The former Pathology Unit (until December 2017)

Research projects of the Pathology Unit deal with pathogenetic investigations on spontaneous and experimentally induced infectious diseases in non-human primates. Animal models include infections with Helicobacter pylori and cow pox. Further investigated infetious diseases are tularemia, tuberculosis, and echinococcosis. Pathomorphologic changes in different organ systems and their pathogenesis are examined by using morphologic techniques and molecular methods with the objective to elucidate the entrance and spreading of infectious agents and the correlating host reaction patterns. Moreover, diagnostic cases from our routine pathology service are worked up scientifically, e. g. endometriosis. A new focus is laid on genital diseases of wild-living non-human primates, especially on infections with Treponema pallidum. Another working group deals with the morphology of the respiratory tract in common marmosets. Together with the Fraunhofer Institute of Toxikology und experimental Medicine (ITEM) in Hanover, animal models for human chronic respiratory diseases (COPD, Asthma) are established. 

The members of the department are closely interconnected with the Cost Center Primate Keeping of the GPC. Within the scope of veterinary care for the animal population, we perform pathomorphological diagnostics with affiliated bacteriology and parasitology . The head of department, Prof. Dr. Franz-Josef Kaup, is also head of the primate husbandry and works as the animal welfare officer of the German Primate Center.