The Zoological Survey: an historical perspective

Abstract

For the first time an attempt is made to place an important epidemiological project in perspective. The Zoological Survey was undertaken ± 70 years ago by scientists at the Veterinary Research Institute, Onderstepoort, primarily to investigate the epidemiology of diseases which occurred at the wildlife/domestic livestock interface such as rabies, African swine fever, tuberculosis, African animal trypanosomosis and rinderpest. Attention was also paid to some species of problem wild animals, such as hyraxes, reputedly causing damage in agriculture, or that were involved in disease transmission to man, for example gerbils with reference to plague. Thousands of mammals, hundreds of birds and a few reptiles and amphibia were collected. In pursuit of controlling tsetse flies (the vectors of African animal trypanosomosis), the Harris fly trap was evaluated. The most important results obtained during the Survey and the progress made have been briefly outlined. Reasons for the demise of the Survey are given and recent scientific progress in pursuit of control of important wildlife diseases transmissible to domestic livestock indicated.