Phaidra - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
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Die nachhaltige Pferdeklinik: Treibhausgasbilanz und Maßnahmen auf dem Weg zu einer klimaneutralen Pferdeklinik an der Veterinärmedizinischen Universität Wien
No full textDiplomarbeit - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2025Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde die Nachhaltigkeit der Pferdeklinik der Veterinärmedizinischen Universität, anhand ihrer Umweltleistung, untersucht. Für die Erstellung einer Treibhausgasbilanz werden die Verbrauchsdaten von Energie, Wasser, Abfall und Mobilität erhoben und analysiert sowie mögliche Maßnahmen für eine Verbesserung der Bilanz erarbeitet. Die Daten wurden von dem Campus Management zu Verfügung gestellt und umfassen die Jahre 2021 – 2023 oder wurden ergänzend, durch Begehungen und einer Mobilitätsumfrage, im Rahmen dieser Arbeit erhoben. Die Daten der Pferdeklinik wurden vergleichend zum gesamten Campus aufgearbeitet und soweit möglich in kg CO2 mit Hilfe des Online-Tools des Umweltbundesamts umgerechnet. Dieser Vergleich zeigt, dass die Pferdeklinik nur 4 % des gesamten Stroms des Campus, 9 % der gelieferten Fernwärme und 3 % des Wassers verbraucht, aber 25 % des gesamten Verpackungsmüll am Campus, 12 % des Papier- und 11 % des Spitalsmülls produziert. Im Bereich Mobilität wurde mitunter die Anreise der Mitarbeitenden untersucht, wobei 47 % der Befragten Verbrennerautos nutzen. Um einen Beitrag zur Reduktion der Treibhausgase zu leisten, wurden mehrere Maßnahmen ausgearbeitet, wovon einige bereits umgesetzt werden konnten; hierbei unterscheidet man zwischen campusweiten und pferdeklinikspezifischen Möglichkeiten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass durch die Maßnahmensetzung eine Verbesserung der Treibhausgasbilanz erzielt werden kann. Der Wechsel auf Ökostrom wird voraussichtlich eine Reduktion der strombezogenen Emissionen um 95 % bewirken. Im Bereich Abfallmanagement wurden durch die neuen Recyclingstationen eine größere Recyclingquote ermöglicht. Ob die gesetzten Maßnahmen innerhalb dieses Arbeit ausreichen, um signifikante Veränderungen in den kommenden Jahren, zu erzielen, kann noch nicht beurteilt werden und muss in den folgenden Jahren, anhand der vom Campus Management ermittelten Zahlen, evaluiert werden.Diploma thesis - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - 2025This thesis analysed the sustainability of the equine clinic at the University of Veterinary Medicine focusing on its environmental performance. For preparing a greenhouse gas (GHG) balance, the consumption data of energy, water, waste and mobility are collected and analysed and possible measures for improving the balance are developed. The processing of the consumption data for energy, water, waste and mobility and the analysis of these form the basis for the possible implementation of measures. The data was provided by the campus management and covers the years 2021 to 2023 or was additionally collected through inspections and a mobility survey as part of this work. The data from the equine clinic was analysed in comparison to the campus- wide data and converted into kg CO2 as far as possible using the Federal Environment Agency\u27s online tool. This comparison shows that the equine clinic consumes only 4 % of the campus\u27s total electricity, 9 % of the district heating supplied and 3 % of the water, but produces 25 % of the campus\u27s total packaging waste, 12 % of the paper waste and 11 % of the hospital waste. In the area of mobility, employee travel was also analysed, with 47 % of those surveyed using combustion cars. To reduce greenhouse gases emissions, several measures have been proposed and partially implemented; a difference is made between campus-wide and equine clinic-specific options. The results show that an improvement in the greenhouse gas balance can be achieved by implementing the measures. The switch to green electricity is expected to reduce electricity-related emissions by 95 %. The new recycling stations have made it possible to achieve a higher recycling rate. It is not yet possible to judge whether the measures implemented within this project will be sufficient to achieve significant changes and will have to be evaluated in the coming years based on the figures determined by Campus Management.Diplomarbeit - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2025Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde die Nachhaltigkeit der Pferdeklinik der Veterinärmedizinischen Universität, anhand ihrer Umweltleistung, untersucht. Für die Erstellung einer Treibhausgasbilanz werden die Verbrauchsdaten von Energie, Wasser, Abfall und Mobilität erhoben und analysiert sowie mögliche Maßnahmen für eine Verbesserung der Bilanz erarbeitet. Die Daten wurden von dem Campus Management zu Verfügung gestellt und umfassen die Jahre 2021 – 2023 oder wurden ergänzend, durch Begehungen und einer Mobilitätsumfrage, im Rahmen dieser Arbeit erhoben. Die Daten der Pferdeklinik wurden vergleichend zum gesamten Campus aufgearbeitet und soweit möglich in kg CO2 mit Hilfe des Online-Tools des Umweltbundesamts umgerechnet. Dieser Vergleich zeigt, dass die Pferdeklinik nur 4 % des gesamten Stroms des Campus, 9 % der gelieferten Fernwärme und 3 % des Wassers verbraucht, aber 25 % des gesamten Verpackungsmüll am Campus, 12 % des Papier- und 11 % des Spitalsmülls produziert. Im Bereich Mobilität wurde mitunter die Anreise der Mitarbeitenden untersucht, wobei 47 % der Befragten Verbrennerautos nutzen. Um einen Beitrag zur Reduktion der Treibhausgase zu leisten, wurden mehrere Maßnahmen ausgearbeitet, wovon einige bereits umgesetzt werden konnten; hierbei unterscheidet man zwischen campusweiten und pferdeklinikspezifischen Möglichkeiten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass durch die Maßnahmensetzung eine Verbesserung der Treibhausgasbilanz erzielt werden kann. Der Wechsel auf Ökostrom wird voraussichtlich eine Reduktion der strombezogenen Emissionen um 95 % bewirken. Im Bereich Abfallmanagement wurden durch die neuen Recyclingstationen eine größere Recyclingquote ermöglicht. Ob die gesetzten Maßnahmen innerhalb dieses Arbeit ausreichen, um signifikante Veränderungen in den kommenden Jahren, zu erzielen, kann noch nicht beurteilt werden und muss in den folgenden Jahren, anhand der vom Campus Management ermittelten Zahlen, evaluiert werden
Cold-tolerant Clostridium spp. in beef and in the beef production chain in Austria – occurrence and species identification
No full textThe discussion surrounding cold-tolerant clostridia regarding spoilage of vacuum-packed beef has been going on for years. However, there is a lack of investigations in the beef production chain. This study aims to identify the contamination sites of these bacteria in abattoirs and cutting plants and their occurrence in beef. For this purpose, 815 swab and 85 beef samples from a cattle abattoir and a beef cutting plant, and 71 vacuum-packed beef samples from retail in Vienna (Austria), were analyzed. Three qPCR systems, 16S rRNA sequencing, and cultivation methods were applied. The occurrence of clostridia was high on hides and in the stunning and dehiding sites. Overall, 35.3 % and 31.0 % of the beef from the cutting plant and the retail tested positive. The main species detected in beef samples were C. algidicarnis, C. frigoriphilum, C. estertheticum and C. tagluense-like. These species were also found on cattle hides or surfaces of the abattoir. After storing beef samples at 4 °C for up to 1 to 2 weeks past the use-by date, 73.1 % and 34.6 % of positive beef samples exhibited off-odor and high gas production, respectively. These spoilage signs were found in only 38.5 % and 20.2 % of the negative samples. This confirms that a contamination with cold-tolerant clostridia leads to a shorter shelf life of vacuum-packed meat. To reduce carcass contamination with these bacteria, hygiene protocols for dehiding and effective surface disinfection of equipment and processing surfaces with sporicidal disinfectants authorized for the food industry, and corresponding monitoring plans, should be drawn up
Berries to Go: Distinct Passerine Spring Migration Frugivory at a Main Mediterranean Stopover Site
No full textMany animals show phenotypic flexibility in response to a seasonal environment. Especially migratory birds have been found to exhibit striking physiological and behavioural adaptations to overcome the negative impacts of environmental seasonality. Migratory songbirds often show extreme changes in feeding physiology and behaviour before embarking on a migratory flight, including predominantly insectivorous species switching their diet preference to a frugivorous one before autumn migration. Yet, little is known about frugivory during spring migration in temperate zones. In this paper, we report that five songbird species forage on the fruits of two Mediterranean plants, Prasium majus and Rhamnus alaternus, during spring stopover in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Analyses of faecal content showed that fruits of P. majus were generally preferred, with garden warblers (Sylvia borin) having the highest percentage of faecal samples containing seeds of both plants. Availability of ripe P. majus fruits increased over the sampling season and correlated positively with the number of faecal samples containing seeds. Our findings reveal a relevance of fruit at a temperate zone stopover site during spring migration for five passerine species. Frugivory during spring migration may represent an easy means for birds to acquire macronutrients, micronutrients and water. This may be especially important at resource-poor stopover sites and may aid birds\u27 continuation of the northward flight towards their breeding grounds in a timely manner
A Reassessment of the Cranial Diversity of the West African Giraffe
No full textThe West African giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis peralta, the rarest giraffe subspecies, is one of the least studied taxa of the African megafauna in terms of anatomy, physiology, and taxonomy due to the limited material hosted in museum collections. Here, we discuss specific morphological features of the holotype of this subspecies, re-evaluate its diagnostic characteristics and expand our knowledge of the morphology of the taxon with the addition of specimens collected in the wild. Our results show that G. c. peralta is not a subspecies of ‘gigantic’ proportions, as indicated in previous studies. This misunderstanding arose from the misidentification of the holotype specimen (NHMUK-ZD-1898.2.19.1) as a female instead of a male. The only other G. c. peralta specimen, which is hosted in the same collections in the Natural History Museum of London (NHMUK-ZD-1904.11.2.2), is a male of morphology and size much closer to that of an average G. camelopardalis male. Our findings show that in comparison to other giraffe subspecies the dimensions of G. c. peralta are as metrically expected and reveal preliminary evidence of the strongest sexual size dimorphism in the genus Giraffa. We further suggest that the holotype should be relabeled as a male. The evolutionary history and the phylogenetic position of G. c. peralta are discussed, favoring the mixing-isolation-mixing pattern with the Kordofan giraffe (G. c. antiquorum)
Allogenic Bioengineered Cartilage Achieves Hyaline Cartilage Repair in a Large Animal Model: A Promising Step Forward
No full textBackground:
Chondrocyte-based cell therapy remains a promising method for cartilage repair, despite limitations faced during the last 30 years.
Purpose/Hypothesis:
This work presents hyaline-like bioengineered beads from donor chondrocytes as a novel treatment option for cartilage lesions. It was hypothesized that the implanted cartilage minigrafts would be able to treat cartilage lesions by complete fusion among themselves and by integration with surrounding tissue. No tissue rejection was expected because of cartilage’s reported immunological privilege.
Study Design:
Controlled laboratory study.
Methods:
Allogenic cartilage beads with hyaline characteristics were produced from frozen chondrocytes of a minipig donor. A total of 8 Göttingen minipigs underwent the implantation of bioengineered cartilage beads into 8 to 10 mm–diameter full-thickness chondral lesions (3 lesions/knee). Animals were sacrificed at 6 weeks (n = 2) and 6 months (n = 6) after implantation. The safety and efficacy of implantation were assessed by macroscopic and histological analyses as well as by magnetic resonance imaging.
Results:
No signs of acute or chronic rejection were observed in any study animals upon implantation. For 6 minipigs at 6 months, magnetic resonance imaging results showed better coverage of the grafted lesions compared with empty (control) lesions. When the cartilage beads were maintained in the lesion, complete integration of the minigrafts with surrounding subchondral bone and native cartilage was observed. Repair tissue in grafted lesions maintained hyaline-like quality and showed evidence of a chondral zonal arrangement at 6 months’ follow-up. Additionally, grafted lesions (n = 17) had better macroscopic repair scores than empty lesions (n = 7) (mean inverse Goebel score, 4.24 and 5.57, respectively). Graft-filled lesions showed only a slight superiority in histological repair scores (mean Bern score, 5.76 and 5.43, respectively).
Conclusion:
Allogenic cartilage beads hold potential as an advanced therapy medicinal product for treating cartilage lesions in 1-step surgery with established safety and efficacy.
Clinical Relevance:
This successful preclinical study highlights allogenic cartilage beads as a promising method for cartilage repair. Moreover, using donor chondrocytes may allow reduced patient morbidity and 1-step surgery. Hence, this advanced therapy medicinal product is suitable for treating large lesions and older patients and is currently being evaluated in a phase I/IIa clinical trial
24-Nor-ursodeoxycholic acid improves intestinal inflammation by targeting TH17 pathogenicity and transdifferentiation
No full textBackground
24-Nor-ursodeoxycholic acid (NorUDCA) is a novel therapeutic bile acid for treating immune-mediated cholestatic liver diseases, such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).
Objective
Since PSC strongly associates with T helper-type-like 17 (TH17)-mediated intestinal inflammation, we explored NorUDCA’s immunomodulatory potential on TH17 cells.
Design
NorUDCA’s impact on TH17 differentiation was assessed using a CD4+TNaive adoptive transfer mouse model, and on intraepithelial TH17 pathogenicity and transdifferentiation using an αCD3 stimulation model combined with interleukin-17A-fate-mapping. Mechanistic studies used molecular and multiomics approaches, flow cytometry and metabolic assays with pathogenic (p) TH17. Pathogenicity of pTH17 exposed to NorUDCA in vitro was evaluated following adoptive transfer in intestinal tissues or the central nervous system (CNS). Key findings were validated in an αCD3-stimulated humanised NSG mouse model reconstituted with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with PSC.
Results
NorUDCA suppressed TH17 effector function and enriched regulatory T cell (Treg) abundance upon CD4+TNaive cell transfer. NorUDCA mitigated intraepithelial TH17 pathogenicity and decreased the generation of proinflammatory ‘TH1-like-TH17’ cells, and enhanced TH17 transdifferentiation into Treg and Tr1 (regulatory type 1) cells in the αCD3-model. In vivo ablation revealed that Treg induction is crucial for NorUDCA’s anti-inflammatory effect on TH17 pathogenicity. Mechanistically, NorUDCA restrained pTH17 effector function and simultaneously promoted functional Treg formation in vitro, by attenuating a glutamine-mTORC1-glycolysis signalling axis. Exposure of pTH17 to NorUDCA dampened their pathogenicity and expansion in the intestine or CNS upon transfer. NorUDCA’s impact on TH17 inflammation was corroborated in the humanised NSG mouse model.
Conclusion
NorUDCA restricts TH17 inflammation in multiple mouse models, potentiating future clinical applications for treating TH17-mediated intestinal diseases and beyond
Staphylococcus aureus in Rwandan dogs predominantly representing human-associated lineages
No full textThe present study aimed at examining the nasal and ear carriage of Staphylococcus aureus of Rwandan dogs and cats. Sixty-five S. aureus isolates were detected, all originating from the nostrils of dogs. Resistance to penicillin, penicillin/erythromycin/clindamycin, penicillin/tetracycline, and tetracycline solely was observed. The isolates were assigned to 23 different spa types, among them three novel (t21589, t21661, and t21662) variants, associated with eleven clonal complexes (CCs) (CC1, CC5, CC12, CC15, CC22, CC30, CC45, CC97, CC152, CC707, and CC834). Four isolates could not be assigned to any known CC. MLST revealed that one of them belonged to the new sequence type (ST) 9069. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes (lukF-PV/lukS-PV), the bovine leukocidin genes (lukM/lukF-P83), the toxic shock syndrome toxin gene tst-1, and various virulence-associated genes were detected. These findings demonstrate the dogs are colonized with human lineages of S. aureus. Coupled with the limited availability of S. aureus data from human medicine in Rwanda underscores the importance of hygiene measures and supports the need for a rigorous One-Health Surveillance program of the companion animals-human interface
The effect of cyclic fluid perfusion on the proinflammatory tissue environment in osteoarthritis using equine joint-on-a-chip models
No full textOsteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder characterized by cartilage degradation, chronic inflammation, and progressive joint dysfunction. Despite rising incidences driven by ageing and increasing obesity, potent treatments remain elusive, exacerbating the socioeconomic burden. OA pathogenesis involves an imbalance in extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover, mediated by inflammatory cytokines and matrix-degrading enzymes, leading to oxidative stress, chondrocyte apoptosis, and ECM degradation. Additionally, synovial inflammation (synovitis) plays a critical role in disease progression through molecular crosstalk with cartilage and other joint tissues. Existing in vitro and in vivo OA models face significant limitations in replicating human pathophysiology, particularly the complex interplay between joint tissues. Equine models, due to their anatomical and cellular similarities to humans, offer translational relevance but remain underutilized. This study aims to develop an advanced 3D coculture system using equine chondrocytes and synoviocytes to simulate tissue-level interactions and fluid mechanical forces involved in OA. By incorporating inflammatory stimuli and gravity-driven cyclic fluid actuation, this model enables the study of OA-related molecular interactions in both healthy and diseased conditions under dynamic fluid conditions. Findings from this research provide important insights into pathological tissue crosstalk. In turn, this can help to better understand underlying inflammatory pathways and the potential contribution of fluid flow as an influential factor on the tissue microenvironment
Classification of behaviour with low-frequency accelerometers in female wild boar
No full textAccelerometers with low sampling rates (1 Hz) are commercially available as ear tags. While an automated and therefore undisturbed sampling of animal behaviour can be useful not only in behavioural studies but also in ecological or wildlife management studies, the usefulness of such \u27a low data collection rate for the prediction of behaviours was the key question addressed here. We classified the behaviour of female wild boar, kept under semi-natural conditions in a large outdoor enclosure, using acceleration data. Predictions were based on a machine learning algorithm, specifically a random forest model in the open software h2o. Remarkably, prediction of many behaviours was possible using ear-tag acceleration sensors that sampled data only at a low frequency. This measurement device was mainly used to minimise the potentially harmful effects caused by the repeated capture of wild animals to exchange batteries. Long battery life will also help to collect long-term accelerometer data and has the potential to explore seasonal and inter-annual trends. Foraging, lateral resting, sternal resting and lactating were identified well, scrubbing, standing and walking not reliably. Balanced accuracy depended on the behaviour type and ranged from 50% (walking) to 97% (lateral resting). Results show that static features of unfiltered acceleration data, as well as of gravitation and orientation filtered data, were used in the prediction of behaviour. The waveform of certain behaviours in the sampled frequency range played no important role. Certain positively identified behaviours, such as food intake and lactation, could be of interest for wildlife managers attempting to control population growth in this pest-species. We provide several R-scripts that allow the analysis of behavioural accelerometer data
Self-regulated learning at the workplace: State, trait, or development?
No full textBackground: Health sciences students often encounter challenges when they begin learning and practicing in the workplace. Various research approaches and interventions have been developed to facilitate self-regulated learning in this context. To determine the most effective approach, a thorough understanding of the stability and variability of self-regulated learning in the workplace is necessary. Aim: This study analyzed the stable trait, autoregressive trait, and time-varying state components of selfregulated learning in the workplace. Sample: The sample comprised 188 undergraduates who were learning at a medical workplace for the first time and rotating weekly between various settings. Methods: Undergraduates completed a diary on 37 aspects of self-regulated learning for a duration of 10 weeks. Data were analyzed using STARTS models. Results: The aggregate results showed that 28 % of the total variance in self-regulated learning in the workplace was accounted for by the stable trait component, 22 % by the autoregressive trait component, and 50 % by the time-varying state component. These component ratios vary across different areas (cognition, motivation, emotion, and context) and levels (learning process level and metalevel) of self-regulated learning. Conclusions: To enhance health sciences students\u27 self-regulated learning in the workplace, it is recommended to focus on research and interventions to provide situation-specific supportive framework conditions while acknowledging individual differences and considering phase-specific interventions. Further research is required to determine whether these findings can be applied to other rotational intervals and subject areas