National surveillance of roe deer 2024
The RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) and the DWHC are repeating their research into tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in 2024. This virus is a zoonosis that is transmitted to humans by ticks. Tick-borne encephalitis is also referred to by the abbreviations TBE and/or FSME.
TBEV does not occur evenly across large areas, but rather in small localized hotspots. Roe deer are very suitable for finding such hotspots, because their territory is small, they are site-faithful, are common throughout the Netherland, often live in tick-rich areas, frequently carry ticks, and rarely become ill themselves when infected with the virus, but do produce antibodies. By testing roe deer blood for the presence of antibodies against the tick-borne encephalitis virus, more clarity can be obtained about the areas where ticks infected with the virus are found.
No roe deer are specifically culled for this this research; instead, samples are collected from roe deer that are shot as part of wildlife management or that are roadkill. The samples are provided to wildlife management units or roadkill coordinators via the fauna management units. About five samples are collected per wildlife management unit. The two Dutch hunting associations have been informed about the research.
The research will run until the end of 2024. The blood samples are processed at the DWHC and then tested at the RIVM. Any remaining material is carefully stored so that it can later be used for research into other pathogens.
For wildlife managers and roadkill coordinators: see the instructional video below for collecting blood samples.
Abbreviaties
DWHC: Dutch Wildlife Health Centre
FSME: Frühsommer-Meningoenzephalitis
RIVM: Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment)
TBE: Tick Borne Encephalitis
More information
TBE in humans (RIVM): https://www.rivm.nl/en/tick-borne-encephalitis
TBE in wild animals (DWHC): https://dwhc.nl/en/ziekten/teken-encefalitis/
Banner roe deer: © Bas Worm
