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Lamsiekte (botulism): solving the aetiology riddle.

Rudolph D Bigalke1

  • 1rbigalke@telkomsa.net

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
|January 19, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sir Arnold Theiler

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Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Pathology
  • Animal Nutrition
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Lamsiekte in cattle was a significant challenge with early theories pointing to phosphate deficiency and a 'grass toxin'.
  • Sir Arnold Theiler investigated the disease's aetiology for years, facing challenges in identifying the true cause.
  • Early research by Hutcheon and Borthwick suggested bonemeal as a prophylactic and linked bone-craving to the disease.

Observation:

  • P.R. Viljoen initially supported the 'grass toxin' theory and disputed the role of osteophagia (bone-craving).
  • Viljoen later reproduced lamsiekte by exposing cattle to decomposing carcasses and blowfly larvae, but received little credit.
  • Theiler observed cattle with bone-craving and connected it to consuming rotten carcass material.

Findings:

  • Theiler confirmed that phosphorus deficiency in grazing lands contributed to lamsiekte.
  • He demonstrated that consuming contaminated carcass material was a primary cause of the disease.
  • The bacterial toxin responsible for lamsiekte was successfully produced in culture, a critical step.

Implications:

  • Theiler's work established effective prophylactic measures using bonemeal, significantly reducing lamsiekte incidence.
  • Understanding the aetiology paved the way for developing a lamsiekte vaccine.
  • This research resolved a long-standing riddle in cattle pathology and animal health.