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What diseases are circulating among companion animals in our country? The Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Centre (VMDC) provides nationwide monitoring of zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance. Its employees act as a source of information for vets, examine submitted material and identify trends. Good collaboration with veterinary practices is crucial.

"Whether it is a blood culture, a test for parasites or the presence of bacteria in an animal's urine, the VMDC’s employees always do their utmost to help you as a vet," says Jan Mulder from the Dierenarts Laren veterinary practice. "They’re easy to contact, and you don't get a recorded message. You get to talk to a veterinary microbiologist who knows what they’re talking about. And that's great! For example, I had a family whose children were suffering from skin complaints. They were under the impression that this was due to a fungus in their dog. This didn’t seem logical to me, because it was a short-haired dog, and there were no visible signs. In a situation like that, it’s great to be able to throw ideas around with an expert. Especially now that pet owners are becoming increasingly empowered and are more inclined to believe a breeder over a vet. Together with the VMDC, you can then decide whether or not to do a test and, if so, which one is best."

Seven hundred calls

"That is exactly what we want," says head of the VMDC Els Broens. "Efficient collaboration in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. That way, vets can help their patients, and we get to find out what’s happening in the field. We are the national thermometer on microbiology for companion animals."
The VMDC uses two sources for this: reports from the field and routine diagnostics. With an average of seven hundred calls a year, it is clear that the work meets a need.

Together, the reports and submissions from vets provide many useful insights. Most zoonoses [diseases that can pass from animals to humans, ed.] and resistant bacteria have remained stable since monitoring started in 2010. But every now and then, there are notable events, where there is an increase in the number of cases with an infectious disease or a new disease emerges in the Netherlands. For example, 2014 saw an increase in the number of dogs with Weil's disease (leptospirosis), and 2015 saw an increase in the number of guinea pigs with a skin fungus (dermatophytosis, also known as ringworm). In late 2016, the VMDC identified the first two cases of brucellosis, another zoonotic disease. These notable events are discussed monthly at the zoonoses signalling meeting. In addition to the VMDC, this also includes other partners such as Royal GD, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the Municipal Health Service (GGD) . During this meeting, they establish whether action or further investigation is required. 

We are the national thermometer on microbiology for companion animals

Bird flu in domestic cats

"It may also be that a ministry specifically asks us to keep an eye on something," says Broens. "For example, during the coronavirus pandemic, we conducted a large study on coronavirus in dogs and cats, and a study on the presence and risks of bird flu in domestic cats is currently being conducted." Given the potential zoonotic risks, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Adema believes it is important to gain further insights into this.

For now, the risk of transmission of bird flu between animals and humans is low. There are no known cases where humans have been infected through contact with a cat. Nor have there been any reports so far of sick or dead cats with bird flu in the Netherlands. However, previous research has shown that some Dutch stray cats have antibodies against bird flu. And cats have also been reported to have died from bird flu abroad. The Ministry is keen to gain more insight into infections in Dutch domestic cats, as these cats come into close contact with people.

Examining blood samples

Broens: "We ask vet practices we work with to send blood samples from domestic cats that go outside. Naturally, this is only done with the owner's permission. If cats catch birds with bird flu outside, there’s a chance they could catch an infection. We are particularly interested in cats from wetland areas where there are lots of wild birds." The researchers plan to examine a total of two to three hundred blood samples for antibodies against the bird flu virus and report on them over the course of this year. "It’s always important to stay alert," stresses Broens.

Jan Mulder from Dierenartsenpraktijk Laren totally agrees. "During the coronavirus pandemic, we saw again just how much impact a zoonosis can have. And also that there can be anxiety when people are wondering if a pet could have or transmit a disease. It’s important to be able to confirm or refute this. As a practitioner, I’m delighted to be able to contribute to this scientific work."

Text: Maarten Post | Image: Bas Niemans