Wildlife Health Ghent

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België
Merelbeke
Wildlife Health Ghent

Contactgegevens, kaart en routebeschrijving, contactformulier, openingstijden, diensten, beoordelingen, foto's, video's en aankondigingen van Wildlife Health Ghent, Hoger onderwijs en universiteit, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke.

10/04/2026

🦔 What hedgehogs eat might be harming them…

A new study by WHG shows that hedgehogs mainly feed on slugs and snails, but this favorite meal may come with a hidden cost. By analyzing their droppings, we discovered over 170 different prey species, and found that a higher intake of slugs and snails is linked to increased levels of toxic metals like zinc.

Even more surprising: nearly 1 in 3 hedgehogs eats pet food provided by humans. While it may seem helpful, this can actually disrupt their natural behavior and increase disease risks.

With hedgehog populations declining across Europe, understanding their diet is more important than ever. Sometimes, the best way to help is to simply let them stay wild. 🌱

👏 A big congrats to the authors for this important work!

Full link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1749-4877.70096

🦔✨

01/04/2026

Deadly fungi, tiny enzymes and why metals matter

Chytridiomycosis is wiping out amphibian populations worldwide. Our latest research shows fungal spores rapidly produce metalloproteases, enzymes that kickstart development and enable infection. Block them, and fungal growth stops.
These enzymes rely on metals like zinc and magnesium, suggesting that both the environment and host biology influence infection success.

👉 Read the full article here:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12866-026-04896-x

👉 Read our latest blogpost here: https://www.wildlifehealthghent.com/en/post/new-study-highlights-key-role-of-metalloproteases-in-amphibian-fungal-infections

This work is part of the GLOSSI project and supported by the European Research Council.

Graphical abstract created in BioRender.
Verbrugghe, E. (https://BioRender.com/fmzserh) is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

ChytridFungus Research

27/03/2026

Science is truly WONDERFUL 🔬✨

Last week, we swapped the lab for the excitement of Science is Wonderful! in Brussels and what a blast it was! From spotting fungal spores under the microscope to becoming real “salamander detectives,” young minds jumped right into our mission to protect these incredible animals 💚

Did you know salamanders can regrow limbs, but are now threatened by a deadly fungus? That’s why awareness matters and these junior detectives are already making a difference!

A huge thank you to everyone who visited our “Save the Salamanders!” booth. Together, we can help protect Europe’s salamanders 🌍

👉 Read more about this event: https://www.wildlifehealthghent.com/en/post/science-is-wonderful-junior-detectives-join-the-fight-to-save-our-salamanders

This research is part of the GLOSSI project and is made possible by the support of the European Research Council (ERC). Their funding allows us to continue our dedicated efforts to protect Europe’s salamanders 🧬 🙏

(ERC)

02/03/2026

Celebrating a great milestone for our colleague Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola 🐍🎓
He recently defended his PhD on how taxonomy, habitat, genetics and emerging diseases shape the future of wild snakes in Italy.
His work, supported by several important scientific papers, brings new insight into how we can better understand and protect these often overlooked species. A meaningful contribution to conservation science.
Congrats, Matteo! 👏✨
science

22/01/2026

Save the salamanders!

That's the title of our booth at in March. It's a science fair that brings research out of the lab, with hands-on activities for young pupils and everyone who's young at heart.

Come find out things you didn't know about salamanders, and become a junior researcher helping out our team: Léa, Lars, Emma, Ruth, Elin and prof. An Martel!

When and where?
📅 18 - 20 March 2026
📍 Maison de la Poste, Brussels

If you're planning on coming with a group or class, be sure to register.
If not, just show up and get your science on! 👩‍🔬

Looking forward already! See you there?

Get all the information here: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/science-is-wonderful

21/01/2026

Welcome Joram Elias to WHG! 🧪🦎

Joram is an industrial engineer specialized in biochemistry and has just joined WHG as a Laboratory Technician. His research focuses on habitat differentiation in European salamanders and how this may influence resistance to Bsal.

We’re excited to have you on the team, Joram!

16/01/2026

🎓🌿 New blogpost: Rewind of the Major Wildlife!
From exciting excursions to hands-on internships, this semester was all about wildlife health, conservation & One Health. 🦌🦉

Huge thanks to our amazing partners, our motivated students, and a special thank you to Lieze Rouffaer for her dedication to teaching the Major Wildlife! 💚

Link: https://www.wildlifehealthghent.com/en/post/rewind-of-the-major-wildlife

02/01/2026

✨ A great way to start 2026… ✨

Excited to share a newly accepted paper on ophidiomycosis in free-ranging European snakes, led by 🐍🍄

During a season-long survey of dice snakes (Natrix tessellata) along the northern shore of Lake Como (Italy), live snakes and skin sheds were screened for Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo), the fungus linked to ophidiomycosis.

🔍 What did we find?
▪️ Oo was detected in 53.3% of samples
▪️ “At least apparent” ophidiomycosis occurred in 23.9%
▪️ Skin lesions strongly predicted infection and disease
▪️ Smaller snakes were more often affected
▪️ All sequenced samples belonged to Oo clade II
▪️ Infected snakes had lower body temperatures, with little evidence for behavioural fever
▪️ Oo-positive snakes were less likely to musk, hinting at subtle effects on antipredator defences

This work was carried out in collaboration with Wildlife Health Ghent (Ghent University) and amazing partners in Italy 🇮🇹🤝

📄 Paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jez.70061

OneHealth researchlife fieldwork LakeComo

05/12/2025

🦎 New Publication Alert!

A new study led by WHG postdoc Léa Fieschi-Méric reveals why some Iberian ribbed newts survive the deadly fungus Bsal while others don’t. 🧫💀

Surprisingly, it’s not the skin bacteria that matter. It’s where the newts come from, pointing to genetics or early-life factors. 🌱✨

🔹 Microbiomes aren’t always the heroes
🔹 Origin can determine survival
🔹 🐸💚

Article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42523-025-00485-x
Blogpost: https://www.wildlifehealthghent.com/en/post/what-drives-bsal-susceptibility-in-newts

WildlifeHealth Bsal Science NewPublication

26/11/2025

🦎✨ What happens inside a salamander’s DNA when it’s attacked by a deadly fungus?
Lars discovered that they actually fight back by activating specific genes. A mix of science, nature, and a bit of nostalgia, because it all started with him rescuing salamanders from a water well as a kid. 😉

👉 You can vote for your favorite entry on the Eos website until December 8.
Every vote counts for 25% of the final score, so… your click really makes a difference!

💛 Vote here: https://www.eoswetenschap.eu/scriptieprijs2025
Or via the link in the stories.

TeamLars EosScience Salamanders

25/11/2025

🌟 Research Group in the Spotlight: the hedgehog ladies of WHG! 🌟

Hedgehogs in Flanders are facing a worrying decline. Habitat loss, road traffic, contaminants, and pathogens all play a major role. At Wildlife Health Ghent, Valérie Miserez and Naomi Terriere are dedicated to studying the health challenges affecting this iconic species.

🦔 Our team regularly performs necropsies on hedgehogs brought in by wildlife rescue centers, followed by detailed histological and molecular analyses.

🔬 Diphtheria caused by Corynebacterium ulcerans is increasingly reported in European hedgehogs, leading to severe abscesses and often fatal outcomes. The underlying causes likely involve complex interactions between environmental stressors and infections.

🧪 Our recent findings also show widespread exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides. These substances accumulate in prey species such as slugs and can cause internal damage even at low concentrations. Experimental exposure to brodifacoum in African pygmy hedgehogs resulted in small renal hemorrhages.
These sublethal effects raise concern, as prolonged exposure in the wild may impact hedgehog health and survival.

👉 Read more in our bogpost: https://www.wildlifehealthghent.com/en/post/research-in-the-spotlight-the-struggles-of-hedgehogs

Adres

Salisburylaan 133
Merelbeke
9820

Website

http://www.wildlifehealthghent.com/

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