Research Activities at the Faculty
Since 1923 the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is part
of the University of Leipzig. This has contributed significantly
to the development of this subject with regard to both, veterinary
education as well as scientific research. Being part of the university
also determines the standard, the direction and the goals in these
areas. It has to be kept in mind, however, that veterinary medicine
continues to be highly profession-orientated. Therefore, changes
and new trends in all fields will have impact on veterinary education
as well as research. Furthermore, with regard to the results obtained
in research, the benefits for practical application as well as for
education always will have to be taken into consideration.
The focus of research at the faculty is on the following areas:
- Consumer health protection
- Preventive veterinary medicine
- Clinical veterinary medicine
Research in these areas is of main interest for individual
institutes and clinics; generally, however, research is executed
in a close cooperation with other institutions of the faculty. Furthermore,
there is cooperation with a number of other institutions at both,
a national and an international level.
Basic sciences
Basic sciences are in the focus of research at several
institutes, with the cooperation mentioned above playing a major
role. At the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology
growth of domestic animals is investigated in the working group
Anatomy. The aim of a study entitled "Therapy of experimentally
induced stroke in sheep" is the development of an large animal
model for focal cerebral ischemia (stroke) in order to allow the
evaluation of therapeutic effects of stem cells. In the working
group Histology and Embryology, modification of glia neuron interaction
in the mammalian retina as well as degeneration and regeneration
in the mammalian retina are investigated. A close relationship to
infectious diseases exists in studies entitled "BDV-infection.
A model to study inflammatory induced modulation in the central
nervous system". Interdisciplinary studies focus on the development
of a system to identify tissue of the central nervous system in
meat and preserved meat, drug targeting with nano beads against
experimentally induced b-amyloid plaques and pathological phosphorylized
tau protein in the brain of rabbits and transgen mice with human
b-amyloid precursor protein, and the valuation of monoclonal antibodies
against the C-terminal epitope of the prion protein. Parts of these
studies are supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, BMBF,
the Freestate of Saxony, and other institutions.
At the Institute of Physiology a main topic
of research activities is gastrointestinal physiology. These activities
primarily focus both onto cellular physiology and integratory mechanisms
on tissue level. Questions of relevance to veterinary medicine -
and, therefore mostly species specific - are forming the basis of
most of the studies. Therefore, organ and species specific cell
culture models have been established. On cell as well as on tissue
level actual techniques from human basic research have been modified
for use on veterinary topics. Out of all fields of gastrointesinal
physiology, functions of the gastrointestinal epithelium are in
the focus of the research activities. Accordingly, various transport
processes were characterized in the epithelium of the forestomach
and colon of sheep and pig, respectively. Besides the functional
and molecular characterization of gastrointestinal transporting
proteins, research activities also focus onto the control of gastrointestinal
functions by neurones of the enteric nervous system. Apart from
gastrointestinal physiology a new topic is the characterization
of transporting proteins in canine mammary cancer. These studies
will be intensified in the near future. Research activities are
supported by grants mainly given by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft,
the Akademie für Tiergesundheit, the Schaumann Stiftung and
other foundations.
In the working area Physiological Chemistry at the
Institute of Biochemistry the role of fatty acids and antioxidants
for the prophylaxis and therapy of diseases of domestic animals
is examined. Investigations on the influence of the lipid composition
on the oxidative metabolism of macrophages are the focal point.
A further subject is the pathobiochemistry of canine atopic dermatitis,
with the influence of fatty acids and vitamin E on the development
and release of inflammatory mediators of mast cells being in the
centre of the interest. Furthermore the influence of mast cell membrane
composition changed by dietary lipids and vitamin E on the release
and development of inflammatory effective mediators is examined.
Investigations on the ozone treatment of hatching eggs to diminish
Salmonella burden have reference to infection medicine and to consumer
health protection. In working area Endocrinology investigations
on physiology and pathology of the endocrine system are carried
out. Mechanisms and intracellular signalling pathways, important
for invasion and proliferation during implantation as well as tumorigenesis,
are examined comparatively. In cooperation with the Clinic for Small
Animals, clinical markers for tumour prognosis are acquired. Clinical
relevance have investigations on endometriosis, the hormonal regulation
of the extracellular matrix as well as the hyperadrenocorticism
and metabolic diseases of the lactating cow.
Comparative studies on diagnosis, pathogenesis, aetiology
and prognosis of reproductive disorders in the female and male (especially
in the horse), are actual topics of research in the Institute
of Veterinary Pathology. These projects are based on interdisciplinary
and international cooperation with clinical and paraclinical partners.
Emphasis of investigation lays on the pathology of placenta (mare,
cow, bitch) as well as degenerative uterine diseases; endocrine
disorders and neoplasia are also investigated. Furthermore, morphological-functional
investigations are focussed on the interactions of endocrine active
neoplastic and not-neoplastic diseases of thyreoidea, pituitary
gland, adrenal glands, testes and ovaries concerning the hormonal
axis and their target organs. Another main point of research are
spontaneous cardiovascular diseases in dogs and cats, correlated
with clinical findings. The intension of an interdisciplinary cooperation
with the Heart Centre Leipzig is to establish and to evaluate animal
models for diagnosis and therapy of cardiovascular diseases in humans.
Herein studies in transplantation medicine and stem cell research
are the centre of attention. The following complexes are investigated
in cooperation with clinical partners: Hepatic and ocular diseases
in dogs and cats as well as questions in comparative pathology of
age related deficiency of hearing in dogs, cats and horses.
At the Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition
Diseases and Dietetics research is currently performed on the
nutrition of farm animals, companion animals and laboratory animals,
with special emphasis on the effects of different energy sources,
praebiotics and probiotics as well as alternative growth promoters.
Conventional in vivo experiments and in vitro investigations are
performed and the latter in part newly established. For in vivo
studies in equines, a new method to determine the chewing activity
electronically is developed. Other projects deal with the microscopic
determination of humic acid particles in various tissues of quails
and pigs, dietetic aspects in feeding horses with polysaccharide
storage myopathy, the early postpartal regulation of calcium homeostasis
in mares, effects of high amounts of dietary tyrosine in horses,
and the concentrations of antibodies and selected nutrients in the
colostrum of different species. The projects are carried out in
co-operation with scientific institutions at the universities in
Munich, Rostock and Kraukau, the Justus-von-Liebig-School Hanover
and the Institute of Grain Processing in Berlin. The scientific
work is financed by grants of public service institutions or industry.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine
Research in the field of infectious diseases is in
close relation the area of preventive veterinary medicine. In 2004,
the Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, the Institute for Virology,
the Institute for Parasitology, and the Institute of Immunology
decided to form a Joint Venture Infectious Diseases.
At the Institute for Bacteriology and Mycology
the main research areas are the analyses of the gastro-intestinal
flora by means of conventional and molecular-biological methods,
their interaction to the immune system and metabolism in farm and
domestic animals as well as fish. Immunological investigations mainly
include acute-phase proteins, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, LBP
as well as special antibodies against LPS, phospholipase C of Clostridium
perfringens, Clostridium botulinum and Candida spp. The objective
is the characterization and stabilization of the gastro-intestinal
barrier by means of bacteriological and immunological methods as
well as the development of methods for stabilizing the gastro-intestinal
barrier. The focus of several investigations, granted by various
institutions and in collaboration with other disciplines of the
faculty and university is directed on the influence of the gastro-intestinal
flora on specific diseases of humans and animals as well as the
effect of probiotics and prebiotics used to influence the gastro-intestinal
flora. The aim of other investigations is to check water treatment
equipment for the decontamination of drinking water. The institute
participates in the European Network "Functional plants in
Veterinary Medicine".
The focus of research at the Institute for Virology
is on basic science, applied science and diagnostics in the field
of animal viruses and viral infections of animals. By the application
of modern techniques of molecular biology, aspects of the pathogenesis
of virus diseases are investigated, using DNA as well as RNA viruses
as models, among others, polyomavirus, circovirus, infectious bursal
disease virus, and Borna disease virus. On one side, these viruses
exhibit uncommon morphological and biological characteristics; on
the other side, they are the causative agents of economic losses,
mainly to the poultry industry, or they may not only cause disease
in animals, but also in humans. The aims of these investigations
are to elucidate the molecular basis for the uncommon host and cell
tropism of these viruses at the level of adsorption to and entry
into susceptible cells as well as virus replication, and to identify
virulence markers. To fight against economically important virus
infections, virus vaccines and diagnostic tools are developed by
the application of the techniques of molecular biology. The efficiencies
of conventional diagnostic protocols are compared to those applying
the techniques of molecular biology, particularly with regard to
sensitivity and specificity. It is the intention to make suitable
protocols and reagents commercially available. Research is funded
by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, various state
or country ministries, the European Commission, and industrial partners.
International cooperation has been established within the framework
of several EU projects.
At the Institute for Parasitology research
projects on protozoa, helminths and arthropods are currently performed.
Traditional and modern methods such as cell biology, computer-assisted
image analysis, as well as molecular techniques are applied and
developed further, or will be newly established. Cooperative projects
with public service institutions or companies aim at the analysis
of current epidemiological aspects and the development of strategic
control measures including the inactivation of infectious parasite
stages in the environment and biological control. The main emphasis
is placed on protozoa belonging to the coccidia (genera Eimeria,
Isospora, Cryptosporidium, Sarcocystis). Coccidia inhabiting the
intestine may cause severe disease and considerable economic losses
in livestock farming. In addition to this cryptosporidia are of
zoonotic impact. Genotyping and a quantitative vitality assay for
Cryptosporidium oocysts based on real time PCR is currently established.
In cooperation with research groups at the University of Giessen
and the University of Hohenheim Sarcocystis miescheriana is applied
as a model for QTL gene mapping of disease resistance in pig breeds.
This project is funded by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
The major research interest at the Institute of
Immunology is in the area of immunity against bacterial and
fungal pathogens. In the mouse models of the infection with Salmonella
Enteritidis and Cryptococcus neoformans we study the function of
novel members of the interleukin-12 family. This project is funded
by the DFG and done in collaboration with institutes and clinics
of the Medical and Veterinary Faculty of the University of Leipzig,
Westfälische Wilhelms-University, University of Cape Town (South
Africa) and DNAX Research Institute, Schering Plough, USA. In another
project funded by the DFG the role of interleukin-4 and of interleukin-13
in immunity to Cryptococcus neoformans using complete and macrophage-specific
gene-deficient mice is studied. The BBZ Junior Research Group "Molecular
medicine of infectious diseases" which belongs to our institute
analyzes molecular mechanisms of persistence of the Borrelia species
(collaboration with College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University,
Ithaca, USA and with Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, Israel). In addition, this group investigates
Borrelia burgdorferi specific antibody levels in dogs receiving
vaccines according to the standard or to an alternative immunization
regimen (collaboration with Clinic for Small Animals, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig).
Veterinary Public Health
Research at the Institute for Animal Hygiene and
Veterinary Public Health and at the Institute for Food Hygiene
is in the field of Veterinary Public Health. Current research at
the Institute for Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health covers
the three main topics animal welfare / ethology, microbiology /
virology, and analytical chemistry. Projects focus on investigation
of the current epidemiological situation of various infectious diseases,
on the development of prophylactic measures (immuno-prophylaxis
and hygienic management) against such infections, on the development
of new analytical procedures, and on the assessment of established
and new animal housing systems. These projects examine the genetic
variability of porcine parvovirus, with respect to an improvement
of vaccination, the functional analysis of virulence factors of
Salmonellae, the analysis of different vaccination strategies against
Salmonellae, and the assessment of new housing systems for laying
hens, and are funded by the industry. A joint research project with
the Institute of Food Hygiene focuses on the development of new
GC-MS procedures for the detection of specified risk material (TSE)
in meat, meat products, and meat-and-bone meal. This project is
funded by the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and
Agriculture. Other projects investigate the current epidemiological
situations of infections of breeding dogs with canine herpesvirus
and minute virus of canines. Furthermore, studies on the etiology
of Prototheca in mastitis in cattle and Prototheca taxonomy as well
as the validation of alternative test methods for disinfectant testing
are currently performed.
One of the main research areas in the Institute
of Food Hygiene are studies on the quality of organically produced
food in consideration of consumer protection. Especially the microbial
quality of various organically produced foods is in the focus of
these projects, supported by BMVEL. Another project, supported by
BMVEL, deals with ozone treatment of egg shells to destroy Salmonella
Enteritidis. The aim of that study is, to develop an innovative
method to reduce zoonotic bacteria on egg shells as a contribution
to increase product quality and consumer protection. That project
is carried out in co-operation with the Institute of Veterinary
Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and the Institute of Physiological
Chemistry. The development and validation of diagnostic methods
for epidemiological investigations of important zoonotic diseases
is financed by BMWA. Hereby, new diagnostic methods will be developed
and applied to detect zoonotic agents throughout the food chain.
Campylobacter, as an important zoonotic microorganism is used to
analyse survival strategies and adaptive stress responses of microorganisms
on the expression level. The Department of Meat Hygiene deals with
different detection methods of specified risk material in meat products
with regard to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (supported
by BMVEL).
Clinical Veterinary Medicine
Research in the field of Clinical Veterinary Medicine
is performed at various clinics and institutes of the Faculty, frequently
in close cooperation with other institutions, at both, a national
and an international level.
At the Institute of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and
Toxicology the pathophysiological importance of adrenergic and
muscarinic receptors in the equine chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) is investigated in collaboration with Cardiac Centre,
Leipzig, and the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University
of Halle-Wittenberg. It is supposed that dysregulation of the neurohumoral
receptor control (with adrenergic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors)
might play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The study
should provide important information as to the pathogenesis of the
disease and thus, the rationale for therapeutic strategies for equine
COPD. Other research objectives focus on the establishment of more
effective strategies for tumour therapy and the development of in
vitro cell culture systems with liver-specific features for the
replacement of experiments with animals. In this context different
carrier systems from liver and kidneys were characterized which
are able to mediate the transport of drugs; their regulation by
xenobiotics is investigated in order to identify drug interactions
(supported by DFG). By fusion of primary rat hepatocytes with rat
liver tumour cells and viral immortalization of human hepatocytes,
cell lines were established with liver-specific functions. These
cell lines should replace in vivo models (grant by Federal Institute
for Risk Assessment).
The Department of Small Animal Medicine represents
the classical clinical branches of Internal Medicine, Surgery and
Reproduction focused on small animals. Scientific projects in all
these three fields are currently in progress. There are mainly clinical
projects, parts of them substantiated by basic research. Biomechanics
of large joints of dogs are the main subject of the surgical research
programmes. There are co-operations with the Universities of Zurich
and Munich, the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, and the Centre
of Orthopaedic and Biomechanical Research, Boise State University
(USA) working on topics about the correlation of subchondral bone
density and thickness, the estimation of the three-dimensional location
of endoprosthesis in bone and three-dimensional kinematics of the
stifle and elbow joints of dogs under simulated movements and surgical
conditions. Parallel there are investigations on the brachycephalic
syndrome in dogs and cats: The growing popularity of brachycephalic
breeds leads to an increasing relevance regarding animals protection
concerning dyspnoea related to this syndrome. The aetiology of the
brachycephalic syndrome is nearly unknown. In cooperation with the
universities of Berlin and Zurich we are working on basic questions
about the morphology and therapy concepts of affected animals (microlaryngoscopic
and video-supported endonasal laser surgery). The usefulness of
morphometric and functional screening methods are also investigated.
Anaesthesiology: The anaesthetic risk in dogs and cats is with about
1 death per 1000 general anaesthesias much higher than in humans
(1:100000). The goal of our research in anaesthesia is to find the
causes and to develop concepts for reduction of the high anaesthetic
risk. Currently the usefulness of different preoperative screening
methods is investigated. Among others the focuses of diagnostic
imaging are the evaluation of new, computer supported methods of
imaging and image analyses (digital projection radiography, high-speed
CT, digital ultrasound) for selected veterinary medical questions
and the evaluation of actual contrast media protocols for plain
radiography, MRI and ultrasound. The use of three-dimensional imaging
and navigation technique in small animals is investigated in conjunction
with surgical and neurosurgical questions. Oncology: In cooperation
with human clinics of the University of Leipzig and specialized
private clinics projects about fractionated intracavitary high-dose
brachytherapy are implemented. The postoperative radiotherapy of
neoplasias is investigated in form of a multimodality therapy. In
conjunction with gynaecologic subjects the diagnosis and prognosis
of mammary cancer in the bitch are investigated under inclusion
of tumour associated pathogenic mechanisms and sonographic criteria
of dignity. The neurologic research concentrates on diagnostics
and therapies of intracranial lesions. There are close interactions
to our projects in diagnostic imaging, oncology and surgery (e.g.,
stereotactic guided brain biopsies). In ophthalmology we are concentrating
on questions about the health of the eyes and heredity of ophthalmic
diseases in captive wild animals. Within the scope of the preservation
of endangered species, breeding programmes gain importance in zoological
gardens and the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University
of Jerusalem. Clinic for birds and reptiles: A main research focus
is the examination of the usability of modern imaging techniques
like ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography
in pet and wild birds as well as reptiles. The aim is to establish
appropriate investigation protocols and reference parameters in
healthy animals and to gain experiences about the use in diseased
animals. A project funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
is engaged in the examination of cardiac diseases in birds, focused
on the therapy of cardiac diseases. Concerning poultry, several
funded projects are ongoing, e.g. the investigation of the frequency
of the occurrence of mycoplasms and, in close cooperation with the
Institute for Virology, metapneumoviruses in laying hens in different
systems of husbandry. Further research points of the institution
are investigations of the bioavailability and compatibility of different
anti-infective drugs in poultry and pet birds. In addition the young
pigeon disease syndrome and the influence of husbandry and breeding
on the animal health in pet birds and poultry are examined.
Clinical research in the field of large animals
Clinical research in the field of large animals is
represented by the classical clinical branches of Internal Medicine,
Surgery and Theriogenology.
At the Large Animal Clinic for Internal Medicine
the elucidation of the etiopathogenesis of equine colic is the research
goal. To this end, the pathomorpholocial interaction between apoptosis
in squamous mucus cells and feeding on one hand and the development
of stomach ulcers on the other were examined. Apoptosis significantly
increased in the squamous mucosa cells given irregular or no feeding.
The pathophysiological impact on extra cellular fluid balance caused
by lack of / reduced reabsorption of fluid was measured in horses
with acute colitis or strangulation obstruction. Dehydration could
be counteracted with either isotonic or hypertonic saline solutions,
or by means of a hydroxyethyl starch (HES) plasma-expander.
At the Large Animal Clinic for Surgery minimal
invasive ultrasound and transcutaneous ultrasound techniques in
the bovine and equine abdomen are compared. Respiratory and blood
gas parameters during thoracoscopy in the standing horse are also
investigated. Further studies focus on the comparative evaluation
of the interosseous muscle of the hindlimb of horses using ultrasonographic
and histological methods, the magnetic resonance imaging of the
equine hock with specific reference to the origin of the suspensory
ligament, and the three-dimensional sonographic imaging at the stifle
joint of horses. Orthopaedic problems in the horse are investigated
with regard to the comparison of different horse breeds using radiographic
criteria of maturity, and scintigraphic investigations of the equine
digit.
In the centre of research at the Large Animal Clinic
for Theriogenology and Ambulatory Services are the laparoscopic
collection of calf oozytes, their in-vitro-maturation, fertilisation
and embryo transfer to adult recipients, and basic research in the
differential gene expression in bovine oocytes, Other projects refer
to the establishment / improvement of reproductive performance in
prepubertal and pubertal gilts and sows, studies on mycotoxins and
infections with chlamydiae in gilts and sows with reduced fertility,
and the epidemiology, diagnosis, metaphylaxis and therapy of mastitis
in dairy cows with regard to consumers´ health protection.
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