Profile

Professional career

• since 07/2002
  Assistent in the Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig
• 09/2009 - 07/2020
  Habilitation on the topic "Hyalohyphomycoses in reptiles caused by fungi from the families Clavicipitaceae, Cordycipitaceae and Ophiocordycipitaceae (Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales)" for the discipline of bird and reptile diseases
• 03/2013 - 03/2015
  Poultry Health Service Thuringia
• 04/2003 - 12/2006
  Doctoral Thesis: Studies on young pigeon disease syndrome. Supervisor: Prof. Krautwald-Junghanns, Project sponsor: Association of German carrier pigeon breeders (Verband Deutscher Brieftaubenzüchter)
• 01/2005 - 02/2005
  Bioavailability of voriconazole in falconry birds of prey. Dubai, UAE, Project sponsor: Dubai Falcon Hospital
• since 10/2023
  Representation of the professorship for avian and reptile medicine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Leipzig
• since 10/2023
  Interim management and supervisor of the Clinic for Birds and Reptiles at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Leipzig

Education

• 01/2007 - 01/2011
  Specialist veterinary training for Poultry, Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Supervisor: Prof. Krautwald-Junghanns
• 01/2003 - 12/2006
  Residency of the European College of Avian Medicine and Surgery, Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Supervisor: Prof. Krautwald-Junghanns
• 10/2003 - 11/2003
  Histopathology of non-domestic species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates, Northwest ZooPath, Dr. Michael Garner, Snohomish, WA, USA
• 04/2002 - 06/2002
  Postgraduate internship, Department of Pathology, Section Diseases of Special Animals and Wildlife, University Utrecht
• 01/2002 - 04/2002
  Postgraduate internship, Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig
• 10/1996 - 12/2001
  Study of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, degree: state examination

Panel Memberships

• 01/2022 - 01/2023
  Appointment committee "W1-Professorship Animal Welfare and Ethology" of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Leipzig
• 11/2021 - 09/2023
  Research Associates Initiative (IWIMI) of the German Veterinary Society (DVG)
• since 05/2021
  Appointment committee “W3-Professorship Parasitology” of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Leipzig
• since 11/2020
  Specialist veterinary examination commission "Poultry" of the Saxon State Chamber of Veterinarians
• 10/2018 - 09/2023
  Faculty Council of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Leipzig
• since 09/2017
  Specialist veterinary examination commission "Pet, Zoo and Wild birds" and "Reptiles" of the Saxon State Chamber of Veterinarians
• 12/2016 - 11/2022
  Study commission of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Leipzig
• 12/2019 - 02/2021
  APL committee Dr. Scharner of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Leipzig
• 04/2014 - 04/2019
  Scientific committee of the European College of Zoological Medicine
• 12/2017 - 05/2018
  Appeal Committe of the European College of Zoological Medicine
• 12/2016 - 10/2018
  Appointment committee "W3-Professorship Animal Nutrition, Nutritional Damage and Dietetics" of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Leipzig
• 10/2015 - 04/2018
  Working group reptiles and amphibians and working group ornamental birds as part of the study "Keeping exotic animals and wild animals in private hands: situation analysis, evaluation and need for action, especially from an animal welfare perspective" by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
• 09/2015 - 08/2017
  Review group for quality assurance of the multiple choice questions in the veterinary state examination of the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Leipzig
• 04/2009 - 04/2015
  Chairperson of the Credential Committee of the European College of Zoological Medicine
• since 11/2022
  Doctoral commission of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig
• 11/2022 - 09/2023
  Structure and Development Commission of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig
• since 11/2022
  Head of the animal welfare committee of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig
• since 03/2023
  Temporary member of the tenure board of the junior professorship for animal welfare and ethology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Leipzig

In addition to questions of clinical diagnostics in birds and reptiles, my research focuses on infectious and non-infectious causes of diseases. Of particular interest are multifactorial diseases and syndromes. As a clinician, I use clinical methods for individual animals and for flock examination. One focus here is on cytological, pathological-anatomical and pathological-histological examinations. In addition, I conduct research on the molecular biological characterization of pathogens, in particular fungi of the order Hypocreales, Macrorhabdus ornithogaster and Apicomplexa, which cause visceral infections.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria from birds and reptiles are being researched in collaboration with the Institute for Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany. In the field of viral pathogens, I work in cooperation with the Institute for Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig with the Usutu virus, as well as circo-, polyoma- and adenoviruses.

• Genomic analysis of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster

  Schmidt, Volker

  Duration: 01/2015 – ongoing

  Funded by: Haushaltsmittel (TG51, Overhead)

  Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Klinik für Vögel und Reptilien
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• Systemic mycosis in reptiles

  Schmidt, Volker

  Duration: 01/2013 – ongoing

  Funded by: Haushaltsmittel (TG51, Overhead)

  Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Klinik für Vögel und Reptilien; Institut für Bakteriologie und Mykologie
  show details
• Systemic coccidia and haemosporida infection in pet-, zoo-, wild birds and reptiles

  Schmidt, Volker

  Duration: 01/2010 – ongoing

  Funded by: Haushaltsmittel (TG51, Overhead)

  Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Klinik für Vögel und Reptilien
  show details
• Detection method of troponin and BNP for stress-related cardiac diseases in fattening turkeys (farm4.net - PoulStress).

  Schmidt, Volker

  Duration: 01/2021 – 06/2024

  Funded by: BMWK Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz

  Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Klinik für Vögel und Reptilien
  show details
• Investigation of the etiology of liver alterations in fatteníng turkeys under the conditions of organic poultry farming

  Schmidt, Volker

  Duration: 04/2020 – 04/2022

  Funded by: andere Bundesministerien

  Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Klinik für Vögel und Reptilien
  show details

more projects

• Schmidt, V.; Cramer, K.; Böttcher, D.; Heenemann, K.; Harzer, M.; Ziegler, U.; Vahlenkamp, T.; Sieg, M.

  Usutu virus infection in aviary birds during the cold season

  Avian Pathology. 2021. 50 (5). pp. 427–435.

  DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2021.1962003
  show details
• Schmidt, V.; Klasen, L.; Schneider, J.; Hübel, J.; Pees, M.

  Fungal dermatitis, glossitis and disseminated visceral mycosis caused by different Metarhizium granulomatis genotypes in veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and first isolation in healthy lizards

  Veterinary Microbiology. 2017. pp. 74–82.

  DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.06.005
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• Schmidt, V.; Klasen, L.; Schneider, J.; Hübel, J.; Pees, M.

  Characterization of Metarhizium viride Mycosis in Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus), Panther Chameleons (Furcifer pardalis), and Inland Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

  Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 2017. 55 (3). pp. 832–843.

  DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02206-16
  show details
• Schmidt, V.; Dyachenko, V.; Aupperle, H.; Pees, M.; Krautwald-Junghanns, M.-E.; Daugschies, A.

  Case report of systemic coccidiosis in a radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata)

  Parasitology Research. 2008. 102 (3). pp. 431–436.

  DOI: 10.1007/s00436-007-0781-7
  show details

more publications

In addition to imparting evidence-based knowledge, on the one hand there is practical training to obtain “Day One Competences” in the areas of communication with animal owners, colleagues, employees, supervisors and service providers, and on the other hand learning practical first-day skills in the areas of diagnostics, treatment and prophylaxis as part of the curriculum are important to me. In addition to qualifying for national specializations, the postgraduate training focuses on international training within the framework of the European College of Zoological Medicine. The areas of infectious medicine, husbandry and nutrition associated diseases, traumatology, emergency treatment, surgery, imaging diagnostics, clinical laboratory diagnostics and pathology are to be represented as part of the daily services. Prospectively, the focus should be on the health management of bird, reptile and poultry stocks, including a broad spectrum of species. The conception and implementation of propaedeutic exercises, lectures in the areas of poultry and bird diseases and reptiles as well as elective courses and student research projects as part of the curriculum are used for this. The practical training is implemented by rotating the trainees in the departments of imaging diagnostics/surgery, laboratory diagnostics/internal medicine and pathology/infectious medicine/wild birds.

• IX.-X. FS: Elective scientific projects

  Learning how to work in a scientifically structured way based on a question to be worked on

  
  

• IX.-X. FS: Klinische Rotation II

  Practical training in the various departments of the clinic

  
  

• VIII. FS: Poultry meat hygiene

  Practical exercise in evaluating carcasses

  
  

• VIII. FS: Focus Poultry

  Lectures on health management, diagnostic options, diseases and therapeutic measures in poultry

  
  

• VII. FS: Focus Birds and Reptiles

  Lectures on diagnostic options, diseases and therapeutic measures of the various organ systems, infectious diseases and prophylaxis in pet, zoo, wild birds and reptiles

  
  

• VI.-VIII. FS: Case presentation

  Practically oriented presentation of clinical cases

  
  

• V. FS: Propaedeutic

  Lectures and practical exercises

  
  

• IV. FS: Clinical rotation I

  IV. FS: Prepropaedeutic lectures and practical anatomical exercises on the situs of reptiles, birds and poultry