Short presentation

DVM 1987, PhD 1992, DVSci 2007

Professor (veterinary reproduction and obstetrics)

Head of section

The central area of my research is reproductive pathology, including fetal and neonatal pathology of ruminants. Inherited disorders and infections causes of abortion and perinatal disease has been a main research area for years.

Research in inherited disorders has focused on a number of diseases, which have occurred in cattle worldwide, i.e. brachyspina syndrome, complex vertebral malformation (CVM), chondrodysplasia, spinal dysmyelination, and spinal muscular atrophy. My research has focused on morphology, inheritance and significance of many inherited disorders. I have a special interest in the pathogenesis and molecular basis of inherited disorders, which is studied through co-operation with molecular biologists and geneticists.

Research in ruminant abortion has focused on diagnostic surveys on the causes of abortion in ruminants in Denmark and experimental infections. The research has given insight into the causes of abortion in Danish cattle and sheep and has established Neospora caninum as a cause of abortion in Denmark. Research has mainly focused on bacterial infections including the role of Bacillus licheniformis and Fusobacterium necrophorum as abortifacients. I have a general interest in the pathogenesis of bacterial endometritis, placentitis and abortion. An important aim of the research is to reveal the zoonotic potential of bacterial abortifacients.

At present, research in bacterial infections of the foetus is dealing with Q fever (infection with Coxiella burnetii), which we recently recognised in Denmark. Q-fever is a zoonosis, which may cause abortion in pregnant women. One important topic of my research is the evaluation of placental localization and excretion of bacteria in cattle.