Prof EH Venter

Professor of Veterinary Education
Course Coordinator: Veterinary Science

BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD (Virology)

Prof EH Venter

Office
Building 97 - 013
College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences
Discipline: Veterinary Science
James Cook University, Townsville Qld 4810
Australia

Telephone
(61)(07)478 13159

Email
[email protected]

ORCID ID
0000-0001-7351-0827

Biography

Estelle Venter obtained a BSc degree at the University of the Free State (UF) (cum laude) with major subjects Microbiology and Biochemistry. She obtained her MSc degree in 1984 in Microbiology (Virology) at the UF. The area of research was in virology, specifically on RVF virus. The title of her PhD thesis was the development of a group-specific diagnostic probe for the detection of the 24 serotypes for bluetongue virus (BTV) which she obtained in 1993. She was appointed as Senior Lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases in 1988 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1997 and Professor in 2013. Her research findings have been presented at 50 international and 86 national conferences. She is the author/co-author of 81 scientific publications and 3 chapters in books. During the past five years I refereed 48 manuscripts, for journals including the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, Theriogenology, Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Veterinary Microbiology, African Journal of Biotechnology, BioMed Central (BMC) Veterinary Research, Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, the Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, Vaccine, Epidemiology and Infection, PLoS Pathogens and Transboundary and Emerging Diseases Journal. She was a referee for nine Grant proposals of the NRF and has assisted in the rating process of eight scientists. She had supervised/co-supervised a total of 42 postgraduate students that obtained their degrees. She is currently co- or supervising 10 registered postgraduate students and 1 post doc fellow: 6 PhDs, 1 MMedVet student and 3 research Masters students. She has been an external examiner for 9 Masters and 2 PhD students and internal examiner for 4 MSc and 2 PhD students. She is a NRF C2 rated scientist.

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Professional and academic experience

Virology and Molecular Biology

Professional memberships

South African Council for Natural Scientists as a Natural Scientist

Subjects taught at undergraduate and postgraduate levels

Viral diseases
Diagnostic virology and molecular biology

Research interests

Research Focus: Bluetongue and lumpy skin disease viruses

Research Interests: Bluetongue is an economical important endemic disease in South Africa and recently caused major outbreaks in Europe. The characteristics of reassortants of BTV serotype 6 vaccine strain with the European BTV serotype 8 strain are evaluated. Transplacental crossing of BTV 8 in SA goats has been established. In vitro, cell-virus interaction and in vivo virulence studies using reassortant BTV’s have been reported. A reverse genetic system for BTV has been established. Lumpy skin disease is an economic important viral disease of cattle of all breeds occurring in Africa and parts of the Middle-East. The disease is of economic importance due to its association with abortions, reduced fertility in males and females, weight loss and a sharp drop in milk yield during outbreaks. Ulceration of nodular pox lesions leaves permanent scars which decrease the value of the hides for use in the leather industry. She has investigated aspects of lumpy skin disease virus infection, including detection, transmission, vector studies, antibody protection, secretion and its effect on semen.

Current and Future Research Focus: Reassortant BTV’s and their characteristics e.g. virulence markers and pathogenicity as well as oral susceptibility studies in the Culicoides vector will be studied. Lumpy skin disease virus replication kinetics as well as virogenesis studies in ticks will be done.

Postgraduate Students

Studies completed

Name of student	Degree/Title of dissertation/ thesis and date	Supervisor	Co-supervisor(s)	Duration of studies (years)
1. J G K Kangumba	MMedVet (Microbiology) The effect of the lactoperoxidase system and souring on certain pathogens in cows' milk UP March 1997	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisor JAW Coetzer	5 years Part-time
2. J J N Ngeranwa	PhD (Protozoology) Characterization of two Anaplasma species from elands (Taurotragus oryx), and a serologic survey of Anaplasma in wild and domestic animals in Kenya. UP March 1997	Promoter P B Penzhorn	Co-promoter E H Venter	Full-time
3. N Bryson	MMedVet: (Ectoparasitology) The detection of Cowdria ruminantium infection rates in free-living unfed Amblyomma hebraeum collected in heartwater endemic regions of South Africa. UP September 2000	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisor I Horak	12 years Part-time I was his supervisor only for the last 2 years of his studies
4. Oumou Sangare	PhD (Virology) The molecular epidemiology of Foot-and Mouth disease virus in West Africa. UP November 2002	Promoter E H Venter	Co-promoters W Vosloo R Dwarka	4 years Full-time student
5. Darshana Morar	MSc (Microbiology – Bacteriology and Molecular Biology) The development of an interferon-gamma assay for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) UP November 2003	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisor V Rutten	2 years Full-time I was her supervisor only for the last part of her studies
6. Mesfin Sahle	PhD (Virology) An epidemiological study on the genetic relationships of foot-and-mouth disease viruses in East Africa UP April 2004	Promoter E H Venter	Co-promoters Wilna Vosloo R Dwarka	4 years Full-time
7. Eeva Tupperainen:	MSc Veterinary Science (Virology) The detection of lumpy skin disease virus in samples of experimentally infected cattle using different diagnostic techniques UP November 2004	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisor JAW Coetzer	3 years Full-time
8. Antje Bartkowiak-Higgo	MSc Veterinary Science (Veterinary Public Health) A survey of post-evisceration contamination of broiler carcasses and ready-to-sell livers and intestines (mala) with Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in a high throughput South African poultry abattoir. UP November 2005	Supervisor C M Veary	Co- supervisor E H Venter	4 years Part-time
9. Victor Bagla	MSc Veterinary Science (Virology) The demonstration of lumpy skin disease virus in semen of experimentally infected bulls using different diagnostic techniques UP May 2006	Supervisor E H Venter	None	2 years - Full-time
10. U I Osuagwuh	MSc Veterinary Science (Theriogenology) Semen quality and the excretion of lumpy skin disease virus in semen following vaccination and experimental challenge of vaccinated bulls UP May 2006	Supervisor P Irons	Co-supervisor E H Venter	2 years Full-time
11. Theresa Sethusa	MSc Veterinary Science Evaluation of a method to detect Mycobacterium bovis and M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of domestic and wild animals UP November 2006	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisor A Michel	4 years – Part-time
12. Petra Ros S 23362376	BSc Hons Genetics Faculty of Natural and Biological Sciences The molecular characterization of Ehrlichia species in dogs UP April 2007	Supervisor for research project E H Venter	None	1 year Full-time
13. Henry Annandale	MMedVet (Theriogenology) Mechanisms by which lumpy skin disease virus is shed in the semen of artificially infected bulls UP April 2007	Supervisor P Irons	Co-supervisor E H Venter	4 years Part-time
14. Peter Irons	PhD The bull as a source of trichomonosis and lumpy skin disease: an African perspective University of Utrecht The Netherlands October 2007	Promoter B Colenbrander	Co-promoter E H Venter	5 years Part-time
15. Jacob Modumo	MSc (VTD) Determination of the minimum protective dose for bluetongue serotype 2, 4 and 8 vaccines in sheep UP April 2009	Supervisor E H Venter	None	3 years Part-time
16. Tracey Schmidt	MSc (VTD) - Cum Laude Detection of Campylobacter fetus in preputial specimens using culture and PCR assays UP April 2009	Supervisor J Picard	Co-supervisor E H Venter	2 years Part-time
17. Akin Jenkins	MSc Veterinary Science - Cum Laude Identification and genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infections at the human/domestic animals/wildlife interface in Nigeria and South Africa UP April 2009	Supervisor J Godfroid	Co-supervisor E H Venter	2 years Full-time
18. Eulalie Kashwantale	MSc (VTD) Genetic, antigenic and phenotypic comparisons between strains of feline herpesvirus type I isolated from domestic and wild felids UP November 2009	Supervisor M van Vuuren	Co-supervisor E H Venter	3 years Full-time
19. Suzanna Bell	MSc (VTD) Assessing the influence of farm management factors on the localized Culicoides species distribution and populations on a lowland farm in South-West England UP April 2010	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisor Philip Mellor	3 years Full-time
20. Anne-Mari Bosman	MSc (VTD) Detection of Babesia species in Southern African felids by means of DNA probes UP November 2010	Supervisor B L Penzhorn	Co-supervisor E H Venter	3 years - Part-time
21. Amy Ackermann	BSc Hons Genetics Faculty of Natural and Biological Sciences Molecular characterization of bluetongue virus serotype 8 isolated from an outbreak in southern Norway in 2008. UP April 2011	Supervisor for research project E H Venter	None	1 year Full-time
22. Hussaini Ularamu	MSc (Veterinary Science) Development of a real-time PCR for the detection of BVD UP April 2011	Supervisor M van Vuuren	Co-supervisor E H Venter	2 years Full-time
23. Ben Dogonyaro	MSc (Veterinary Science) Detection and characterization of canine parvovirus UP April 2011	Supervisor M van Vuuren	Co-supervisor E H Venter	2 years Full-time
24. Enette van Dyk	PhD Detection and characterization of papillomavirus in zebra (Equus zebra) and other South African wildlife species. UP September 2011	Promoter E H Venter	Co-promoter M Oosthuizen E Bailey	7 years Part-time
25. Lourenço Mapaco	MSc (VTD) An investigation of an outbreak of Rift Valley fever on a cattle farm in Bela-Bela, South Africa in 2008. UP April 2012	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisors JAW Coetzer J Paweska	4 years Part-time
26. Kutlwano Huamo	MSc (VTD) Typing of Mycobacterium bovis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of selected wildlife species. UP September 2012	Supervisor J Godfroid	Co-supervisor E H Venter	5 years Part-time
27. Shamsudeen Fagbo	MSc (VTD) Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and lumpy skin disease in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Parks, South Africa. UP September 2012	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisor JAW Coetzer	6 years Part-time
28. Jane Raphela	MSc (VTD) Molecular characterization of Mycoplasma synoviae in chickens in South Africa using single-stranded conformation polymorphism and high-resolution melting curve analysis of the vlha gene. UP April 2013	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisor Shahn Bisschop	4 years Part-time
29 Gcwali Zulu	MSc (VTD) Cross-protection of selected BTV serotypes in sheep. UP April 2013	Supervisor E H Venter	None	4 years Part-time
30 Anthony Craig	BSc Agric Hons (Wildlife management) A study evaluating biosecurity and farm management on ostrich farms in the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa. UP April 2013	Supervisor D Morar	Co-supervisor E H Venter	1year Full-time
31. Jimmy Lubinga	PhD The role of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Amblyomma hebraeum in the transmission of lumpy skin disease virus. UP April 2014	Promoter E H Venter	Co-promoters E Tuppurainen H Stoltsz	3 years Full-time
32. Leruo Keokilwe	MSc (VS) With Distinction An investigation to determine the cause of enteritis in ostrich (Struthio camelus) chicks in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. UP April 2014	Supervisor Dr D Morar	Co-supervisor E H Venter W Burger A Olivier	3 years Full-time
33. Hilda Joubert	PhD Molecular characterisation, serotyping and vaccine development of two strains of South African fowl adenovirus UP April 2014	Promoter E H Venter	Co-promoter Dr L Maartens	3years Part-time
34. Peter Coetzee	PhD Bluetongue: Experimental studies on viral phenotype, genetic reassortment and transplacental transmission University of Norway – June 2014	Promoter Maria Stokstad	Co-promoter E H Venter M van Vuuren	5 years Full-time
35.Geoff Brown	MMedVet (Theriogenology) The effect of Rift Valley fever virus clone 13 vaccine on semen quality in rams UP April 2015	Supervisor H Annandale	Co-supervisor E H Venter	4 years Part-time
36. Jumari Steyn	MSc (VS) With Distinction Epidemiology of bluetongue virus with special reference to the Mnisi area, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa UP April 2015	Supervisor EH Venter	Co-supervisors G Venter P Coetzee	3 years Full-time
37. Benjamin Mubemba	MSC (VS) With Distinction Molecular characterization of Rift Valley fever virus using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues UP April 2015	Supervisor EH Venter	Co-supervisor P Thompson	2 years Full-time
38. Eeva Tuppurainen	PhD Evaluation of vector potential of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Amblyomma hebraeum and Rhipicephalus decoloratus ticks for lumpy skin disease virus University of Helsinki, Finland – March 2015	Promoter Olli Vapalahti	Co-promoters E H Venter P Mertens	3 years Part-time
39. Shirley Lukhwareni	MSc Attenuation and molecular characterization of ORF virus strains/isolates UP April 2016	Supervisor EH Venter	None	2 years Part-time
39. Shirley Lukhwareni	MSc Attenuation and molecular characterization of ORF virus strains/isolates UP April 2016	Supervisor EH Venter	None	2 years Part-time
40. Carien vd Berg	MSc (VS) Reassortment of bluetongue virus vaccine serotypes in cattle UP April 2016	Supervisor EH Venter	Co-supervisor P Coetzee	2 years Full-time
41. Anthony Craig	MSc (AHE) Comparison of equine orbivirus dinamics on two horse establishments on the East Rand, SA UP April 2016	Supervisor EH Venter	Co-supervisor Alan Guthrie	3 years Part-time
42. P Burger	MSc (VS) Investigation of African horse sickness virus vaccine transmission in weanlings vaccinated with a commercial attenuated live virus vaccine under field conditions UP April 2016	Supervisor Alan Guthrie	Co-supervisors E H Venter C Weyer	2 years Part-time
Post-doctoral fellows
Peter Coetzee	Post Doc Development of a reverse genetics system and characterization of BTV reassortants	Supervisor E H Venter		2014-2016

Current post-graduate students

1. Peter Brothers	MMedVet (Wildlife)	RVF clone 13 in wildlife	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisor Peter Thompson	6th Year
2. Carien vd Berg	PhD	RVF epidemiology	Promoter E H Venter	Co-promoter Peter Thompson	2016
3. Angelika Switala	PhD	Canine distemper virus in wild carnivores	Promoter E H Venter	Co-supervisors Desire Dalton Emily Lane	2014
4. Rebecca Jeal	MSc (VS)	Serosurvey - Flaviviruses	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisor B Gummow	2015
5. Ofelia Nhambirre	PhD	Epidemiology of RVF in Mozambique	Promoter E H Venter	Co-supervisor Jose Fafetine	2015
6. Lieza Odendaal	<p "="">PhD	Differential diagnosis of RVF	Promoter E H Venter	Co-promoter Bob Swanepoel	2016
7. Shirley Lukhwareni	PhD	Simbu virus characterization	Promoter E H Venter	Co-promoters Melvyn Quan Bob Swanepoel	2016
8. Karen Ebersohn	MSc (VS)	Palyam virus characterization	Supervisor E H Venter	Co-supervisors Peter Coetzee Bob Swanepoel	2016
CO-SUPERVISOR
9. Rachel Maluleke	PhD	RVF receptor sites	Promoter P Majiwa	Co-promoters E H Venter Ben Mans	2013
10. Anh Tuan Tran	MSc (Course work) James Cook University, Queensland Australia	Flaviviruses in horses	Supervisor B Gummow	Co-supervisors G Burgess EH Venter	2015

Research output/publications

Click here to view a list of publications.

NRF rating

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Prof EH Venter

Professor of Veterinary Education Course Coordinator: Veterinary Science

Biography

Professional and academic experience

Professional memberships

Subjects taught at undergraduate and postgraduate levels

Research interests

Postgraduate Students

Research output/publications

NRF rating

Professor of Veterinary Education
Course Coordinator: Veterinary Science