Overview of research projects

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: IDT Biologika und von der Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), 484.000 EUR

Project Details:
We will study the immunogenicity and efficacy of our vaccine candidate, MVA-MERS-S, when used in different single vaccination and vaccination-booster setting in the lethal k18-hDPP4-mouse model after MERS-CoV-challenge infection. Different vaccination schedules also include different time points of challenge infection. We will characterize the activation of MERS-CoV-specific antibodies and T cells. The protective efficacy will be analyzed by morbidity, mortality and viral load in the lung and the brain a target organs. Moreover, a histopathological examination of the upper and lower respiratory tract of the animals upon challenged with MERS-CoV will show any evidence of ADE and ERD, respectively. Another study will evaluate the impact of passively transfered sera from MVA-MERS-S vaccinated mice for the outcome of protection after challenge infection.

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, 104.438 EUR

Project Details:
From 12.04. to 15.04.2023 the "Black Grouse Symposium 2023, Will the black grouse survive in the Lüneburg Heath?" took place at Camp Reinsehlen in Schneverdingen. The event was organized by the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation (NNA), the ITAW, the Lower Saxony Hunting Association (LJN), the Lower Saxony Ministries of Agriculture (ML) and Environment (MU) and the Nature Conservation Park Association (VNP). At the symposium, the alarming state of the black grouse population in Lower Saxony, known and suspected causes of this state and possible solutions were discussed. The participants, in particular the local stakeholders from the areas of occurrence, clearly advocated a species aid program for the black grouse in the Lüneburg Heath, which should provide a framework for eliminating the problems discussed in the best possible way and achieving a healthy, stable population in the medium to long term.

At a follow-up event initiated by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection in June 2023, the project to develop a black grouse action plan was launched. The project is being implemented by the ITAW and the NNA. The contents of the action plan will be coordinated with the involved stakeholders from landowners, authorities and other interest groups as part of a "round table".

Cooperation Partners:

Projektpartner: Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz (NNA)

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.

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, 255.930 EUR

Project Details:
The mouflon or mouflon Ovis gmelini musimon only occurs in a few remaining populations in Lower Saxony. The mouflon should have a good chance of survival at least in some low mountain regions due to its predator avoidance strategy with short steep escapes up rocky slopes, but has become extinct in the lowland regions due to the presence of the wolf.
There is much discussion about the few animals in Lower Saxony and Germany in general: The mouflon is not originally native here (not autochthonous) and causes high levels of damage to forestry locally. On the other hand, it is classified as endangered by the IUCN in its native Corsica and Sardinia and is a symbolic species for hunters. Therefore, in this study we want to take a neutral view and use photo traps and direct observations to determine facts about abundance, behavior and enemy avoidance strategies as well as damage effects. In addition, surveys and interviews will be used to obtain the opinions of the various stakeholders (hunters, foresters, farmers, other nature lovers, etc.).
All of this data will be used to objectify the discussion about mouflon, large predators and human interests and to model the survival probabilities of Lower Saxony's mouflon populations in the presence of wolves and lynx.

Funding: AfT Schaumann-Stiftung, 10.000 EUR

Project Details:
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Project Details:
Erfassung und Identifizierung von Komplikationen und Risikofaktoren in der Pferdeanästhesie seit 2013.

Funding: BUND Landesverband Nidersachesen e.V., 37.018 EUR

Project Details:
Underwater noise from ship traffic, the construction of facilities in the water and on the coast or the explosion of ammunition in the sea is identified as a threat by various national and international expert assessments and has negative effects on marine animals in the Wadden Sea - especially on marine mammals, including porpoises. Many projects on the effects of noise pollution on marine mammals underwater are already being carried out at the ITAW. The ITAW is particularly concerned with the effects of underwater noise on harbor porpoises, with a particular focus on ship traffic, offshore constructions, and unexploded ordnance contaminated sites (e.g. BfN-UWE2, BMBF-COASTALFUTURE, EU project SATURN). In this joint project with BUND, ITAW will provide support with recommendations for measures to reduce the effects of underwater noise on porpoises, development of voluntary rules of conduct, participation in panel discussions and materials for exhibitions. Different target groups should be made aware of the need to reduce underwater noise through different offers (exhibitions, lectures in schools, raising awareness among recreational boat owners). At the same time, recommendations for concrete measures to reduce underwater noise pollution are being developed.

Results:

(BUND) Leaflet containing information on the sources of underwater noise pollution caused by recreational boats and on the measures that recreational boaters and sailors can take to help protect porpoises.

https://www.bund-niedersachsen.de/service/publikationen/detail/publication/ruhe-fuer-die-schweinswale/

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur, 178.000 EUR

Project Details:
Measure 1 consists of work package A, which is part of e-learning service. The use of the blended learning format in veterinary teaching is to be promoted. A further focus will be placed on strengthening the (e-)didactic skills of lecturers and the digital skills of students, for which training courses will be created for these target groups.

Measure 1 also includes work package B, which is located in the Clinical Skills Lab. The establishment of a surgical logbook is intended to strengthen students' surgical skills. To support the implementation of the surgical logbook, a training concept for teaching surgical skills is being developed.

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), 134.128 EUR

Project Details:
The overall goal of the project is that farms that have high antibiotic use (ABU) can learn from farms that have comparably low ABU and the identification and optimization of parameters to improve animal health. The specific objectives of the project are: to improve biosecurity and overall hygiene of broiler chicken farms, to improve animal health of broiler chickens, to minimize the use of antibiotics, to transfer knowledge between broiler chicken farms with low and high ABU, and to optimize risk areas based on knowledge transfer.
There should be an intensive exchange of experiences between farmers who have different levels of ABU within the project. Thus, farms that have a high need for antibiotic use at the beginning of the project will learn which parameters they can and should optimize to improve animal health and minimize antibiotic use. Farm management factors that have a potential impact on animal health and consequent necessary ABU will be evaluated and collected during the practical phases of the project. These factors are divided into respective work packages (WP), including biosecurity of the farm and hygiene management (worked on by FLI & UROS), cleaning and disinfection (UROS), animal health and stable or herd management (TiHo and LMU), and knowledge transfer (UROS).
The project thus involves farms that have already been able to minimize their antibiotic use through innovative measures, optimized management and improved husbandry conditions. In addition, farms that are interested in improving animal health and minimizing antibiotic use and want to learn from other farms are invited to participate.

Cooperation Partners:

Uni ROS; Prof. Helen Louton

LMU München; PD Dr. Elke Rauch

FLI Insel Riems; PD Dr. Nicolai Denzin