I spent 7 weeks in the summer of 2003 doing a preceptorship in the Netherlands. The Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC) organized the wildlife disease school during the first week; the next three weeks focused on veterinary pathology; and the last three weeks were at the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre (SRRC). The veterinarians and scientists at the DWHC provide medical and research support to the SRRC. So, it was easy to coordinate experiences with the two groups.

Even though I was informed before the trip that all presentations would be given in English, I was surprised by the incredible English literacy of all the attendees. In fact, presentations at DWHC meetings are always given in English. This includes meetings where all the participants are Dutch! Thankfully, I was exposed to other languages and cultures outside of lectures.

The day before the summer school, I attended an annual conference held by the DWHC. The topic was "Health Aspects of Translocation and Reintroduction of Wildlife." The meeting was an amazing opportunity to talk to veterinarians and experts in the wildlife disease field. Some of the speakers also attended the summer school that followed. As an added bonus, the conference was held at the Rotterdam Aquarium. This sea turtle is from the aquarium.

Sea turtle at the Rotterdam Aquarium

The summer school was held at a beautiful Dutch island, Schiermonnikoog. The school was divided into three topics: disease transmission between livestock and wildlife; prion diseases and wildlife; and monitoring of wildlife health. One afternoon was spent assisting in necropsies of harbor and grey seals from the phocine distemper outbreak that occurred in 2002. Only one other veterinary student, a Dutch man, attended the summer school. The rest of the participants were already practicing in the field. Again, it was a wonderful chance to interact with wildlife professionals. Each day we split up into case study groups and answered questions posed by the lead speaker. We then presented our answers to all of the participants.

Our case study group	Summer school lecture

Brenna inspecting bowel during harbor seal necropsy	Pneumonia caused by phocine distemper virus

We also spent time exploring the island. A native took us out to the "wad" for an ecological tour. The "wad" is the vast expanse of ocean floor exposed at low tide. Our feet were covered in mud as we walked close to a mile across the wad. Pictured in the center is Dr. Beth Williams. She is a veterinary pathologist from Wyoming who was the guest speaker at the summer school. She is well known for her research on chronic wasting disease in deer.

Summer school participants on the wad

We toured around the island in a boat. We saw the natural habitat of the harbor and grey seals. Their population ranges from 5-15,000 in the Wadden Sea which borders Schiermonnikoog.

Brenna (on left) and other summer school participants on boat tour

The next three weeks were spent in Rotterdam at Erasmus Medical Centre, the location of the DWHC. Thijs Kuiken, a veterinary pathologist, organized my activities. He is credited with fulfilling Koch’s postulates for isolation and identification of the SARS virus. I assisted in 10 necropsies including a swan, ferrets, macaques, and a dolphin. Some of the animals were found dead in the wild and submitted to the centre. Others were part of research programs. Below is a photo of a macaque necropsy that was inoculated with measles. For safety reasons, the necropsy was performed under a hood.

Dr. Kuiken and Brenna collecting samples from a macaque

Below, on the left, is a picture of a ferret that was inoculated with the SARS virus. For safety reasons, the necropsy was performed in a glove box under Biosafety Level 3 protocol.The photo on the right shows the small intestines of a swan. You may be able to notice the dilated vessels. The swan died of emaciation from complications due to parasites.

Ferret necropsy	Swan necropsy showing dilated vessels

In 1988 and 2002 there were outbreaks of phocine distemper virus in the Wadden Sea at the northern coast of the Netherlands. Phocine is the scientific name for seals. The virus resembles the canine distemper virus. The DWHC studies the carcasses from the outbreaks. I spent a large amount of time creating histology slides from necrospsy tissues. Also, I learned how to perform immunohistochemistry on some of these slides—a technique to identify this virus.

For the last three weeks, I traveled to the small town of Pieterburen at the northern coast. Volunteers at the SRRC are provided room and board at the centre. We were given money to buy food as a group, and everyone rotated with cooking dinner. The volunteers were from the U.S., Spain, Italy, Senegal, and the Netherlands. This was a unique cultural and veterinary experience.

Most of my activities revolved around daily rehabilitation needs of the seals. I learned a great deal about the importance of hygiene in rehabilitation. Also, I became familiar with important aspects of feeding like nutrition and preventing wildlife from habituating to humans. The majority of the seals were pups that had been stranded and lost from their mother before weaning. These pups were raised at the SRRC until they reached 60 pounds. Then, they were released in groups of about three. I was very fortunate to attend one of the releases to the sea. It was very exciting!

Some pictures of the seal center

The Italians	Christina and I are feeding the adolescent seals

A seal that was just rescued from the beach	Releasing three seals

I also shadowed the veterinarian who cared for these seals and had the dubious honor of being present during a clostridium perfringens outbreak. Sadly, three of the seals died acutely. However, the outbreak could have been much worse.
	A sick seal being administered IV fluids in the extradural sinus

France

One weekend I traveled to France to visit a vet I met during the summer school. She took me to the zoo where she worked. I got a behind the scenes tour and even took blood from a fennec fox!

Brenna and Sonja collecting blood from a fennec

I had an incredible summer. I learned about wildlife diseases that were a concern to public health and livestock. I was exposed to a successful rehabilitation program that has grown and thrived for 30 years. I participated in necropsies for wildlife health investigations and research. The people I met were very friendly and helpful at each location. I found that the medicine practiced in Europe is very similar to what I have learned at UGA. There is also considerable exchange of ideas between Americans and Europeans.

I greatly appreciate Dr. Corrie Brown’s assistance. This preceptorship would not have happened without her. I also want to thank all of the staff at the DWHC and SRRC for organizing an unforgettable preceptorship. Part of the program was funded by the Regent’s Scholarship.

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