Page 3 - VHSA - Onderstepoort 100 Years - Part 1

ONDERSTEPOORT 10 00
finalized in co-operation with two imported French scientists, J. Danysz and J. Bordet.
In July 1898 Theiler founded his first permanent laboratory at Daspoort, situated to the west of central Pretoria. The corru- gated iron buildings had been erected as a ‘disinfection station’ in 1897 for the dis- infection of animal products, such as hides and skins that were possibly contaminated with RP virus, but had never been used for this purpose. He called this laboratory a vaccine institute where, apart from RP serum, vaccines against blackquarter and lungsickness of cattle, and smallpox vaccine for use in humans were also produced.
Owing to the efforts of mainly Theiler, Watkins-Pitchford, Koch, Danysz and Bor- det, the RP pandemic had practically been brought under control by 1898, only sporadic cases occurring during the Anglo- Boer War of 1899 to 1902. However, al- most half the cattle population and much of the big game species, such as buffalo, had been destroyed in the four countries concerned which were, in 1910, united to become the South Africa we know today.
Theiler’s enlistment at the outbreak of the war was followed by a short spell as a ‘horse doctor’ in the State artillery with the Boer forces, after which he returned to his laboratory at Daspoort. In 1903 F.B. Smith, Director of the Department
Theiler (seated right) during Anglo-Boer War with officers of the ‘Staatsartillerie’
“Another catastrophic cattle disease hit the country in 1902 when East Coast fever (ECF) (at the time known as ‘Rhodesian redwater’) was introduced, apparently by cattle imported from East Africa.”
A. Theiler (centre with apron) and his senior Daspoort staff
of Agriculture of the post-war Transvaal government, appointed him as govern- ment veterinary bacteriologist. His activi- ties included continued production of small-pox and lungsickness vaccines as well as research on African horsesickness (AHS).
Another catastrophic cattle disease hit
the country in 1902 when East Coast fever
(ECF) (at the time known as ‘Rhodesian 3 redwater’) was introduced, apparently by
cattle imported from East Africa. The latter
action was part of the Milner govern-
ment’s policy of importing ‘repatriation’ cattle from other countries to replace those decimated by the British scorched-earth policy during the war and the ravages of RP. East Coast fever required intensive research because its cause and mode of transmission were unknown. It was Theiler who proved conclusively that ‘Rhodesian redwater’ was not a form of redwater (i.e. babesiosis) but a completely new disease, thereby resolving the mystery
Early days (1908-1927)
8-2008
Years