Research

Funding: EU-DEVELAGE, DAAD-Procope, University of Montpellier, 352.000 EUR

Project Details:
A - Healthy Aging in Mouse Lemurs

Mouse lemurs belong to the basal primates (strepsirrhines) and represent the smallest nonhuman primates in the world. With a life span much shorter than in larger-bodied primates and the presence of tangles and beta-amyloid plaques in the brain of some, but not all, aged mouse lemurs, they may provide a unique natural primate model for aging research, relatively inexpensive to maintain and to breed. The potential of the mouse lemur as a primate model for AD-like diseases will depend on easily detectable phenotypic markers of AD-like diseases comparable to humans. The longterm aim of this project is thus to establish and validate behavioural, hormonal, cognitive, genetic, immunhistochemical and brain imaging tools to phenotype subjects, to apply them to discriminate between "wildtype" phenotypes and AD-like carriers and to validate thereby the primate brain aging model, mouse lemur. Within an EU-funded project, we aimed at establishing a behavioural test battery, comparable to CANTAB (CAmbridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery) in humans, to objectivly assess cognitive performances. Cognition can then be linked to potential markers of personality, longterm stress (hormones) and heredity. Furthermore, the use of MRI is developed to evaluate potential age-related brain atrophies and to link them to cognitive performance. Findings will be explored in an integrative approach to identify to which extent cognitive phenotypes are linked to behavioral/hormonal/genetic/ neurological phenotypes and may predict age-related cognitive dysfunctions. This approach will not only give first comparable insight into the behavioural syndromes and cognitive skills and its deficiencies during aging in the model mouse lemur, and thereby to cognition in a previously fairly neglected group of primates, the strepsirrhines, it will also shed light on fundamental cognitive building blocks from which our own unique human-specific intelligence derived.

B- Ocular Pathologies in Mouse Lemurs: a Comparison of Colonies with Different Life Cycles

Seasonal reproduction in mouse lemurs is strongly dependent on the photoperiod. The reduction of photoperiodically induced artificial seasonal cycles is suggested to accelerate their aging process. Two of the world’s largest self-sustaining breeding colonies with in total about 350 animals in all age classes are located in our labs at the University of Veterinary Medicine at Hannover in Germany and at the University of Montpellier in France. They are maintained and bred on a natural and an artificially accelerated photoperiod regime, respectively.
The short-term aim of this project is to standardize technical approaches to compare these colonies to examine to what extent different photoperiod regimes affect stress-related behavioural traits and ophthalmologic deficiencies. Further, validated opthalmologic techniques are applied to assess age-dependent dysfunction in the eye of mouse lemurs and to exclude animals with visual dysfunctions from vision-based cognitive research. The long-term aim of this project is to further explore the use of this primate model for aging research.

Results:

e.g.

 

Dubicanac M.; Joly M.; Strüve J.; Nolte I.; Mestre-Frances N.; Verdier J-M.; Zimmermann E (2017): Intraocular pressure in the smallest primate aging model, the gray mouse lemur. Vet. Ophthalmology, DOI:10.1111/vop.12434.

 

Lehman, S. M.; Radespiel, U.; Zimmermann, E.:

The Dwarf and Mouse Lemurs of Madagascar. Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology, Band 73; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016, 592 S.

ISBN 9781107075597

http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9781107075597

 

Joly M, Ammersdörfer S, Schmidtke D, Zimmermann E (2014): Touchscreen-Based Cognitive Tasks Reveal Age-Related Impairment in a Primate Aging Model, the Grey Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus). PLoS One; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109393

 

Schopf C., Zimmermann E., Tünsmeyer J., Kästner S.B.R., Hubka P., Kral A. (2014): Hearing and Age-Related Changes in the Gray Mouse Lemur. Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology; DOI 10.1007/s10162-014-0478-4

 

Schmidtke D., Ammersdörfer S., Joly M., Zimmermann E. (2018): First comparative approach to touchscreen-based visual object-location paired-associates learning in humans (Homo sapiens) and a nonhuman primate (Microcebus murinus). Journal of Comparative Psychology; DOI 10.1037/com0000116

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. J.-M. Verdier, École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université PSL Paris, F

Dr. Marine Joly, Psychology, Portsmouth, GB

Prof. Dr. A. Kral, VIANNA, HNO, MHH

Prof. Dr. A. Bleich, Institut für Versuchstierkunde und Zentrales Tierlaboratorium der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover

Dr. M. Heistermann, German Primate Center, Göttingen

Prof. Dr. G. Kovac, University of Toronto, CAN

Prof. Dr. Nadine Mestre-Francés, Université de Montpellier, F

Project Details:
Bei diesem Projekt handelt es sich um die Dissertationsarbeit von Frau Nilay Yücesoy. Durch ihre Studien soll herausgefunden werden, ob Unterschiede in der Kontraktilität des Uterus und des Eileiters zwischen Färsen und Kühen u.a. auf einen unterschiedlichen Gehalt von Hormonrezeptoren zurückzuführen sind. Ferner soll getestet werden, ob der therapeutische Einsatz von Hormonen, wie PGF2α und Oxytocin, zur Verbesserung der Kontraktilität des Uterus und des Eileiters führt. Die aus dieser Untersuchungen gewonnenen Erkenntnisse könnten dazu beitragen, die Fertilität nach der Besamung bei Kühen zu verbessern.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Heiner Bollwein, Vetsuisse-Fakultät, Universität Zürich

Project Details:
Die chirurgische Versorgung des vorderen Kreuzbandrisses stellt einen der häufigsten chirurgischen Eingriffe beim Hund dar. Zielsetzung des hier beschriebenen Projektes ist die vergleichende Untersuchung der chirurgischen Versorgung des vorderen Kreuzbandrisses mittels Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomie (TPLO) nach Slocum und Devine und Kapselraffung mit Fasziendopplung von lateral.
Durch die Erhebung ganganalytischer Parameter wie der Bodenreaktionskräfte, Schrittlängen und Gelenkwinkel lässt sich der Therapieerfolg im Vergleich zur Situation vor der Operation objektivieren, daneben ist ein Vergleich der beiden Operationstechniken möglich.

Project Details:
Im Projekt wird ein auf die spezifische Knochen-Totalendoprothese-Problematik angepasstes numerisches Modell erarbeitet, welches das Fundament für die Vermeidung der aseptischen Prothesenlockerung bildet. Durch die Berücksichtigung der Mechanismen, welche zur aseptischen Prothesenlockerung führen, ist die Gestaltung einer ausdauernden Hüft- und Schulterendoprothese realisierbar.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. B.-A. Behrens, Institut für Umformtechnik und Umformmaschinen, Produktionstechnisches Zentrum Hannover, Universität Hannover

Prof. Dr. med. Christina Stukenborg-Colsman, Orthopädische Klinik der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover im Annastift e.V.

Funding: Nationalparkverwaltung Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer, Wilhelmshaven, 12.750 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the project is a survey of the local grey seal population in the entire Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony and Hamburg at the time of the fur change (March-April).
On two trilaterally coordinated dates, airborne surveys will be conducted with a single-engine aircraft. During the surveys of the tidal flats, haul-outs will be photographed with a high-resolution SLR camera. To determine the number of haul-outs, the photos taken are subsequently analyzed on the computer.

Results:

Cremer J, Brasseur S., Czeck R., Galatius A., Jeß A., Körber P., Pund R., Siebert U., Teilmann J., Bie Thøstesen C. & Busch J.A. (2019) EG-Seals grey seal surveys in the Wadden Sea and Helgoland in 2018-2019. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

https://www.waddensea-worldheritage.org/sites/default/files/19-07-01_Greysealreport2019final.pdf

Funding: Verein der Förderer der Wildtierforschung, 12.000 EUR

Project Details:
Männliche Wildschweine sind nach allgemeiner Meinung streng saisonale reproduzierende Tiere. Jedoch gibt es Hinweise dafür, dass die Keiler das ganze Jahr reproduktionsfähig sind sowie, dass die Frischlingskeiler mit bereits 8 bis 10 Monaten geschlechtsreif sind und damit an der Fortpflanzung teilnehmen können.
Nach eingehender Literaturrecherche wurde ein Untersuchungskonzept erstellt, das die Mithilfe mehrerer Kooperationspartner einschließt. Die eingeplanten Untersuchungen umfassen die Gewinnung der Nebenhodenschwanzspermien und des Blutes männlicher erlegter Wildschweine durch das ganze Jahr. Die Spermienqualität und die sexuellen Hormone werden untersucht, um die Reproduktivität der Keiler in den verschiedenen Monaten nachzuweisen und der Fragenstellung nachzukommen.
Hierzu sind die Kosten für die Projektdurchführung, die Beprobung im Feld sowie die sofortigen Untersuchungen zu tragen.

Funding: Hessisches Ministerium für Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, 11.127 EUR

Project Details:
Erstellung einer vergleichenden Literaturübersicht und Begutachtung der Haltung von Zuchtsauen in der sogenannten freien Abferkelung und der Abferkelung im Kastenstand.

Funding: Ministerium für Energiewende, Landwirtschaft, Umwelt, Natur und Digitalisierung des Landes Schleswig-Holstein (MELUND), 36.665 EUR

Project Details:
In Schleswig-Holstein hunters have observed an increase of sick and dead European Brown Hares for several years. Because of this, we investigated hunted hares from selected hunting grounds in 2016 and 2017, as well as deceased hares from all over Schleswig-Holstein in 2017 for infectious diseases as a potential reason for the population decline. In 2018 hunters still reported increased numbers of diseased and dead hares.
Results from the earlier studies indicate especially pathological alterations in the digestive tract, an increased parasitological burden and a high seroprevalence of lagovirus. Nevertheless these results are just indicators and need further years of investigation for final interpretation. In 2019 we continue this study and include even more hunting grounds. Together with the hunters, we will sample the hares during the hunting time in each hunting ground and will perform post-mortem examinations including pathohistological, virological, parasitological and microbiological investigations. As in 2017, we will include deceased hares collected during the whole year to get additional data from other seasons and more peracute diseases.
The results will be evaluated together with the National Hunting Association Schleswig-Holstein and the INR-CAU and further investigation strategies respectively preventive measures will be developed. This project contributes to the advancement in preventive protection of public health and food safety.

Results:

For several years, hunters in Schleswig-Holstein have observed an increase in diseased and deceased hares, depending on the region, as well as a decrease in hunting distances. The results of the spotlight taxations also show that despite relatively constant spring populations, the hares counted during the autumn taxations have been decreasing for several years. For this reason, 190 hunting hares from selected hunting grounds, as well as 79 fall hares from all over Schleswig-Holstein, have already been examined in detail for infectious diseases as a potential cause for the decline in the hare population in 2016 - 2019. Histological, virological, parasitological and microbiological samples were taken from each animal in addition to collecting physiological data. The occurrence of tularemia (Francisella tularensis), as well as Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 (RHDV-2) and European Brown Hare Syndrome Virus (EBHSV) was checked in cooperation with specialized institutes. This has already allowed us to obtain an impression of the incidence of infection over several years and to identify territory-specific differences.

For the study year 2019, it can be summarized overall that the examined

hares in 2019 showed on average better fitness and fewer pathological changes compared to previous years. Furthermore, in the majority of the

hares could be sampled in the majority of the hunting grounds, and the proportion of juveniles in the

of juveniles in the sampled fall hares decreased in 2019. The occurring, partly district-specific diseases corresponded to a large extent to those of the previous years, even if often in a lesser degree. In our investigations, we were also able to prove that almost all tested hares had already been in contact with the EBHS virus and were able to identify some hunting grounds as current infection hotspots. Furthermore, we were able to identify RHDV-2 as the cause of death again in some rabbits.

Although in rabbits in other countries partly high mortality rates after infection with this virus were shown, RHDV2 could not be detected in any rabbit in the context of this study, despite positive titers. Whether rabbits play a role as a source of infection for hares in Schleswig-Holstein will be further investigated in future studies.

As in previous years, the results will be evaluated together with the Landesjagdverband S.-H. and the Wildtierkataster S.-H., whereby further investigation strategies or precautionary measures will be developed. This project supports the further development of preventive health protection and food safety measures for wild animals in Schleswig-Holstein.

https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020239

Cooperation Partners:

Wildtierkataster Schleswig-Holstein (INR-CAU)

Landesjagdverband Schleswig-Holstein (LJV S.-H.) e.V.

Funding: MELUND, Schleswig-Holstein, 43.395 EUR

Project Details:
Infectious diseases and other illnesses of harbour seals in Schleswig-Holstein will be investigated in this research project. The project aims to provide data about the occurrence of viral, bacterial and parasitic infectious agents also in other harbour seal populations.
The scientific results shall be issued to the seal rangers in order to train them to recognise potential infectious diseases and in the handling of marine mammals. In this connection, the development and revision of hygienic measures, infectious diseases and documentation material become important. A selected number of harbour seals, which were sent in by the seal rangers for investigation, will be intensely examined and assessed for the occurrence of diseases. The seal rangers will be supported in their assessment during the whole research project term. These investigations include a complete necropsy of the animals, further analyses such as histology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology, serology, age determination as well as recording and assurance of samples for subsequent analyses or research projects.

Results:

A total of 50 harbor seals from the North Sea and Baltic Sea were examined at ITAW for their health status.

This year's and previous year's animals were predominantly processed during the health examinations. This reflects the known high morbidity and mortality rates of these younger age classes in many seal populations. In addition, compared to previous years, some perennial animals were also able to be studied.

The most common cause of death or major disease in the animals was cachexia, mostly associated with bronchopneumonia, associated with parasitic infestation of the lungs. The most common other diagnoses were septicemia and gastroenteritis. Parasitic diseases were again mainly in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. However, the most severe changes with the highest disease value were still found in the lungs. In relation to this, pulmonary changes were also one of the main causes of septicemias. The septicemias were caused by various bacteria, mainly streptococci and E. coli. Brucella (Brucella spp.) were detected in seven harbor seals. Rotlauf bacteria (Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae), also found in three animals last year, were not present in any of the animals this year. Nevertheless, the fact remains that harbor seals may carry zoonotically relevant pathogens.

Therefore, handling of both live and dead animals must be done with great care. It is also important to implement hygiene measures, which are continuously taught in appropriate training courses of the seal hunters and help to minimize the risk of transmission to humans.

Funding: Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, 14.400 EUR

Project Details:
Georg Forster-Forschungsstipendium der Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung für Dr. Mariano Prado Acosta

Results:

Projektergebnisse wurden bisher u.a. publiziert in:

 

1) Prado Acosta & Lepenies: Bacterial glycans and their interactions with lectins in the innate immune system. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 2019, 47(6), 1569-79.

 

2) Prado Acosta, Geoghegan, Lepenies, Ruzal, Kielian, Martinez: Surface (S) Layer Proteins of Lactobacillus acidophilus Block Virus Infection via DC-SIGN Interaction. Front. Microbiol. 2019, 10, 810.