A century of research achievements by the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute

Abstract

The Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) will be 100 years old in 2008. During this period it achieved international renown for its pioneering research on diseases of livestock and other animals. It is therefore timely that the most notable of these achievements, which have been published in appropriate scientific periodicals/journals over the years, be concentrated into a single article for more general information and easy reference purposes. In this article OVI's research highlights are presented chronologically starting with the earliest contributions made by its founder, Sir Arnold Theiler, before the Onderstepoort Institute was established. Then the most important achievements are briefly described as they materialised under the various heads of the Institute, mostly having the title of Director. In the case of some directors who were in office for very brief periods, the research achievements are either dealt with collectively or merged into the foregoing and following periods.