Research leader: Dr June Williams 

Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Section of Pathology, Faculty of  Veterinary Science, UP,  Onderstepoort Position: Senior Lecturer, Veterinary Pathology Physical address; Room 2-13, Pathology Building, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria,  Old Soutpan Road, Onderstepoort. Tel: +27 012 529 8055 E-mail: [email protected]

Research description: 

Focus on neurotropic arboviruses, respiratory viruses and viral causes of stillbirth or teratogenesis in domestic animals and wildlife. Ongoing surveillance of cases and the unit also collects and screens insect vectors from sites of arbovirus outbreaks. The project began in 2008 with horses and the discovery of West Nile virus lineage 2 in South Africa causing severe fatal neurological disease. Since then several other neurotropic arboviruses have been discovered in equines and the study expanded to include other domestic as well as wild animals. The Unit also discovered that West Nile virus is a cause of previously undiagnosed neurological disease in humans in SA and continues to screen human samples for discovery of exposure to previously undiagnosed viruses. I study and collate the histopathology of several of the cases necropsied at Onderstepoort where samples were submitted to the ZRU  for diagnostic screening.