Category: Research Results

Late February 2018 the Dutch Wildlife Health Center (DWHC) was contacted about a beaver (Castor fiber) that displayed very abnormal behavior before it was euthanized in the field. The beaver did not respond to people and appeared blind and deaf. The person who discovered the animal had given the beaver a little

Well fed, no signs of disease or intoxication A noticeable mortality peak of adult seals occurred in Brouwersdam in the province of Zeeland early November 2017. Between November 5th  and 11th six dead, adult grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) were stranded near Brouwersdam. One of the animals was pregnant and near

The carcase of a sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) found on the 20th March on the Reigerweg near the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve was investigated the following day by the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC) and Wageningen Environmental Research at the veterinary faculty in Utrecht. As a top predator the sea

In January 2018 a severe respiratory infection was diagnosed in a mute swan (Cygnus olor) that had been found dead in Harderwijk. The carcase of the juvenile male swan was submitted to the DWHC by the animal ambulance of Ermelo-Harderwijk for investigation into the cause of death. Post-mortem investigation showed

Little is known about the distribution, health status and causes of death in small mustelids in the Netherlands and for this reason weasels (Mustela nivalis) and stoats (Mustela erminea)  were made the DWHC focus species of 2017. In addition, the incidence of the roundworm Skrjabingylus nasicola  in the nasal

Late December 2017 a skinny male adult hare with a growth on the bridge of the nose and bald spots on the hind legs was submitted to the DWHC. Diagnostics showed that the growth was caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. The bald spots on the hind legs were caused by inflammation of the skin. This

As was seen in 2017, we are currently receiving reports of  many Eurasian collared doves (Streptopelia decaocto) dying within one week. The birds are described as looking sick, hunched and emaciated, and not flying away. Two birds showing such signs recently underwent post-mortem exam at the DWHC. The cause

At least nine bodies of prey were found in the stomach of the wildcat that was run over in the Dutch town of Nijswiller in February 2017. The animal was in good health and it appears that pure misfortune led to it being run over whilst crossing a country lane. Wildcats have been seen in the Netherlands for a few

Pathologist Marja Kik (DWHC, Utrecht Veterinary Faculty) reported the initial findings of the post-mortem on the dead wolf: “Interestingly, apart from some tapeworms, the stomach and intestines were completely empty suggesting that the animal had not eaten for around 48 hours.”

Ranavirus has been detected in the province of South-Holland in both water frog larva and salamanders. The animals were were found at two different locations, one located in the far east, in the triangle of the provinces of South Holland – Utrecht – Gelderland, the other location being in the middle of