Category: Research Results

Interim report: Greenfinch, DWHC focus species, 2016

The greenfinch and other species of finch were the focus species of the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre DWHC in 2016. These species were chosen in order to shed light on the presence of trichomonas infection in greenfinches and other finch sorts in the Netherlands.
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Skin lesions in a red deer

In October 2016 the cadaver of a red deer stag with extensive damage to the skin of the back was submitted to the DWHC. Investigations revealed a severe chronic-active dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) which was possibly a result of self-trauma due to itchiness caused by the large number of deer keds (biting
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Distemper in a stone marten

Distemper was detected in a stone marten (Martes foina) from the Enschede area in the Dutch province of Overijssel. The animal was seen to be behaving oddly for several days before being found dead in a pond in December 2016.
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Avian pox in a sparrow

At the beginning of January 2017 a sparrow (Passer domesticus) from the area around Soest was submitted to the DWHC. According to the individual who submitted the cadaver, before dying the bird had shown signs of sickness including fluffed up feathers, difficulty with flying, opening and closing the beak and
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Pigeon canker

Pigeon canker has been found in dead pigeons across the Netherlands. The online register run jointly by the DWHC and Sovon indicates that wood pigeons are most affected.
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First case of RHDV-2 in a hare in the Netherlands

For the first time in the Netherlands, RHDV-2 (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus) has been confirmed as the cause of death in a hare. The animal was found dead on the territory of the Wildlife Management Unit in Aalten on the border between the municipalities of Aalten and Winterswijk. The cause of death
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Update bird-flu in the Netherlands

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 has been making headlines again in Europe since the end of October 2016. The first reports in the Netherlands were of increased death amongst wild tufted ducks and several other species of waterbirds in the Gouwzee and Wolderwijd. Subsequently, high death rates were
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Killed by an acorn!

In October the DWHC investigated the death of a roe deer fawn found in the Kromme Rijn area in the province of Utrecht. The fawn was thin and the tail and hind legs were soiled. Upon necropsy the cause of death was immediately apparent: a large acorn measuring 3,4 x 2,3 cm was found in the throat, blocking
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Toxoplasmosis in red squirrels, an update

In the summer and autumn of 2014 hundreds of dead squirrels were reported to the DWHC; observers described them as literally falling dead out of the trees. Investigations carried out by the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC) and the Zoogdiervereniging (the Dutch Organisation for Native Mammal Research and
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