Overview of research projects

Project Details:
In der Reptilienmedizin nehmen die weiterführenden Bildgebenden Verfahren wie bei andere Tierarten auch einen immer größeren Stellenwert ein. Hierbei gibt es bisher nur wenige Reihenuntersuchungen zur Erhebung physiologischer Parameter bei den verschiedenen Reptilienspezies. Daher erfolgen Reihenuntersuchungen verschiedener Organsysteme bei unterschiedlichen Spezies, um in einem weiteren Schritt die Abweichung von der Norm definieren zu können.

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

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: 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: 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: 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: QS-Wissenschaftsfond, 25.000 EUR

Project Details:
Das Risiko eines Eintrags des Bakteriums Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) über Schweinefleisch in die Lebensmittelkette soll verringert werden, indem die Sauen eines Ferkelerzeugerbetriebes mit Jungsauenvermehrung gegen S. Typhimurium geimpft werden. Die nachgeschalteten Mastbetriebe sollen durch Reinigungs- und Desinfektionsmaßnahmen und die Einstallung von Ferkeln von geimpften Sauen wieder in Salmonellen-Kategorie I eingestuft werden, da weniger Seroreagenten in der Mast auftreten.
Aus den Ergebnissen soll eine Impfstrategie für die Sauenhaltung im QS-System abgleitet werden, mit der es möglich ist, die Seroreagenten in der Mast und die Salmonellennachweise bei Schlachtschweinen signifikant zu verringern

Cooperation Partners:

1.VVG Lüdinghausen-Selm

2. Fleischhof Rasting GmbH

Funding: Landesbetrieb f. Küstenschutz, Nationalpark u. Meeresschutz Schleswig-Holstein, Tönning, 39.256 EUR

Project Details:
Harbor porpoises are representatives of the top predators from the group of mammals in the North Sea and Wadden Sea. With the amendment of the National Park Act in 1999, part of the national park was explicitly dedicated to harbor porpoise protection, as a high density of mother-calf groups was found there. As part of the reorganization of the Federal-Länder Marine Program (BLMP), a program for joint monitoring of marine mammals was agreed upon in January 2011 that meets the requirements of monitoring according to the relevant European guidelines and international conventions. In this program, the Schleswig-Holstein National Park Administration (NPV) in the Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for Coastal Protection, National Parks and Marine Conservation (LKN) has the task of organizing, implementing and financing the acoustic monitoring of harbor porpoises. The acoustic surveys for the NPV are conducted by the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) as part of the joint marine mammal monitoring under the BLMP. For this purpose, monitoring stations are operated at four specified locations in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea (Lister Tief, Meldorfer Bucht, Rochelsteert, and Westerland). The monitoring stations are equipped with click detectors (C-PODs), which record the echolocation activity of harbor porpoises. The C-PODs are maintained and read out on a regular basis. The data obtained will be evaluated against the background of the optimization of the acoustic monitoring as well as necessary extensions in case of a permanent operation of the monitoring stations. The data of this long-term study provide information about a possible rhythmicity as well as tidal dependence in the porpoise detection over the day and over the course of a year.

Results:

The evaluation of the data showed that harbour porpoises have been recorded at all four measuring positions over the study period to date. However, there are spatial (between the stations) and temporal differences (individual years, over the course of the year, over the course of a day) in the detection rates. At the station Lister Tief (LT), on the eastern side of Sylt, the lowest detection rates were recorded. The station Westerland (WL), west of Sylt in the whale sanctuary, had the highest detection rates (maximum per day and median) over the study period so far. The station Meldorfer Bucht (MB), which is located in the immediate vicinity of Büsum harbour, also showed very high detection rates with a strong expression in spring.

The modelling of the individual stations could clearly show that there is a strong seasonality in the harbour porpoise detections. All stations show a maximum in detections in spring, in the period from mid-March to mid-April. This period is just before the phase of the highest birth rate, which lasts from mid-June to the end of July. During this period, increased detection could only be detected at station MB. About two months after the birth phase, the mating season of harbour porpoises in the North Sea begins. Within this period, an increased detection was observed at Rochelsteert station (RS) in contrast to all other stations. This could be an indication that the area around the station is used for mating. The calves are suckled for about ten months, but start eating solid food, in the form of small shrimp-like crustaceans (Euphausiidae, e.g. North Sea shrimp), at about five months of age. During this phase, an increase in detection rates was observed at the LT station. It is conceivable that juvenile harbour porpoises visit shallow water areas, such as at the LT station, in order to search for their first solid benthic food. The time of day had little influence on the detection rates over the entire study period. At station RS, however, a pattern in the diurnal rhythm with more detections during the day could be observed. The influence of the tide is more pronounced than the diurnal rhythm and can be observed in the phases between high and low tide. Station LT shows increased detection rates shortly before low water and a minimum shortly after high water. When comparing the stations WL and MB, an opposite effect can be observed. Station MB shows a minimum in detection rates shortly after high water, which is expressed in a maximum at station WL.

Funding: QS-Wissenschaftsfonds, 24.190 EUR

Project Details:
Die Routinedesinfektion in Nutztierställen stellt eine wichtige hygienische Maßnahme dar, um zu vermeiden, dass Krankheitserreger aus einem vorangegangenen Durchgang in den nächsten Produktionszyklus übertragen werden. Für die Überprüfung des Desinfektionserfolges existieren keine Standardverfahren in Deutschland. In diesem Voraben wird untersucht, inwieweit die Sockentupferprobe geeignet ist, den Erfolg der Flächendesinfektion in Geflügel- und Schweinställen zu kontrollieren. Ferner wird die Methode mit weniger aufwendigeren Verfahren (Abklatschproben, ATP-Bestimmungen) verglichen, um Vor- und Nachteile der verschiedenen Nachweismethoden aufzuzeigen.

Results:

https://www.q-s.de/services/files/qs-wissenschaftsfonds/Abschlussbericht_Sockentupferprobe-standardisierte-Massnahm.pdf