Research Group 3: Wildlife diseases

Research field: Pathology

 Head: Dr. G. Wibbelt

Research in zoo and wild animals as well as conservation programmes of endangered species continously encounter unknown emerging diseases among wild life. Trained veterinary pathologists hold a crucial role in the investigations of these diseases and the elucidation of their pathogenesis. The recognition of macroscopical and microscopical changes permits the identification of specific disease pattern, which in wild or exotic animals are often altered compared to the known features in domestic animals. On the basis of these results further examinations are initiated, i.e. electron microscopy, bacteriology or virology and the findings will be correlated with the histological changes.

            


Spiny-tailed lizzard with buccal mycosis

The pathology department of the IZW posseses a long standing tradition and expertise in zoo and wild animal pathology. On average about 500 necropsies per year are performed. The majority of animals is derived from the neighboring Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde, but in case of specific scientific interest external zoological institutions can enquire pathological investigations on the base of cooperation.        

                             
                                                                                                   Histological image of a skin tumor from a fish otter 
                                                                                                                            HE, 100x

Projects:

•   Inclusion Body Disease of boid snakes  

• Diseases and the potential role as reservoir species in European bats

• Neoplastic diseases of zoo and wild animals  

• Immune cell populations of tumors from zoo and wild animals  

• Diseases of European mink  

• Fatty liver syndrome of stags in rut

                                             
                                                                                                                                                                          Lymph node leukosis in a Sumatra-Tiger

Pathologic-Anatomical Reference-Collection (PARS)

 The „Pathologic-Anatomical Reference-Collection“ (PARS) dates back to 1959 and resembles research archive as well as reference collection for every day work of the institute. It contains formalin-fixed wet material, paraffin blocs, histo-pathological slides and organ and bone preparations including necropsy reports and photografic macroscopy images. The collection database comprises more than 40.000 necropsy reports, of these two thirds are transferred into a digital database. The documentation based on serial necropsy numbers is the key for the preserved organ material of rare species and cases of special pathological interest. These are often individual cases or small groups of animals of highly scientific interest i.e. because of their endangered status. Most of the stored materials are still usable for modern examination techniques like immunohistochemistry or PCR, which are needed in comperative or retrospective studies regarding etiological or pathogenetical aspects of dieases.  As the analysis of larger numbers of individuals will lead to more significant findings concerning the occuring diseases in single animal species, making this reference collection a valuable tool also for future investigations.

 
Organ and bone preparation and collection of paraffin blocs with histological slides

Special publication: Cowpox infection causing stillbirth in an asian elephant (Elephas maximus)    Abstract

Electron microscopy