Archive: 2018

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

The Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC) has selected the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) as the focus species for 2018. This means that the DWHC hopes to perform post-mortem investigations on more of these animals in order to shed light on the most common diseases in this species.

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