Dr. James E. Oosterhuis
Principal Veterinarian, San Diego Wild Animal Park


Dr. Oosterhuis graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Veterinary Medicine, in 1972. After one year in private practice, he was selected for the internship at the San Diego Zoo. When completed, he became the veterinarian for the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. Then in 1975, he was chosen as the Associate Veterinarian for the San Diego Wild Animal Park, where he continues to practice Zoo and Exotic Animal Medicine on a wide variety of animals.

From 1982 until 2000, he was Director of their Department of Veterinary Services. In 2001, following completion of the world’s largest veterinary medical facility, he elected to return full time to clinical duties in order to enjoy the experience of clinical practice in the new 64,000 sq. ft. Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center, which opened at the Wild Animal Park in September of 2001.

He is a member of the AVMA, CVMA, SDCVMA, the Wildlife Disease Association; a 30 year member of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, and is an active consultant / clinician to numerous zoos, circus animals, private practice veterinarians, and off-exhibit animal collections. He has traveled, published and lectured extensively, and will share with us his experiences and thoughts on :

- Integrating Comprehensive Veterinary Care into your Elephant Management Program -


SCIENTIFIC PAPERS, ABSTRACTS AND PRESENTATIONS:

Oosterhuis, J.E.: Animal identification procedures and record keeping at the Wild Animal Park. American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, St. Louis, MO, October 1976.

Ryder, A.O., A. Trommershausen-Smith, S.K. Hansen, Y. Suzuki, M.C. Sparkes, R.S. Sparkes, J.B. Clegg, J.E. Oosterhuis, L.S. Nelson, P.T. Robinson, J.E. Meier and K. Benirshke: Genetic variation in Przewalski’s horses. Presented in Holland by O. Ryder. 1978.

Oosterhuis, J.E.: Immobilization of non-domestic equidae at the San Diego Wild Animal Park (1975-1979). American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, Denver CO, 1979.

Fagan, D.A. and J.E. Oosterhuis: Gingival hyperplasia induced by diphenylhydantoin in a gorilla. Journal of the AVMA. 175(9):960-961, 1979.

Durrant, B.S. and J.E. Oosterhuis: Embryo transfer in exotic animals. Proceedings: American Zoo and Aquarium Association, pp. 147-148, 1981.

Oosterhuis, J.E.: Fertility evaluation in male hoofstock and immobilization of adult male hoofed stock. American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, Seattle, WA, 1981.

Oosterhuis, J.E. and L.X. Nelson: Management of a tibial fracture in an adult African elephant. American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, Seattle, Washington, 1981.

Durrant, B.S. and J.E. Oosterhuis: Germplasm collection and cryopreservation. Proceedings: American Zoo and Aquarium Association, pp. 149-150, 1981.

Oosterhuis, J.E. and B.S. Durrant: Embryo collection and transfer in the Barbados sheep. Proceedings: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, p.124, 1981.

Heuschele, W.P., N.O. Nielsen, J.E. Oosterhuis, A.E. Castro, and M. Swansen: Dexamethasone-induced recrudescence of malignant catarrhal fever and development of lymphosarcoma in a Formosan sika deer (Cervus nippon). Abstract #238, Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases. November, 1983.

Oosterhuis, J.E.: Neonatal care and hand rearing of exotic hoofstock. Book chapter, Zoo Medicine, Murray Fowler, Editor, 1984.

Heuschele, W. P., J.E. Oosterhuis, M.P. Anderson, M. Swansen and H.R. Fletcher: Malignant catarrhal fever in wild ruminants. Book chapter, One Medicine, O.A. Ryder and M. Byrd, Editors, 1984.

Janssen, D.J., W.P. Heuschele, J.E. Oosterhuis, S. Schofield and K.Halligan: Neonatal diarrhea in hand-raised exotic ruminants. Abstract: Wildlife Disease Association annual meeting, San Diego, California, August, 1984.

Heuschele, W.P., J.E. Oosterhuis, D.L. Janssen and T. Olsen: Methods for the detection of cryptosporidia in reptiles and mammals. Abstract: Wildlife Disease Association annual meeting, San Diego, California, August, 1984.

Heuschele, W.P., D.L. Janssen, J.E. Oosterhuis, S. Schofield and K. Halligan: Etiology and prevention of neonatal diarrhea in hand-raised exotic ruminants. Proceedings: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, 1984.

Heuschele, W.P., P. Payne, T. Olsen, S. Schofield, J.E. Oosterhuis, D.L. Janssen and K. Benirschke: Detection of cryptosporidia and other coccidian in fecal smears and other specimens by auramine staining. Proceedings: Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians, Louisville, Kentucky, October, 1984.

Janssen, D.L. and J.E. Oosterhuis: Guaifenesin for muscle relaxation in immobilized hoofstock. Proceedings: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, 1984.

Janssen, D.L., W.B. Karesh, G.E. Cosgrove and J.E. Oosterhuis: Salmonellosis in a herd of captive elephants. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 185:1450-1451, 1984.

Heuschele, W.P., H.R. Fletcher, J.E. Oosterhuis, D.L. Janssen and P.T. Robinson: Epidemiologic aspects of malignant catarrhal fever in the USA. Proceedings: United States Animal Health Association annual meeting, 1984.

Benirschke, K., A.T. Kumamoto, J.H. Olsen, M.M. Williams and J.E. Oosterhuis: On the chromosome of Gazella soemmeringi cretzschmar, 1826, Verlag Paul Parey, Hamburg und Berlin, 1984.

Heuschele, W.P., N.O. Nielsen, J.E. Oosterhuis and A.E. Castro: Dexamethasone-induced recrudescence of malignant catarrhal fever and associated lymphosarcoma and granulomatous disease in a Formosan sika deer (Cervus nippon taiouanus). American Journal of Veterinary Research, 46:1578-1583, 1985.

Durrant, B.S. and J.E. Oosterhuis: Estrus synchronization, super ovulation in embryo transfer in the Cretan goat (Capra aegagrus cretica). Journal of Theriogenology, 23(1):192, 1985.

Oosterhuis, J.E.: Use of colostrums in hand rearing neonatal hoofstock. Abstract: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, October, 1985.

Durrant, B.S., J.E. Oosterhuis and M.L. Hoge: The application of artificial reproduction techniques to the propagation of selected endangered species. Journal of Theriogenology, 23(1):25-32, 1986.

Heuschele, W.P., T. Olsen, J.E. Oosterhuis, D.L. Janssen, P.T. Robinson, P.K. Ensley and J.E. Meier: Cryptosporidial gastroenteritis in captive wild animals. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 22(4):493-496, 1986.

Karesh, W.B., D.L. Janssen and J.E. Oosterhuis: A comparison of carfentanil and etorphine/xylazine immobilization of Axis deer. Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine, 17:58-61, 1986.

Janssen, D.L., J.E. Oosterhuis, J.L. Allen, M.P. Anderson, D.G. Kelts, S.N. Weimeyer: Lead poisoning in free-living California condors. Journal of the American Veterinarian Veterinary Medical Association, 189(9):1115-1117, 1986.

Heuschele, W.P., J.E. Oosterhuis, D.L. Janssen, P.T. Robinson, P.K. Ensley, J.E. Meier, T. Olson, M.P. Anderson and K. Benirschke: Cryptosporidial infections in captive wild animals. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 22(4):493-496, 1986.

Anderson, M.P., J.E. Oosterhuis, S. Kennedy and K. Benirschke: Pneumonia and meningoencephalitis due to Amoeba in a lowland gorilla. Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine, 17:87-91, 1986.

Karesh, W.B. D.L. Janssen and J.E. Oosterhuis: Neonatal hematology of species of Cervidae and Bovidae. Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine, 17:138-146, 1986.

Oosterhuis, J.E.: Veterinary involvement in the California condor recovery program. Proceedings: American association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, 1986.

Allen, J.L. and J.E. Oosterhuis: Effect of tolazoline on xylazine/ketamine induced anesthesia in the turkey vulture. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 189(9):1328, 1986.

Janssen, D.L., J.E. Oosterhuis, J.L. Allen and T.H. Stanley: Carfentanil immobilization of non-domestic hoofstock. Proceedings: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, 1987.

Nielsen, N.O., J.E. Oosterhuis, D.L. Janssen, K. McColl, M.P. Anderson and W.P. Heuschele: Fatal respiratory disease in Nilgiri tahr: possible malignant catarrhal fever. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 52:216-222, 1988.

Czekala, N.M., L.H. Kasman, J.L. Allen, J.E. Oosterhuis and B.L. Lasley: Urinary steroid evaluations to monitor ovarian function in exotic ungulates. Journal of Zoo Biology, 9:34-48, 1990.

Allen, J.L., D.L. Janssen, J.E. Oosterhuis and T.H. Stanley: Immobilization of captive non-domestic hoofstock with carfentanil. Proceedings: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, Calgary, Canada, 1991.

Lindburg, D.G., B.S. Durrant, S.E. Millard and J. E. Oosterhuis: Fertility assessment of cheetah males with poor quality semen. American Journal of Primatology, 1992.

Oosterhuis, J.E. and P. Wong: Zoo veterinary hospital design and construction. Workshop presented at: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, Oakland, California, 1991.

Lindburg, D.G., B.S. Durrant, S.E. Millard and J.E. Oosterhuis: Fertility assessment of cheetah males with poor quality semen. Journal of Zoo Biology, 12:97-103, 1993.

Worley, M.B., L.L. Lowenstine, K.G. Osborn, J.L. Allen and J.E. Oosterhuis: An apparent epizootic of necrotizing pharyngitis and mucosal ulceration in the Mhorr gazelle. Proceedings: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, 1995.

Oosterhuis, J.E.: Field immobilization techniques. Workshop presented at: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, Denver, Colorado, 1995.

Durrant, B.S., J.E. Oosterhuis, L. Johnson, E.D. Plotka, P.G. Harms and T.H. Welsh, Jr.: Effect of testosterone treatment on the antler cycle of an Indian hog deer (Cervus porcinus) with low endogenous level of testosterone. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 27:76-82, 1996.

Fagan, D.A., J.E. Oosterhuis and J.E. Kirkman: A twenty-five year review of the expanding field of exotic animal health care-veterinary dentistry. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 15(3):117-128, 1998.

Oosterhuis, J.E., A. Roocroft and L. Gage: Elephant foot care. Workshop presented at: American Association of Zoo Veterinarians annual meeting, Houston, Texas, 1998.

Fagan, D.A., J.E. Oosterhuis and A. Roocroft: Significant dental disease in elephants. Proceedings of the 39th International Symposium on Diseases of Zoo and Wild Animals, Vienna, Austria, May, 1999.

Fagan, D.A. and J.E. Oosterhuis: A dental extraction site management protocol utilizing a synthetic bone graft particulate technique. Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Columbus, Ohio, October, 1999.

Fagan, D.A., J.E. Oosterhuis and M.S. Edwards: Oral disease and its impact upon systemic health in spite of the diet consumed. Proceedings of the Comparative Nutrition Society Biennial Symposium, Pacific Grove, California, August, 2000.

Fagan, D.A., J.E. Oosterhuis and A. Roocroft: Gefangenschaftskrankheiten (Captivity disorders in elephants)/Impacted molars and broken tusks. Der Zoologische Garten, 71(5):281-303, 2001.

Fagan, D.A., J.E. Oosterhuis, C.V. Fiorello, G.F. Daleo and H. Fitch-Snyder: Use of CT-imaging and 3-D color reconstruction for comparison of cranial density in captive and wild cheetahs (Acinonyn jubatus). 1998-2002, in progress.