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Scientific investigation of poultry and fish diseases counts as one of the main tasks of the Clinic. These research achievements can lead to improvements in the prevention of illness and in the treatment of sick animals.

Altogether, this can help to prevent disease outbreaks. The insights gained from this work are essential in protecting animals—and by extension, humans—from diseases.

Research topics

Research activities at the Clinic for Poultry and Fish are focused predominantly on infectious diseases that can occur in the different species in its purview. The implementation and application of new diagnostic methods is frequently a focal point of the Clinic's efforts. Epidemiological analyses are used to develop novel approaches for combating diseases. The ultimate goal is to leverage relevant basic and applied research to improve animal health and well-being. A related objective is to optimize the quality of food products (poultry – fish) starting at primary production.

Many diverse tasks are linked with these efforts, particularly in the area of infectious and notifiable diseases, such as detection and identification of pathogens, implementation of new detection systems and quality control of diagnostic reagents. Further activities include working collaboratively with other laboratories and serving in the capacity of adviser to interest groups and government ministries. Research and  of non-infectious diseases within individual species rounds out the research spectrum of the Clinic.

Research Focus

Research activities at the Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine are focused primarily on infectious diseases that can appear in the different species. The implementation and application of new diagnostic methods is often at the core of the work. Epidemiological analyses are used to develop novel approaches for combating diseases. The ultimate goal is to leverage relevant basic and applied research to improve animal health and well-being. A related objective is to optimize the quality of food products (poultry – fish) starting at primary production. Investigation of antibiotic resistance and the epidemiology of selected zoonotic pathogens is also performed within this context. In order to find answers to specific research questions, the Clinic has at its disposal its own molecular biology laboratories, which allow a diverse palette of innovative analytical methods to be utilized as applicable for research projects.

In the realm of poultry, this offering is expanded with the option of keeping Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) animals in sterile isolation units. In both the poultry and fish medicine units, the connection between the laboratory and laboratory animal spheres forms the basis for the development of in vitro and in vivo models that allow closer investigation of the pathogenesis of specific disease-causing agents. A further benefit of this work should be a significant contribution towards efforts to reduce the number of laboratory animals.
 

Research Partnerships

Our clinical practice features numerous collaborations with established veterinarians. Beyond this, the Clinic represents an important contact point and partner for cooperation for government bodies, such as ministries in particular. In the area of applied research, the Clinic has established numerous partnerships and collaborations with the veterinary pharmaceutical industry, primarily in the area of disease prevention through vaccines.

  • Aviagen Kft, Györ, Hungary
  • Biomin GmbH, Herzogenburg 
  • REWE Group
  • vaxxinova GmbH, Bremen
  • Der Wissenschaftsfond FWF, Wien 
  • Österreichische Qualitätsgeflügelvereinigung
  • Arbeitsgemeinschaft der landwirtschaftlichen Geflügelwirtschaft Österreich (ZAG)
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health GmbH
  • Vet Arbeitskreis Geflügelforschung (VAG)
  • Bundesgesundheitsministerium (BMG)
  • Lebensministerium Wien, Österreich
  • Europäische Union (EU)