Erik van Engelen PhD
Erik van Engelen PhD
"This world is not ruled by presidents but by bacteria. Bacteria outnumber humans by magnitudes. Since we can’t beat them. Join them!"

Position
PhD
Expertise
Bacteriology, Cryptosporidium parvum, Mycoplasma bovis, Tritrichomonas foetus, Campylobacter fetus, Coxiella burnetti, Streptococcus suis
Biography
After finishing his master degree in Biology with focus on the immune system, Erik succeeded also the study for becoming a veterinarian. After some years working as bovine practitioner, he became lecturer at the Veterinary Faculty, teaching physiology. His PhD thesis focused on the calving process of cows, which can be described as an inflammatory process. About ten years ago, Erik started working at the Animal Health Service as immunologist, however after some years he changed to bacteriology for which he received the Dutch specialization. Erik is involved in several studies on detection and characterization of veterinary important pathogens. This also includes the production and improvement of autologous vaccines, a really promising topic at this moment.
Publications
- Van Engelen E, Taverne MA, Everts ME, van der Weijden GC, Doornenbal A, Breeveld-Dwarkasing VN. EMG activity of the muscular and stromal layer of the cervix in relation to EMG activity of the myometrium and cervical dilatation in PGF2alpha induced parturition in the cow. Theriogenology 2007; 67: 1158-1167.
- Van Engelen E, Taverne MA, Everts ME, van der Weijden GC, Doornenbal A, Breeveld Dwarkasing VN. Cervical diameter in relation to uterine and cervical EMG activity in early postpartum dairy cows with retained placentas after PGF2alpha induced calving. Theriogenology 2007; 68: 213-222.
- Van Engelen E, Breeveld Dwarkasing VN, Taverne MA, Everts ME, van der Weijden GC, Rutten VP. MMP-2 expression precedes the final cervical ripening process of the bovine cervix. Mol Reprod. Dev. 2008 Nov.;75(11):1669-77.
- Van Engelen E, Breeveld Dwarkasing VN, Rutten VP, Everts ME, van der Weijden GC, Taverne MA. Smooth muscle cells of the bovine cervical stroma may have a secretory, rather than a contractile function during parturition. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 2009 Apr.; 44(2):303-11.
- Van Engelen E, De Groot MW, Breeveld Dwarkasing VN, Everts ME, van der Weijden GC, Taverne MA, Rutten VP. Cervical ripening and parturition in the cow are driven by a cascade of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Reprod.Domest. Anim. 2009 Oct;44(5):834-41.
- Muskens J, van Engelen E, van Maanen C, Bartels C, Lam TJ. Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection in Dutch dairy herds based on testing bulk tank milk and individual samples by PCR and ELISA. Vet Rec. 2011 Jan 22; 168(3):79. Epub 2011 Jan 10.
- Ploeger HW, Verbeek PC, Dekkers CWH, Strube C, Van Engelen E, Uiterwijk M, Lam TJGM, Holzhauer M, The value of a bulk-tank milk ELISA and individual serological and faecal examination for diagnosing (sub)clinical Dictyocaulus viviparus infection in dairy cows. Vet. Par, 2011. Aug 27, Epud ahead of print.
- Lam TJGM, van Engelen E, Scherpenzeel CGM, Hage JJ. Strategies to reduce antibiotic usage in dairy cattle in the Netherlands. Cattle Practice 2012; 20 (3).
- van den Brom R, van Engelen E, Luttikholt S, Moll L, van Maanen K, Vellema P. Coxiella burnetii in bulk tank milk samples from dairy goat and dairy sheep farms in The Netherlands in 2008. Vet Rec. 2012 Mar 24;170(12):310. Epub 2012 Feb 20.
- Van den Brom R, van Engelen E, Vos J, Luttikholt SJM, Moll L, Roest HIJ, van der Heijden HMJF, Vellema P. Detection of Coxiella burnetii in the bulk tank milk from a farm with vaccinated goats, by using a specific PCR technique. Small Ruminant Research 110 (2013) 150– 154.
- Van Engelen E, Luttikholt S, Peperkamp K, Vellema P, Brom RV. Small ruminant abortions in The Netherlands during lambing season 2012-2013. Vet Rec. 2014 May 17;174(20):506. doi: 10.1136/vr.102244. Epub 2014 Apr 12.
- Schimmer B, Schotten N, van Engelen E, Hautvast JL, Schneeberger PM, van Duijnhoven YT. Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence and risk for humans on dairy cattle farms, the Netherlands, 2010-2011. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Mar;20(3):417-25. doi: 10.3201/eid2003.131111.
- Ploeger HW, Holzhauer M, Uiterwijk M, Van Engelen E. Comparison of two serum and bulk-tank milk ELISAs for diagnosing natural (sub)clinical Dictyocaulus viviparus infection in dairy cows.Vet Parasitol. 2014 Jan 17;199(1-2):50-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.10.002. Epub 2013 Oct 14.
- van Engelen E, Schotten N, Schimmer B, Hautvast JLA, van Schaik G, van Duijnhoven YT. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever) in Dutch Dairy Cattle Herds based on bulk tank milk testing, Prev Vet Med. 2014 Nov 1;117(1):103-9.
- Van den Brom R, Santman-Berends I., Luttikholt S, Moll L, Van Engelen E, Vellema P. Bulk tank milk surveillance as a measure to detect Coxiella burnetii shedding dairy goat herds in the Netherlands between 2009 and 2014. Journal of dairy science, 2015 Jun;98(6):3814-25.
- Molenaar RJ, van Engelen E. Pneumonia associated with Acinetobacter baumannii in a group of minks (Neovison vison). Vet Q. 2015;35(3):174-6.
- R. Van den Brom, E. van Engelen, H.I.J. Roest, W. van der Hoek, P. Vellema Coxiella burnetii infections in sheep or goats: an opinionated Review Veterinary Microbiology 2015.
- Heuvelink A, Hassan AA, Van Weering H, Van Engelen E, Bülte M, Akineden Ö. An intra-laboratory cultural and real-time PCR method comparison and evaluation for the detection of subclinical paratuberculosis in dairy herds. Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2017 May;62(3):197-205. doi: 10.1007/s12223-016-0488-1. Epub 2016 Dec 17.
Scientific posters
"This world is not ruled by presidents but by bacteria. Bacteria outnumber humans by magnitudes. Since we can’t beat them. Join them!"
Position
PhD
Expertise
Bacteriology, Cryptosporidium parvum, Mycoplasma bovis, Tritrichomonas foetus, Campylobacter fetus, Coxiella burnetti, Streptococcus suis
Biography
After finishing his master degree in Biology with focus on the immune system, Erik succeeded also the study for becoming a veterinarian. After some years working as bovine practitioner, he became lecturer at the Veterinary Faculty, teaching physiology. His PhD thesis focused on the calving process of cows, which can be described as an inflammatory process. About ten years ago, Erik started working at the Animal Health Service as immunologist, however after some years he changed to bacteriology for which he received the Dutch specialization. Erik is involved in several studies on detection and characterization of veterinary important pathogens. This also includes the production and improvement of autologous vaccines, a really promising topic at this moment.
Publications
- Van Engelen E, Taverne MA, Everts ME, van der Weijden GC, Doornenbal A, Breeveld-Dwarkasing VN. EMG activity of the muscular and stromal layer of the cervix in relation to EMG activity of the myometrium and cervical dilatation in PGF2alpha induced parturition in the cow. Theriogenology 2007; 67: 1158-1167.
- Van Engelen E, Taverne MA, Everts ME, van der Weijden GC, Doornenbal A, Breeveld Dwarkasing VN. Cervical diameter in relation to uterine and cervical EMG activity in early postpartum dairy cows with retained placentas after PGF2alpha induced calving. Theriogenology 2007; 68: 213-222.
- Van Engelen E, Breeveld Dwarkasing VN, Taverne MA, Everts ME, van der Weijden GC, Rutten VP. MMP-2 expression precedes the final cervical ripening process of the bovine cervix. Mol Reprod. Dev. 2008 Nov.;75(11):1669-77.
- Van Engelen E, Breeveld Dwarkasing VN, Rutten VP, Everts ME, van der Weijden GC, Taverne MA. Smooth muscle cells of the bovine cervical stroma may have a secretory, rather than a contractile function during parturition. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 2009 Apr.; 44(2):303-11.
- Van Engelen E, De Groot MW, Breeveld Dwarkasing VN, Everts ME, van der Weijden GC, Taverne MA, Rutten VP. Cervical ripening and parturition in the cow are driven by a cascade of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Reprod.Domest. Anim. 2009 Oct;44(5):834-41.
- Muskens J, van Engelen E, van Maanen C, Bartels C, Lam TJ. Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection in Dutch dairy herds based on testing bulk tank milk and individual samples by PCR and ELISA. Vet Rec. 2011 Jan 22; 168(3):79. Epub 2011 Jan 10.
- Ploeger HW, Verbeek PC, Dekkers CWH, Strube C, Van Engelen E, Uiterwijk M, Lam TJGM, Holzhauer M, The value of a bulk-tank milk ELISA and individual serological and faecal examination for diagnosing (sub)clinical Dictyocaulus viviparus infection in dairy cows. Vet. Par, 2011. Aug 27, Epud ahead of print.
- Lam TJGM, van Engelen E, Scherpenzeel CGM, Hage JJ. Strategies to reduce antibiotic usage in dairy cattle in the Netherlands. Cattle Practice 2012; 20 (3).
- van den Brom R, van Engelen E, Luttikholt S, Moll L, van Maanen K, Vellema P. Coxiella burnetii in bulk tank milk samples from dairy goat and dairy sheep farms in The Netherlands in 2008. Vet Rec. 2012 Mar 24;170(12):310. Epub 2012 Feb 20.
- Van den Brom R, van Engelen E, Vos J, Luttikholt SJM, Moll L, Roest HIJ, van der Heijden HMJF, Vellema P. Detection of Coxiella burnetii in the bulk tank milk from a farm with vaccinated goats, by using a specific PCR technique. Small Ruminant Research 110 (2013) 150– 154.
- Van Engelen E, Luttikholt S, Peperkamp K, Vellema P, Brom RV. Small ruminant abortions in The Netherlands during lambing season 2012-2013. Vet Rec. 2014 May 17;174(20):506. doi: 10.1136/vr.102244. Epub 2014 Apr 12.
- Schimmer B, Schotten N, van Engelen E, Hautvast JL, Schneeberger PM, van Duijnhoven YT. Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence and risk for humans on dairy cattle farms, the Netherlands, 2010-2011. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Mar;20(3):417-25. doi: 10.3201/eid2003.131111.
- Ploeger HW, Holzhauer M, Uiterwijk M, Van Engelen E. Comparison of two serum and bulk-tank milk ELISAs for diagnosing natural (sub)clinical Dictyocaulus viviparus infection in dairy cows.Vet Parasitol. 2014 Jan 17;199(1-2):50-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.10.002. Epub 2013 Oct 14.
- van Engelen E, Schotten N, Schimmer B, Hautvast JLA, van Schaik G, van Duijnhoven YT. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever) in Dutch Dairy Cattle Herds based on bulk tank milk testing, Prev Vet Med. 2014 Nov 1;117(1):103-9.
- Van den Brom R, Santman-Berends I., Luttikholt S, Moll L, Van Engelen E, Vellema P. Bulk tank milk surveillance as a measure to detect Coxiella burnetii shedding dairy goat herds in the Netherlands between 2009 and 2014. Journal of dairy science, 2015 Jun;98(6):3814-25.
- Molenaar RJ, van Engelen E. Pneumonia associated with Acinetobacter baumannii in a group of minks (Neovison vison). Vet Q. 2015;35(3):174-6.
- R. Van den Brom, E. van Engelen, H.I.J. Roest, W. van der Hoek, P. Vellema Coxiella burnetii infections in sheep or goats: an opinionated Review Veterinary Microbiology 2015.
- Heuvelink A, Hassan AA, Van Weering H, Van Engelen E, Bülte M, Akineden Ö. An intra-laboratory cultural and real-time PCR method comparison and evaluation for the detection of subclinical paratuberculosis in dairy herds. Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2017 May;62(3):197-205. doi: 10.1007/s12223-016-0488-1. Epub 2016 Dec 17.