Tracing ancient pathogens in Vienna

Preparing for historical specimen sampling.

Story

07/03/2025

Team retreat and sample collection at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna – collaborative insights and fieldwork in veterinary science

From 4 to 6 June 2025, the Department “Pathogen Evolution” led by Prof. Dr. Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer at the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH) conducted a combined retreat and sampling mission at the Institute of Pathology of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna — a key collaboration partner for accessing and studying historical pathological specimens in veterinary medicine. HIOH is a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI). The visit focused on collecting around 60 historical tissue samples for molecular genetic analyses related to animal disease research, while also offering time for internal discussions on lab optimization, project development, and team building.

The team was warmly welcomed by Dr. Barbara Richter and Prof. Herbert Weissenböck, who facilitated both scientific and logistical aspects of the stay and granted access to the university’s renowned pathological collection — the largest of its kind in Europe. More than 6,000 specimens, many dating back to the early 20th century, are exhibited thematically in display cases. The collection documents organ alterations due to infectious diseases such as rinderpest and glanders, which are now rare in Central Europe, and continues to play a vital role in veterinary education.

Pathological highlights from the collection

[Translate to English:] Nasspräparate — Preserved Pathology: wet specimens illustrating glanders, a zoonotic infectious disease which primarily occurs in horses, mules, and donkeys

[Translate to English:] pathologische Sammlung — Room full of history: the pathological collection at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Journalist Laura Salm-Reifferscheidt accompanied the work for a feature piece, while ongoing projects on major animal pathogens such as avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, and rinderpest were discussed. A highlight of the retreat was the participation of Prof. Ludovic Orlando (CAGT, University of Toulouse) and Prof. Laurent Frantz (LMU Munich), whose expertise in ancient DNA and animal genomics offered fresh impulses for future collaborations.

On the final day, an ongoing collaboration with Dr. Eduard Winter led the team to the historic Narrenturm — Europe’s first psychiatric institution, now home to one of the oldest pathological-anatomical collections in Europe. The human specimens there offered an exciting comparison to the veterinary collection and inspired new interdisciplinary approaches in historical pathogen research.

[Translate to English:] PAEV-Team bei der Entnahme historischer Proben — Collecting historical samples

[Translate to English:] Probenahme an einem historischen Kaninchenpräparat — Targeted sampling from an ancient rabbit sample showing signs of myxomatosis, a viral disease that primarily affects rabbits and causes severe skin swelling, lumps and high mortality

The team retreat was marked by intensive scientific exchange, inspiring conversations, and productive discussions that sparked new ideas for future projects. The researchers decided on intensifying the collaboration with colleagues doing ancient animal genomics, with the objective to simultaneously address the consequences on hosts and pathogens of changes in breeding practices and animal health management.

[Translate to English:] Gruppenfoto — Pathogen Evolution group picture with Viennese partners at the Narrenturm in Vienna

The combination of hands-on sample work, cross-disciplinary dialogue, and collegial collaboration made the stay in Vienna especially valuable. The close cooperation on site not only advanced the ongoing projects but also laid the groundwork for future partnerships.

A contribution by Annika Graaf-Rau