development of international collaboration with cooperation partners from sub-Saharan Africa served to expand cooperation through on-site visits, discussions on currently used protocols and the identification of potential challenges.

Cooperation Partners:

- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

- Department of Disease Control & Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda

Funding: Niedersächsischen Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur , 50.000 EUR

Project Details:
Veterinarians and their employees have a relatively high risk of accidents at work, whether in the clinic, in the diagnostic laboratory or in research. Occupational accident and illness risks in the workplace can be reduced through systematic prevention. Only those who know the specific risks and exposures can minimize them. Safety and health during studies, and later at work in the long term, are the areas that everything should revolve around here. Experience has shown that occupational safety and infection prevention are not the most popular topics and are often only considered relevant once a risk factor has been acutely identified or an accident has already occurred.
The aim of this project is to generate a game-based and collaborative course that uses interactive and digital elements as well as a workshop-based face-to-face event to convey the topic of active occupational safety using memorable practical examples and thus accompany the participants throughout their studies. The aim is to create a profound understanding with long-lasting learning success.

Funding: TU München, 158.232 EUR

Project Details:
We hypothesize that the stabilization of the vascular system by low-dose ligands to activate the integrin αvβ3 should have beneficial effects on COVID-19 infected patients. We here investigate the effects of the synthetic ligand cylengitide and 29P for integrin αvβ3 in an animal model of SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters in which the destruction of the vascular system in association with formation of neutrophil extracellular traps has previously been documented.

Funding: Pharmacosmos A/S Holbaek (Dänemark), 35.200 EUR

Project Details:
Uniferon is an injectable 20% iron dextran for prevention and treatment of anaemia in swine. 200 mg iron is routinely administered to piglets within the first days of life to prevent development of anaemia. Empirical observations show, that iron deficiency can develop within the first four weeks of life despite this early preventive measure due to the high growth rates of modern cross-bred pigs. While the product Uniferon can be used in flexible volumes, so that an adaptation of the iron amount administered is possible, the competitor product Forceris can only be used in a fixed dosage of 1.5 ml containing 200 mg iron -gleptoferron in combination with 45 mg toltrazuril as a coccidiostaticum. The advantage of this combinatory product to address two different diseases by one single shot is counteracted by the lack of adjustment of the necessary amount of iron to prevent anaemia as long as possible. Different iron treatments in suckling piglets should be evaluated to review the traditional recommendations for iron applications and adjust them according to the higher genetic potential for growth in modern pig breeds if necessary.

Funding: Universität Danzig , 31.328 EUR

Project Details:
For these project dead found seals, stranded at the polish coast, will be collected.
Within the scope of this project the ITAW will conduct health investigations of the stranded seals.
In the course of these investigations ITAW researchers will perform pathological examinations of internal organs and analysis of reproductive organs. The species of parasites the marine mammals potentially are infected by will be identified. Their age will be estimated and histological, virological and microbiological analysis conducted. So health reports based on postmortem analysis for each investigated animal will be prepared.

Funding: Roland und Elfriede Schauer-Stiftung, 92.200 EUR

Project Details:
This project focuses on the identification and characterization of glycosylated helminth ligands (protein/lipid) of host C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), in particular Dectin-1, Dectin-2, CLEC12A and DC-SIGN. Further, we plan to investigate how the respective CLR/ligand interactions affect innate responses of host immune cells.