Research

Funding: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), 60.000 EUR

Project Details:
The high-energy cosmic radiation has a decisive influence on all manned space missions. The effect of this radiation on the model organism Trichoplax adhaerens (Placozoa) will be investigated in this project. Placozoans are the most simply organized multicellular animals and can give us crucial clues about the effect of cosmic radiation on humans.

Cooperation Partners:

Patrick Humbert, La Trobe University, Australia

Jens Hauslage, DLR, 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:
GnRH agonists are frequently used in practice to treat diseases of the reproductive system in privately reared laying hens. After surgical removal of the oviduct, suppression of gonadal activity is essential. The aim of the planned studies is to examine the influence of such a resection of the laying intestine on the effect of the slow-release GnRH agonist deslorelin in clinical use. In order to assess the effect of the GnRH agonist, the activity of the ovary and oviduct will be evaluated by determining the sex hormones and by sonographic examination.

Project Details:
Infections with adenoviruses have been detected in hand-reared Common swifts in connection with stomatitis. As part of this project, the virus is to be investigated in more detail and its spread in the wild population of swifts and swallows, as possible carriers, is to be determined in the Hanover area.

Funding: Bezirksamt Hamburg-Nord, 48.000 EUR

Project Details:
The establishment of pigeon lofts for urban pigeons is an important component in the management of the pigeon population for many cities. With this background, the influence of a newly installed pigeon loft for urban pigeons on the development and health status of the neighboring pigeon population, the occurrence of pigeon-specific pathogens and the contamination by pigeons in the catchment area will be investigated in the city of Hamburg over a period of two years.

Cooperation Partners:

Frau Dr. Anke Höfer

Fachamt Verbraucherschutz, Gewerbe und Umwelt:

Veterinärwesen und Lebensmittelüberwachung, Hamburg

Funding: Europäische Union, 142.547 EUR

Project Details:
The European Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare (EUPAHW) is a research and innovation initiative funded by the European Commission (EC) to control infectious diseases of animals, and to promote animal welfare. Due to the close link between animal health, animal welfare and human well-being, the One Health-One Welfare perspective takes a prominent position in the EUPAHW. Within the EUPAHW, the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research will work with other partners on wildlife-livestock-human interface. The overall objective is to integrate the health of wild mammals and birds into the overall health surveillance and monitoring of livestock. Wildlife health surveillance contributes to the assessment of environmental health because wild animals may serve as sentinels for both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Improving wildlife population monitoring and surveillance of wildlife pathogens/diseases aims to detect the emergence of pathogens and reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases between wildlife and livestock and even humans. The information is needed to design, apply and support sustainable livestock and wildlife management systems. In this context, the EUPAHW will assess the impact of climate change and human/anthropogenic activities such as hunting, trade, feeding, rewilding and translocation of wildlife on the spread of diseases and the establishment of invasive species.

Cooperation Partners:

56 Forschungsinstitutionen aus Europa (https://www.eupahw.eu)

Funding: Förderverein Bioökonomieforschung e.V. (FBF), 13.000 EUR

Project Details:
The aim is to research and establish a novel method for sorting bovine sperm in a joint project. Here, TiHo carries out its sub-project (A) and also works cooperatively with the also beneficiary partner Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, who carries out its sub-project (B).
The aim of the first project phase, in cooperation with GAU, is to define an optimized protocol for treating the bull semen with a TLR7/8 ligand to separate the sperm using Swim Up. At the same time, two methods for determining the ratio of the X:Y sperm (digital PCR vs. MoFlow XDP Cell Sorter) are compared.
In the second project phase, our targeted task is to further optimize the accuracy and efficiency, or sperm vitality, with the selected sorting method of the processed samples by using microfluidic chips.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Michael Hölker, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Dept. für Nutztierwissenschaften.

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.

Project Details:
Salmonella-specific phages are isolated and characterized from bearded dragons. Their spectrum of activity is determined, and their in vitro and in vivo effectiveness is examined.

Cooperation Partners:

Robert-Koch-Institut RKI Wernigerode

Funding: Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, 233.000 EUR

Project Details:
The project aims to develop a time- and location-based, digital, and mobile decision aid for citizens who have found a wild animal in nature. It enables the identification of the species and, based on the symptoms, provides a help recommendation through a decision tree. Specific contacts for further information are also provided.