ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

History of bluetongue research at Onderstepoort

 

 

D.W. Verwoerd

Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Research on this economically important disease of ruminants, especially sheep, which had been named bluetongue by farmers in the 19^th century, has been part and parcel of the activities at Onderstepoort ever since its establishment in 1908 and therefore covers a full century of the OVI's existence. In view of Onderstepoort's centenary celebration a brief overview of this research is given in terms of the historic milestones which influenced and guided global research on this and other viral diseases of animals.

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REFERENCES

ALEXANDER, R.A. 1947. The propagation of bluetongue virus in the developing chick embryo with particular reference to the temperature of incubation. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry, 22:7-26.         [ Links ]

BIGALKE, R.D. & VERWOERD, D.W. 2008. A century of research achievements by the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 63:31-51.         [ Links ]

COETZER, J.A.W. & TUSTIN, R.C. 2004. (Eds). Infectious diseases of livestock, 2^nd ed. Cape Town: Oxford University Press.         [ Links ]

DU TOIT, R.M. 1944. The transmission of bluetongue and horsesickness by Culicoides. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry, 19:7-16.         [ Links ]

HAIG, D.A., McKERCHER, D.G. & ALEXANDER, R.A. 1965. The cytopathogenic action of bluetongue virus on tissue cultures and its application to the detection of antibodies in the serum of sheep. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 27:171-177.         [ Links ]

HOWELL, P.G. 1960. A preliminary antigenic classification of strains of bluetongue virus. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 28:357-363.         [ Links ]

HUISMANS, H., VAN DER WALT, N.T., CLOETE, M. & ERASMUS, B.J. 1987. Isolation of a capsid protein of bluetongue virus that induces a protective immune response in sheep. Virology, 157:172-179.         [ Links ]

MASON, J.H., COLES, J.D.W.A. & ALEXANDER, R.A. 1940. Cultivation of bluetongue virus in fertile eggs produced on a vitamin deficient diet. Nature, 145:1022-1023.         [ Links ]

NEITZ, W.O. 1948. Immunological studies on bluetongue in sheep. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry, 23:93-36.         [ Links ]

VERWOERD, D.W., ELS, H.J., DE VILLIERS, E.M. & HUISMANS, H. 1972. Structure of the bluetongue virus capsid. Journal of Virology, 10:783-794.         [ Links ]

VERWOERD, D.W. & BIGALKE, R.D. (Eds) 2008. Onderstepoort 1908-2008. Pretoria: History Committee of the South African Veterinary Association.         [ Links ]