Page 80 - VHSA - Onderstepoort 100 Years - Part 3

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ERSTEPOORT 100
mostly on pharmacological topics and busied himself with developing courses, amongst others, in toxicology. During this period C. (Kit) Button (1979-1984) contributed valuable studies on the pathophysiology of cardiac glycoside poisoning. In 1984, the depart- ment was joined by T.W. Naudé, who, after the reorganization of the department in 1986, became the head of the newly formed Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
After the retirement of Naudé in 1992, G.E. (Gerry) Swan took over his position as departmental head. Following the amalga- mation in 1999 with the Medunsa Faculty of Veterinary Science and the restructering of the Onderstepoort Faculty, Swan became head of the Department of Paraclinical Sciences which included toxicology, pharmacology, pathology, veterinary public health and phytomedicine. He filled this position until his appointment in 2006 as Dean.
Botha began his career at the Faculty in 1988 as a lec- turer in toxicology and pharmacology. In 1993 he took over the responsibility for toxicology and became head of the department in 2006. During his tenure he published widely on krimpsiekte, inter alia on the aetiology of the disease, the toxicokinetics and dynamic effects of cotyledoside and seasonal fluctuation of cotyledoside concentrations in plant
T. W. Naudé, Head of Toxicology at the Institute (1974-1976) and first full-time Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Faculty (1986-1992)
above) to act as co-authors. Coetzer, a pathologist – who later became the senior editor of the much acclaimed, monumen- tal Infectious Diseases of Livestock with special reference to southern Africa and its expanded second edition, – was an excellent choice, as pathology plays a
materials. He also encouraged investiga- tions into environmental toxicology and J.G. (Jan) Myburgh was attracted to the department in 2003 to concentrate efforts on this field. Currently he is investigating the use of biomarkers as an indication of pollution in the aquatic ecosystem. En- vironmental toxicology is increasing in importance for instance as a result of the industrialization and agricultural practices which result in the pollution of streams, rivers and dams. An interesting example of environmental toxicology was the mortali-
ties of vultures on the Asian subcontinent, which lead to the near extinction of the species, caused by residues of diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in cattle). Vinny Naidoo, a lecturer in pharmacology in the department and his co-workers, under the guidance of Swan, contributed to the international efforts by recommending a safe alternative drug that lead to the subsequent banning of diclofenac in India.
Research on plant poisonings
Traditionally, the research effort has been directed mostly at investigation of plant poisonings, for the good reason that South Africa – having one of the richest floras in the world – is home also to some 600 toxic plants. What is more, since many of our toxic plants are unknown abroad, relatively little
pivotal part in the diagnosis of many of our plant poisonings. Apart from having an interest in toxicology, Coetzer delighted in
170 undertaking large projects. Plant Poisonings
and Mycotoxicoses of Livestock in southern
Africa duly appeared in 1988. In the 1990s
the manuscript was updated to include
information on developments in the field of
plant poisoning after 1988. The need for a
second edition was made more pressing by
the fact that by the late 1990s all the senior
researchers in the Section had either retired
or were about to retire, leaving a serious vacuum in this field of expertise at Onderstepoort. This resulted in a worrying lack of mentors to guide the next generation of young researchers responsible for taking toxicology into the future. It was hoped that the second edition, which appeared in 2005 and in which C.J. Botha of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria was co-opted as fourth co-author, would help fill this gap.
The history of toxicology at Onderstepoort took a major turn when the Faculty of Veterinary Science was separated from the Institute in 1973. At the Faculty it was combined with other disciplines in a new Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology with A. (André) Immelman (1974-1984) as the first lecturer (see also Part 2). During his tenure he published
“The history of toxicology at Onderstepoort took a major turn when the Faculty of Veterinary Science was separated from the Institute in 1973.”
PART 3
History of Individual Disciplines
1908-2008
Years