Investigations on the Health Status and Infection Risk of Harbour Seals () from Waters of the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea, Germany.

Harbour seals () are the most common pinniped species in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Lower Saxony, Germany. Their numbers have recovered after significant depletion due to viral outbreaks and effects of anthropogenic activities like pollution and habitat disturbance. Within the Wadden Sea National Park of Lower Saxony the harbour seal is protected.

Detection of Coxiella burnetii in the mammary gland of a dairy goat.

The zoonotic bacterium Coxiella (C.) burnetii can be excreted by infected goats through birth products and milk. The detection of C.

Neurotropic Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Red Foxes, Northern Germany.

In a 1-year survey of wild terrestrial predators in northern Germany, we found that 5 of 110 foxes were infected with contemporary avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses, forming a temporal cluster during January‒March 2023. Encephalitis and strong cerebral virus replication but only sporadic mammalian-adaptive viral polymerase basic 2 protein E627K mutations were seen.

Two Years after Detection: Pathogen Shedding and Phase-Specific Antibody Response in Three Dairy Goat Herds.

The infection dynamics of were investigated in three dairy goat herds (A, B, and C) 2 years after the first pathogen detection. A total of 28 and 29 goats from herds A and B, and 35 goats from herd C, were examined. Sera were analyzed on three sampling dates using phase-specific serology.

Co-exposure to Anaplasma spp., Coxiella burnetii and tick-borne encephalitis virus in sheep in southern Germany.

The intracellular bacteria Anaplasma spp. and Coxiella burnetii and the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) are tick-transmitted pathogens circulating in the southern German sheep population. Knowledge of interaction among Anaplasma spp.

Investigation and response to a large outbreak of leptospirosis in field workers in Lower Saxony, Germany.

Between June and August 2014, 45 cases of leptospirosis were notified among workers on two strawberry farms in North-West Germany. We describe the characteristics of the outbreak and the actions taken to prevent further cases. The activities of the local, federal and national public health and veterinary authorities included collection of case data, laboratory testing of human specimens and of small mammals trapped on the fields, investigation of weather data, as well as information provided to farmers, field workers, physicians and to the authorities in Poland and Romania.

Impact of vaccination on humoral immune response, vaginal shedding, and lamb mortality in naturally pre-infected sheep.

Introduction: Sheep are considered to be one of the main reservoirs for , a gram-negative bacterium with high zoonotic potential. Infected sheep shed tremendous amounts of the pathogen through birth products which caused human Q fever epidemics in several countries. Information about the impact of an inactivated Phase I vaccine on humoral immune response, vaginal shedding, and lamb mortality in naturally pre-infected sheep is scarce.

Surveillance of Shedding in Three Naturally Infected Dairy Goat Herds after Vaccination, Focusing on Bulk Tank Milk and Dust Swabs.

Q fever outbreaks on three dairy goat farms (A-C) were monitored after the animals had been vaccinated with an inactivated phase I vaccine. The antibody response was measured before vaccination by serum samples with two phase-specific ELISAs to characterize the disease status. Shedding was determined by vaginal swabs during three kidding seasons and monthly bulk tank milk (BTM) samples.

Cluster of human Puumala orthohantavirus infections due to indoor exposure?-An interdisciplinary outbreak investigation.

Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) is the most important hantavirus species in Europe, causing the majority of human hantavirus disease cases. In central and western Europe, the occurrence of human infections is mainly driven by bank vole population dynamics influenced by beech mast. In Germany, hantavirus epidemic years are observed in 2- to 5-year intervals.

Inactivation Kinetics of During High-Temperature Short-Time Pasteurization of Milk.

The Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterium is the causative organism of the zoonosis Q fever and is known for its resistance toward various intra- and extracellular stressors. Infected ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats can shed the pathogen in their milk. Pasteurization of raw milk was introduced for the inactivation of and other milk-borne pathogens.

Holoprosencephalia, hypoplasia of corpus callosum and cerebral heterotopia in a male belted Galloway heifer with adipsia.

Background: Specialized neurons in the diencephalon detect blood hypernatremia in dehydrated animals. These neurons are connected with the pituitary gland, subsequently producing antidiuretic hormone to reabsorb water from urine in the kidneys, and to the forebrain to generate thirst and trigger drinking behavior.

Case Presentation: This is the first case report describing clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and necropsy results of a Belted Galloway heifer with severe clinical signs of dehydration and hypernatremia, but concurrent adipsia and isosthenuria.

Multispecies Q Fever Outbreak in a Mixed Dairy Goat and Cattle Farm Based on a New Bovine-Associated Genotype of .

A Q fever outbreak on a dairy goat and cattle farm was investigated with regard to the One Health concept. Serum samples and vaginal swabs from goats with different reproductive statuses were collected. Cows, cats, and a dog were investigated with the same sample matrix.

Influence of Season, Population and Individual Characteristics on the Prevalence of spp. in Bank Voles in North-West Germany.

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease with more than 1 million human cases annually. Infections are associated with direct contact to infected animals or indirect contact to contaminated water or soil. As not much is known about the prevalence and host specificity of spp.

Increasing awareness for tick-borne encephalitis virus using small ruminants as suitable sentinels: Preliminary observations.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is one of the most common zoonotic vector-borne infections in Europe. An appropriate awareness is crucial to react quickly and efficiently to protect humans from this pathogen. From winter 2017 until spring 2018 serum samples were collected from 71 small ruminant flocks (3174 animals) in five German federal states.

Concept of an Active Surveillance System for Q Fever in German Small Ruminants-Conflicts Between Best Practices and Feasibility.

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium . Inhalation of contaminated dust particles or aerosols originating from animals (esp. small ruminants) is the main source of human infection.

Humoral immune response to Q fever vaccination of three sheep flocks naturally pre-infected with Coxiella burnetii.

Qfever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii; Coxiella-infected ruminants are the main reservoir shedding the pathogen during abortion or parturition through birth products. Germany has a long history of small-scale Q fever epidemics in the human population mostly associated with lambing sheep. Therefore, fast and efficient control measures are essentially required to prevent transmission from infected sheep flocks to humans.

Comparison of Excretion between Sheep and Goats Naturally Infected with One Cattle-Associated Genotype.

The main reservoir of are ruminants. They shed the pathogen through birth products, vaginal mucus, faeces and milk. A direct comparison of excretions between naturally infected sheep and goats was performed on the same farm to investigate species-specific differences.

Geographic Distribution of Raccoon Roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, Germany and Luxembourg.

Infestation with Baylisascaris procyonis, a gastrointestinal nematode of the raccoon, can cause fatal disease in humans. We found that the parasite is widespread in central Germany and can pose a public health risk. The spread of B.

Feasibility and Effects on Muscle Function of an Exercise Program for Older Adults.

Introduction: Study objective was to determine feasibility and compliance with a 3-month exercise intervention in older adults, and if peripheral quantitative computed tomography muscle measures and jumping mechanography could detect changes in muscle mass and function.

Methods: A parallel group, nonblinded, pilot trial with individuals 70 yr or older randomized to control group of walking-only (WALK) or an intervention group of walking combined with exercises to improve balance and strength (W + EX). Both groups attended similar weekly nutrition education sessions.

[Leptospirosis in Germany: current knowledge on pathogen species, reservoir hosts, and disease in humans and animals].

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms in humans and animals, ranging from subclinical infections to severe signs of multiorgan dysfunction. In Germany, laboratory confirmation of acute human infection is notifiable based on the Protection Against Infection Act. Disease or occurrence of the pathogen in pigs and sheep must be reported according to the regulation on reportable animal diseases.

Similar yet different: co-analysis of the genetic diversity and structure of an invasive nematode parasite and its invasive mammalian host.

Animal parasitic nematodes can cause serious diseases and their emergence in new areas can be an issue of major concern for biodiversity conservation and human health. Their ability to adapt to new environments and hosts is likely to be affected by their degree of genetic diversity, with gene flow between distinct populations counteracting genetic drift and increasing effective population size. The raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis), a gastrointestinal parasite of the raccoon (Procyon lotor), has increased its global geographic range after being translocated with its host.

Spatial analysis of Leptospira infection in muskrats in Lower Saxony, Germany, and the association with human leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis has been reported as an emerging zoonosis and the most widespread zoonotic disease in the world. Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) have been known to carry Leptospira serovars, which have been linked to Weil's disease - a serious and life threatening disease in humans. In this study, muskrats were sampled across 43 regions of Lower Saxony, Germany, during 2007 to 2009 and were tested for leptospirosis using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of subsp. Strain 08T0073 Isolated from a Wild European Hare.

Here, we report a high-quality draft genome sequence of subsp. strain 08T0073, isolated from the cadaver of a wild European hare () found near Helmstedt, Lower Saxony, Germany, in 2007. In Germany, infected hares are a major source of tularemia in humans.