First Wildlife Summer School successful

Schiermonnikoog, one of the-Frisian islands north of the Netherlands, welcomed approximately 25 scientists, (zoo)-veterinarians, field biologists and students to the first Wildlife Summer School organized by the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, located at Rotterdam's Erasmus University. During June 15 to June 19, the participants were offered an interesting and comprehensive programme that focussed on viruses and their ability to transfer to humans. This location was chosen because of its wonderful nature, its abundance of wildlife, especially seals and seabirds. But also, because of its short distance from the Seal Rehabilitation Centre in Pieterburen on the mainland, in Groningen, where the Summer School started.

On Sunday morning, the party gathered and visited the renowned seal crèche. Manager Lenie 't Hart explained the importance of the centre's activities in the Netherlands and other European countries.

I was very much impressed by the logistics developed over the last years for a speedy transfer of stranded and sick seals to Pieterburen in order to give them all the veterinary care they need. In the late afternoon, during our journey to the island, we already spotted the first seals basking casually in the sun. One of the advisers of the seal crèche, Prof. Dr. Ab Osterhaus, started the evening programme talking about his favorite topic: viruses jumping from ducks to pigs in the backyards of Chinese farms threatening farmers with possibly fatal infections. We learned how easy these viruses know how to take a plane to Europe!

On Monday, our course began with disease transmission between livestock and wildlife. A very relevant topic in view of the outbreak of avian influenza in the Netherlands earlier this year. Some of the poultry farmers and private owners, as well as the vets involved, were infected by the virus and contracted conjunctivitis. One vet fell seriously ill and died unfortunately after one week suffering from influenza. An intensive prophylactic vaccination programme was developed and anti-viral tablets were distributed to reducing the risk of more casualties. In the afternoon Willem Schaftenaar, zoo veterinarian of Rotterdam Zoo explained the importance of vaccination of zoo inhabitants in the light of the outbreak of food and mouth disease, particularly in relation to the rules and regulations of the EC.

James Kirkwood, from the United Kingdom, presented on Tuesday Prion diseases in non-domestic animals. This part of the world has gained a lot of experience in scrapie-like spongiform encephalopathies in domestic and non-domestic animals. Some American states, for example, face the problems of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer. An important issue for farmed and wild deer alike. The discussion concentrated on different control strategies including the health risk for hunters and the general public in the USA. He mentioned the threat for the Netherlands, where this disease is unknown up to now.

The last day was reserved for the seals and those involved in observing their behaviour and health: Thijs Kuiken from the Erasmus University and his colleagues. After a short explanation of the effects of various seal plagues, the participants were asked to present a proposal for the research of an unknown disease in Lake Baycal, Russia. Thijs headed the Russian expedition a few years ago. The workshop ¨post mortem seals¨ was held at the fire station of the island. It reminded me of the extremely cold days in this year's early spring when we performed autopsy on more than 1,500 seals that had succumbed to the seal plague.

I would like to thank all from Dutch Wildlife Health Centre for the perfect organization. And a very special thanks to Jolianne Rijks and Hester van Bolhuis. They must have spent a lot of their valuable time organizing this Summer School. The syllabus was more than comprehensive and interesting, beside the excursions in the evening like walking on the mud flats.
The atmosphere was perfect as were the conversations over dinner, not to mention, the more in-depth exchange at the bar. It offered a wonderful opportunity to discuss wildlife issues with participants from different backgrounds, countries and functions. I, personally, cherished this opportunity to enhance my experience and knowledge. Apart from meeting friends and colleagues from my past when I worked as a vet at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam, I realized that all of us see it as their duty to spare time and energy to save (a part) of precious Dutch wildlife.

Peter Klaver, DVM

Consultant for exotics and wildlife