Departments

Head
Prof. Rasa Želvytė
Email: rasa.zelvyte@lsmuni.lt

Head of the Scientific Center for Digestive Physiology and Pathology
Prof. Antanas Sederevičius
Email: antanas.sederevicius@lsmuni.lt

Head of Immunology Laboratory
Prof. Arūnas Stankevičius
Email: arunas.stankevicius@lsmuni.lt

About us

The Department of Anatomy and Physiology was established on the 12 th of May 2004 on the basis of reorganization of the three separate departments: Anatomy and Histology (1937), Biology (1946), Physiology and Pathology (1947) in Lithuanian veterinary academy. In 2010 of September Lithuanian veterinary academy was incorporated in to new university and the Department of Anatomy and Physiology became a part of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. There are two scientific base in the department – The research center of digestive physiology and pathology and Laboratory of Immunology. The research center of digestive physiology and pathology takes part in to the “Nemunas” valley and is a part of Animal nutrition and biotechnology center. The anatomicum building has an architectural value and there is the unique Animal anatomy museum.

Studies

The department staff teaches students in the following programs:veterinary medicine VM (in Lithuanian and in English language), veterinary food safety (VMS), food science (MM), livestock technology (GT), animal science (GM), medical and veterinary genetics (MVG) and medical and veterinary biochemistry (MVB).

In the Department Anatomy and physiology students prepare bachelor and masters final works.

The main subjects. In the VM program students study various subjects: anatomy, applied biology and laboratory animals, cell biology, histology and embryology, bird anatomy and histology, world biodiversity, animal physiology, veterinary immunology and virology, laboratory and exotic animals. In the VMS program students study subjects: morphology, applied biology, physiology, histology and basics of histology. In the MM program students study: human and animal physiology, anatomy, histology and histology of domestic animals and birds. In the GT program students study: plant and animal biology, animal morphology, animal physiology and human anatomy. In the GM program students study subjects: animal biology, animal morphology and animal physiology, world biodiversity and immunology. In the MVG program students study subjects: laboratory animal anatomy, animal physiology, bioethics and animal science. In the MVB program students study; laboratory animal anatomy, animal physiology, bioethics and animal science and cell biology.

Scientific research

The teaching staff of the department, doctoral students, and researchers investigate the functional systems of various animal species and the immune response to ensure public and animal health. Department staff conducted research topics: indicators of ruminant content (pH, activity of microorganisms total LRR, glucose fermentation) are studied. Lactobacillus strains from calf faeces and differentiations; in vitro digestibility of organic matter (OM) of feed; using probes of GDZ-1; GGZ-1; GVZ-1; GBZ-1 and analysis of bacteriological samples for ruminant content of bovine. The using of immunoassay, cell culture and molecular methods for study the zoonoses and other economically significant pathogens on immune responses.

The scientists of the department advise animals breeders on the assessment of the health and immune system of various animal species and recomended methods for analysis of the quality of feed.

There are organized courses for persons working with experimental animals according to the topic "Requirements for the storage, care and use animals for scientific and educational purposes". The total program consists 80 hours (3ECTS).

There are four PhD programs in the department as:

The features of physiological functions of different species of animals (02A).

The experimental animals, animals welfare aspects of welfare and using animals in scientific and educational purposes (02A).

Complex of animals body and morphological analysis (02A) and

Comparative physiology of animals (03A).

PhD students: D. Beliavska-Aleksiejūnė (2014-2018), U. Spancernienė (2014-2018), V. Sutkienė (2015-2019), I. Šilinskas (2016-2020), J. Grigas (2017-2021 ), R. Undzėnaitė (2017-2021) and A. Pautienius (2017-2021).

Scientific projects

• Investigation of the total bacterial and somatic cell count in cows and goats milk (2018-2019).
• COST veikla CA15116. Understanding and combating African Swine Fever in Europe (ASF-STOP) (2016-2020).
• Analysis of epidemiological and laboratory tests of African swine fever (ASF), risk and prognosis of disease and management strategy in wild fauna and pigs in the Republic of Lithuania (2017-2019).
• Studies of cow's milk composition of fatty acids (saturated and unsaturated) and recommendations for improving the quality of raw milk (2015-2016).
• The application of non-invasive measures for the evaluation of the physiological state of the mammary gland and the presentation of recommendations for the identification early pathologies of udder in the milk production process (2015-2016).

• COST Action FA902: Understanding and combating porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in Europe (2010 – 2014).
• Antigenic and pathogenic characterization of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome  (PRRSV) virus in wild boars (2012-2014).
• Molecular characterization of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in pigs and wild boars (2010-2011).
• FP7 ERA-NET 2918915 (ANIHWA)- „Animal welfare and health“. (2012-2014).
• EMIDA- „Coordination of European research in the area of animal health, including emerging threats, infectious diseases and surveillance“(2008-2011).

Head
Prof. Saulius Petkevičius
Email: saulius.petkevicius@lsmuni.lt

About us

The Department of Veterinary Pathobiology (DVP) have a history since 1920, when State Veterinary Bacteriology Laboratory was established and is a part of Veterinary Faculty of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy from university establishment in 1936. The department focuses on the veterinarian, clinical, immunological, epidemiological, food safety and risk aspects of viral, bacterial, parasitic diseases of animals, including the general and special pathology, zoonosic diseases and veterinary law. On September of 2010 DVP as a part of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy was incorporated into the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. In addition, DVP is a part of the Centre for Quality of Animal Health and Raw Materials of Animal Origin which belongs to integrated science, studies and business centre - Nemunas Valley.

Studies

The department staff teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students on several subjects of basic veterinary disciplines in the following programs: veterinary medicine (02A), veterinary food safety (02A) and animal technology (03A). DVP covers teaching of bachelor, master, resident and PhD students on epidemiology, morphology, pathogenesis, diagnostics, prophylaxy, control, pathomorphologicy and pathophysiology of infectious and zoonotic diseases. The disciplines covered by DVP are as follows: Veterinary Epidemiology, Veterinary Microbiology, Forensic veterinary medicine and Veterinary Law, State Veterinary and Public Health, Veterinary Parasitology, General Pathology, Special Pathology, Veterinary Virology, Veterinary Clinical Microbiology, Parasite infections in game and zoo animals, Birds Diseases. The department is activly involved in dissemination of results and in preparation of textbooks, manuals, scientific articles and in national and international projects regarding animal infectious diseases and pathology.

Research

DVP initiates and performs research into health benefits and pathology risks focusing on animal infectious and zoonotic diseases. Through its research master, resident and PhD programme DVP aims to educate scientists of high academic excellence on microbiological, virological, epidemiological, parasitological investigations of different species of animals. Laboratory-based research is supplemented by field-based studies of epidemiological and veterinarian aspects of infectious disease transmission and control. Specifically the research is focused on the diagnostics, prophylaxy and control of infectious diseases in domestic and wild animals; pathomorphological diagnostics of animal diseases; pathophysiology and pathomorphology of animal reproduction. The concept of reasearch is based on pathological agent/host interactions. The objectives of research are to perform research and risk assessment on mechanisms, pathways and factors that contribute to obtain and maintain optimal animal health; disturbances in animal health under various disease conditions ranging from subclinical form to severe injury of disease including animal loss. Stategicly DVP is focused on providing scientific and technical advice associated with veterinary medicine and food safety issues from field to table. DVP is involved in providing scientific opinion and technical advice in preparing drafts of legal veterinary and food safety acts.

The department collaborates and have joint projects with MA Clinics of Infectious Diseases; MA Institute of Gastroenterology; National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute; Faculty of Nature Sciences; Vytautas Magnus University; Kostanay State University (Kazahstan); Copenhagen University (Denmark); Edinburgh University (UK); The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece); Institute of Parasitology, Ciurich University (Swizerland); Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences (Slovakia); Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden); Veterinary Institute in Salloniki (Greece), and different private institutions.

National projects

International projects

Head
Prof. Mindaugas Malakauskas
Email: mindaugas.malakauskas@lsmuni.lt

Study administrator
Dovilė Kačinskaitė
Email: dovile.kacinskaite@lsmuni.lt 

About us

The Department of Food Safety and Quality (DFSQ) is one of three veterinary departments at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. The department covers a broad spectrum of food hygiene, safety and quality issues including animal hygiene, welfare topics and meat inspection. We teach for Veterinary Medicine, Food Safety, Food Science and Animal Science study programs students at the bachelor and master science levels: Food Hygiene and technology (milk, meat, fish, vegetative food), Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare, Food Microbiology, Food Quality Management, HACCP, Food toxicology etc. The department researchers are among the most excellent in microbiological food safety, food fermentation and mycotoxins in feed. The objectives of the Department are:

• to provide a comprehensive educational experience for undergraduate and graduate students that ensures scientific and technical competencies.
• To promote development of an integration network that enhances university and industry collaboration
• To cooperate with consumers, industry, and governmental groups regarding food and animals related issues through teaching, research, and joint development programs.

Studies

The Department provides teaching in 3 main subject groups: food hygiene and technology (including meat inspection and slaughterhouse hygiene for veterinary medicine students), animal hygiene and welfare, Food Quality and Safety management.

The Department provides teaching for students from Veterinary (veterinary medicine, veterinary food safety and food science specialities) and Animal Husbandry faculties. Lectures, seminars and courses are taught for students of integral studies (veterinary medicine), first, second (veterinary food safety, food science, animal husbandry, management of animal resource and bio-business management) and third (veterinary medicine and animal husbandry) levels.

Forthcoming veterinarians have disciplines of Food Hygiene and Technology (meat, milk, fish, Vegetative products hygiene, HACCP, public health, inspection and control including practice at slaughterhouses), Veterinary Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Ecology and Protection of Nature, Veterinary Radiobiology and X-ray Imaging.

Students of Veterinary Food Safety programme study subjects related to food hygiene, safety and quality. Students also have Practice in Food Processing Enterprises and at the end of the 4-th year they have Industrial Practice.

Students of Food Sciences programme study subjects related to food processing technologies and food quality. Third year students have Industrial Practice of the Main Food Raw Materials and Products Technology and Industrial Practice.

Students of Animal Husbandry faculty mainly study Processing Technologies of Animal Origin Food and Animal Hygiene at our department.

Master students of all study programmes deepen their knowledges in areas of Food safety, risk and quality management, Food processing and technology, Food biotechnology and study Applied Research of Food Science. At the end of their studies Master students have Practice.

• Justina Milerienė "Application of innovative bio-raw materials and lactic acid bacteria for the development of safer and higher value dairy products" (scientific supervisor prof. dr. Mindaugas Malakauskas), Agricultural sciences, Veterinary.
• Dainius Uljanovas "Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, virulence profiling and whole genome sequence-based analysis of Arcobacter spp." (scientific supervisor prof. dr. Mindaugas Malakauskas, consultant prof. dr. Thomas Alter), Agricultural sciences, Veterinary.
• Gintarė Vaičiūlienė „Use of biological compounds in the elimination of mycotoxins in feed, improving the hygiene quality“ (scientific supervisor assoc. prof. dr. Violeta Baliukonienė), Agricultural sciences, Animal Sciences.
• Rimvydas Falkauskas „Biotransformation of zearalenone, its derivatives and other mycotoxins in dairy cows and organism response" (scientific supervisor assoc. prof. dr. Violeta Baliukonienė), Agricultural sciences, Veterinary.
• Eglė Zokaitytė „Sustainable application of local agricultural resources for the development of nutraceutical formulas and technologies“ (scientific supervisor prof. dr. Elena Bartkienė), Agricultural sciences, Animal sciences.

Research

There are 5 research groups, the focus of which are microbiological food safety, meat quality, mycotoxins in feed, food fermentation and animal behavior and welfare (research groups led by Prof. M. Malakauskas, Prof. G. Zaborskienė, Prof. B. Bakutis, Prof. L. Šernienė, Prof. E. Bartkienė, and Dr. J. Kučinskienė, respectively). The research is closely connected to the practical problems arising in these areas. The main international partners in these fields of research are the Department of Veterinary Disease Biology at the University of Copenhagen, Institute of Food Hygiene at the Free University of Berlin, Institute of Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna.

Current research projects

• 
  Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) with partnership of Freie Universitaet Berlin (FUB) implement the Baltic-German University Liaison Office project “Improving microbial food safety by implementing genomics approaches” (MIFOSAGEN) supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic Germany. Project activities are lead by prof. Mindaugas Malakauskas (the Department of Food Safety and Quality, Veterinary Faculty, Veterinary Acedemy, LSMU) and prof. Thomas Alter (the Institute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Department of Veterinary Medicine, FUB). The main goal of this project is to develop and increase research competence and innovative capabilities in the field of bacterial genome research at LSMU. The implementation of the project will include lecture cycles, research in collaboration with both project partners and a final seminar that will allow us to present the acquired knowledge and research results to a wider audience.
  Upcoming event: we are pleased to invite you to join the 6th and 7th lectures of the Joint lecture series of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania (LSMU) and Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany (FUB). The link to join webinar lecture can be found here: „Microbial genomics and molecular food safety” the 6th seminar, "Microbial genomics and molecular food safety" the 7th seminar. This Joint Lecture Series of the Baltic-German University Liaison Office is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic Germany.

• 2021 – 2023 EEA Financial Mechanism project “The edible coating formulated with liquid acid whey protein and bioactive compounds, and biopackaging for safety and quality of probiotic cheese (BIOCOAT)”. Project leader: prof., dr. M. Malakauskas, participants: prof., dr. L. Šernienė, dr. K. Kondrotienė, dr. J. Aksomaitienė. J. Milerienė, D. Uljanovas.
• 2021-2022 International project "EISuFood - Study about food habits and knowledge about edible insects as sustainable foods". Coordinator Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, LSMU project part coordinator prof. dr. E. Bartkienė.
• 2020-2022 European Social Fund Cohesion Fund and European Regional Development Fund project No 09.3.1-ESFA-V-738-04-0001 „LSMU studijų kokybės ir susijusių procesų gerinimas didinant žmogiškųjų išteklių potencialą“. Participants: assoc. prof. dr. A. Kabašinskienė, dr. Jurgita Jovaišienė.
• 2019-2023 COST action No CA18217 „European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial treatment (ENOVAT)”. MC Member assoc. prof. dr. A. Novoslavskij, MC Substitute prof. dr. M. Malakauskas.
• 2019-2022 m. COST action No CA18101 “Sourdough biotechnology network towards novel, healthier and sustainable food and bioprocesses” (SOURDOmICS), MC Member prof. dr. E. Bartkienė, MC Substitute dr. V. Lėlė.
• 2018 – 2021 project funded by Lithuanian Rural Development Programme „Pieninių karvių bandų sveikatingumo gerinimas optimizuojant gyvūnų gerovę ir panaudojant biopreparatus bei fitopreparatus, mažinant antibiotikų naudojimą ir patogeninių mikroorganizmų atsparumo antibiotikams išsivystymą (No 35BV-KK-17-1-03773). Participants: assoc. prof. dr. A. Novoslavskij, dr. A. Gabinaitienė.
• 2018-2021, Research project "INOSŪRIS" funded by the European Regional Development Fund according to the supported activity 'Research Projects Implemented by World-class Researcher Groups' under Measure No. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718. Project leader: prof. dr. M. Malakauskas.
• 2017-2021, Research project "EUNUTRITECH" funded by the European Regional Development Fund according to the supported activity 'Research Projects Implemented by World-class Researcher Groups' under Measure No. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718. Project leader: prof. dr. V. Jakštas, participants: prof. dr. E. Bartkienė and others.