Lamsiekte (botulism): solving the aetiology riddle.

The reason or reasons why it took Sir Arnold Theiler so many years to unravel the riddle of the aetiology of lamsiekte in cattle and whether P.R. Viljoen's lifelong grudge for receiving insufficient credit from Theiler for his research contribution was justified are analysed in this paper.

Veterinary education in South Africa: the classes of 1938 and 1939.

Concise descriptions are given of the life histories of the 10 members of the classes of 1938 and 1939. All of them initially joined the government service, Hugo, Steenekamp and Schatz spending their entire careers in the South African Veterinary (Field) Services. Mansvelt, the first recipient of the much-coveted Theiler medal, was the 2nd veterinarian to be appointed Director of Veterinary Services, a position specially created for the 'Field' in 1962.

Veterinary education in South Africa: the classes of 1936 & 1937.

Concise descriptions are given of the varied life histories of the students of the classes of 1936 and 1937. Consisting of 14 students, the class of 1936 was the largest of the pre-war classes of the Onderstepoort Faculty. Three of the 6 students in the 1937 class were actually repeating their final year, therefore the total number described below is 17 rather than 20.

Introductory keynote address. Theiler and the 'Spirit of Onderstepoort'.

Although Theiler became internationally known for his pioneering veterinary research a distant century ago, there are probably few veterinary researchers today who have not heard of him. Onderstepoort, the research institute he created, is equally well, if not even better, known. Moreover, the name Onderstepoort is not only associated with his institute but also with the only South African faculty of veterinary science, another Theiler 'baby'.

Veterinary education in South Africa: the classes of 1934 & 1935.

The Class of 1934 included 2 graduates who created milestones for the veterinary profession in South Africa. Jack Boswell was the first Onderstepoort graduate to start his own private practice without ever joining the government service. George van der Wath has the distinction of being the only South African veterinarian to become Chairman of the prestigious South African Wool Board.

Veterinary education in South Africa: the Classes of 1932 & 1933.

The Class of 1933 of the Onderstepoort Faculty was the smallest in its history, having only 1 student for much of the BVSc course. The photographs of the Classes of 1932 and 1933 are both of the customary composite type. Not only the graduates, but also the Dean, Prof.

Veterinary education in South Africa: the classes of 1930 and 1931.

With only two students in the final year, the class of 1930 was the 2nd smallest in the history of the Onderstepoort Faculty. Noteworthy is that the class photograph is composed of individual shots of the graduates and that 1 photograph was taken several years after qualification. The photograph of the Class of 1931 is the more customary composite one.

Veterinary education in South Africa: the classes of 1928 and 1929.

The available photographs of the Classes of 1928 and 1929 are confusing because they not only bear the same date (1929) but are also composed of individual shots of the graduates rather than the customary group photograph. An answer to the riddle was provided by the presence of J A Thorburn (a member of the Class of 1927) who was a 'super' and qualified in 1928, in the one photograph, together with M C Robinson who also graduated in 1928. The photograph dated 1929 on which 4 graduates and the Dean, Prof.

Veterinary education in South Africa: the class of 1927.

Joan Morice, a member of the class of 1927, broke the tradition of male student domination at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty, but it took almost 20 years before other young ladies started following her courageous example. The accompanying photograph is unusual in the sense that the students appear in their then customary white coats instead of graduation regalia and that their dean is absent. Concise descriptions are given of the life histories of the 8 graduates.

Veterinary education in South Africa: the class of 1926.

Both Sir Arnold Theiler, appointed as Dean in 1920 when the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty was established, and Dr P J du Toit, who succeeded him in 1927, appear in the compound photograph of the class of 1926, constituting the 3rd group of graduates. The probable reason for having 2 deans on the photograph, which was obviously composed from shots taken individually of the outgoing and incoming deans of the faculty as well as of each of the 7 graduates, is initially analysed in this paper. This is followed by short descriptions of the life histories of the graduates.

Veterinary education in South Africa: the class of 1925.

Veterinary education in South Africa started in 1920 when the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty was created. Sir Arnold Theiler was close to retirement when he finally officiated as Dean at the graduation ceremony in 1926 for the class of 1925, constituting the 2nd group of graduates. In this article the fateful circumstances that dictated the final years of Theiler's brilliant career and their effect on his participation in student matters are initially dealt with.

Veterinary education in South Africa: the class of 1924.

Veterinary education in South Africa is now more than 80 years old. It started in 1920 when the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty was created as an integral part of the Veterinary Research Institute at Onderstepoort. Sir Arnold Theiler, the founder of Onderstepoort, was its first Dean.

A review of the infectious diseases of African wild ruminants.

The important viral, protozoal and bacterial diseases of wild African ruminants are reviewed. Special attention is paid to the epidemiological factors that determine the role played by these animals in the transmission of diseases to domestic stock. Examples of the converse situation where livestock serve as a source of infection for wild ruminants are also given.

Nutritional ecology and life history tactics in the bushpig (Potamochoerus porcus): Development of an interactive model.

A study of the ecology of the bushpig (Potamochoerus porcus) showed that there were regional differences in relative investments made in reproduction and maintenance. Southern Cape populations had relatively low reproductive rates, but levels of energy storage and survival rates were high. The reverse applied to eastern Cape populations.

Mammalian pheromones VIII Chemical characterization of preorbital gland secretion of grey duiker,Sylvicapra grimmia (Artiodactyla: Bovidae).

Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry 33 constituents of the preorbital gland of the grey duiker,Sylvicapra grimmia, were identified as unbranched alkanes, 2-alkanones, alkanals, alkanoic acids, alkan-4-olides, as well as 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid, benzyl cyanide, diethyl sulfoxide, 2-isobutyl-1,3-thiazole, 2-isobutyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazole, and 3,4-epoxy-2-dodecanone. Determination of the relative concentrations of these components in a limited number of secretion samples taken from males and females revealed that in these samples the two thiazole derivatives and the epoxy ketone were present in consistently and significantly higher concentrations in male than in female secretions. This suggests that they could act as sex recognition cues.

The current status of research on diseases of wildlife in South Africa and south west Africa/Namibia.

This paper contains a review of the formal research being done on the diseases and parasitic infestations of wild animals by universities and the state as well as other institutions in this part of the African continent. It is clear that most information obtained in this research is of an epidemiological or ecological nature and that ungulates, which form the bulk of the game-farming industry, are receiving the most attention. An analysis of the 20 most important diseases, which cover 6 disciplines, revealed that most of the research is being done for the benefit of livestock rather than wildlife.

Future prospects and goal setting regarding research on heartwater.

This article highlights the most important research goals identified during the workshop on "Heartwater: Past, Present and Future," which was held from 8-11 September 1986 in the Republic of South Africa. An attempt has also been made to identify the most modern technology which is available for this purpose. All 60 papers presented at the workshop, together with other relevant information, are published in this number of the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research.

The control of heartwater by means of tick control.

Two main methods are currently being used by farmers in the heartwater regions to control this disease in cattle and other stock, namely strategic control of ticks and total control of ticks. Some farmers make successful use of the latter method, particularly in areas which are marginal for the disease. Total tick control requires top managerial skills, which includes continual expert supervision, a relatively rare asset.

Onderstepoort today, yesterday and tomorrow. Commemorative lecture.

This lecture commences with a synopsis of the present activities and organization of the world-famous veterinary research institute in South Africa, colloquially and internationally known as Onderstepoort. Some of the major historic features which contributed to the origin, firm establishment and excellent reputation of Onderstepoort are subsequently outlined. Finally, the future of the institute is considered in terms of existing and expected scientific challenges.

Serodiagnosis of bovine besnoitiosis by ELISA and immunofluorescence tests.

Sera from non-infected cattle and cattle infected with Anaplasma, Babesia, Theileria and Sarcocystis were tested for antibodies to Besnoitia in ELISA and immunofluorescence tests (IFT) with Besnoitia besnoiti of blue wildebeest origin as antigen. Only 2 out of 86 sera gave false positive reactions in ELISA and none in the IFT, indicating a high specificity for the tests. Three-hundred-and-three bovine sera from 3 farms in an area endemic for besnoitiosis were similarly tested and the results were correlated with clinical findings based on visual inspection for typical symptoms and the presence of cysts in the scleral conjunctiva.

Further compounds from the pedal gland of the bontebok (Damaliscus dorcas dorcas).

The identification of four further major constituents of the pedal gland exudate of the bontebok, Damaliscus dorcas dorcas, viz. alpha-terpineol, 2-n-heptylpyridine, m-cresol and (A)-6-dodecen-4-olide and the investigation of the stereochemistry of the double bond in (Z)-6-dodecen-4-olide by means of iterative computer analysis are described. An improved synthesis of this compound is outlined.

A symposium on canine biliary fever. Paper 1: relapses and immunity in canine babesiosis.

Canine and bovine babesiosis are compared with particular reference to the occurrence of relapses and some immunological aspects of the diseases. Intact dogs resemble splenectomized cattle in respect of the relatively frequent occurrence of clinical relapses of babesiosis. The possible reasons for this are discussed.