Robert von Ostertag
Encyclopedia
Robert von Ostertag was a German veterinarian
who was a native of Schwäbisch Gmünd
.
He studied medicine in Berlin
and veterinary medicine
in Stuttgart
, and afterwards was a professor of hygiene
at Tierärztliche Hochschule Stuttgart (1891–1892) and at the College of Veterinary Medicine in Berlin
(1892–1907). In 1907 he became head of the veterinary department in the Reich Health Office in Berlin. In 1910 he travelled to German Southwest Africa to research diseases of sheep, and in 1913 he investigated rinderpest
in German East Africa
. In 1920 he became head of veterinary services in Germany.
In the 1890s, Ostertag started a rigorous program of meat inspection in Berlin, and was referred to as the "Father of Veterinary Meat Inspection" in Germany. Ostertag's meat inspection act of 1900 greatly reduced incidences of bovine tuberculosis
in human beings. He was the author of numerous publications in veterinary science, and is remembered for his influential Lehrbuch für Fleischbeschauer (Handbook of Meat Inspection), which was later translated into English.
His name is lent to Ostertagia, a genus
of attenuated nematode
s of the family Trichostrongylidae
that are found in cyst
s on the wall of the abomasum
of cattle and other ruminants. The disease associated with the organism is called ostertagiosis.
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
who was a native of Schwäbisch Gmünd
Schwäbisch Gmünd
Schwäbisch Gmünd is a town in the eastern part of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. With a population of around 62,000, the town is the second largest in the Ostalbkreis and the whole region of East Württemberg after Aalen...
.
He studied medicine in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and veterinary medicine
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, and afterwards was a professor of hygiene
Hygiene
Hygiene refers to the set of practices perceived by a community to be associated with the preservation of health and healthy living. While in modern medical sciences there is a set of standards of hygiene recommended for different situations, what is considered hygienic or not can vary between...
at Tierärztliche Hochschule Stuttgart (1891–1892) and at the College of Veterinary Medicine in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
(1892–1907). In 1907 he became head of the veterinary department in the Reich Health Office in Berlin. In 1910 he travelled to German Southwest Africa to research diseases of sheep, and in 1913 he investigated rinderpest
Rinderpest
Rinderpest was an infectious viral disease of cattle, domestic buffalo, and some other species of even-toed ungulates, including buffaloes, large antelopes and deer, giraffes, wildebeests and warthogs. After a global eradication campaign, the last confirmed case of rinderpest was diagnosed in 2001...
in German East Africa
German East Africa
German East Africa was a German colony in East Africa, which included what are now :Burundi, :Rwanda and Tanganyika . Its area was , nearly three times the size of Germany today....
. In 1920 he became head of veterinary services in Germany.
In the 1890s, Ostertag started a rigorous program of meat inspection in Berlin, and was referred to as the "Father of Veterinary Meat Inspection" in Germany. Ostertag's meat inspection act of 1900 greatly reduced incidences of bovine tuberculosis
Mycobacterium bovis
Mycobacterium bovis is a slow-growing , aerobic bacterium and the causative agent of tuberculosis in cattle...
in human beings. He was the author of numerous publications in veterinary science, and is remembered for his influential Lehrbuch für Fleischbeschauer (Handbook of Meat Inspection), which was later translated into English.
His name is lent to Ostertagia, a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of attenuated nematode
Nematode
The nematodes or roundworms are the most diverse phylum of pseudocoelomates, and one of the most diverse of all animals. Nematode species are very difficult to distinguish; over 28,000 have been described, of which over 16,000 are parasitic. It has been estimated that the total number of nematode...
s of the family Trichostrongylidae
Strongylida
The Suborder Strongylida includes many of the important nematodes found in the gastrointestinal tracts of ruminants, horses, and swine, as well as the lungworms of ruminants and, the hookworms of dogs and cats.This Suborder includes The Suborder Strongylida includes many of the important nematodes...
that are found in cyst
Cyst
A cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct membrane and division on the nearby tissue. It may contain air, fluids, or semi-solid material. A collection of pus is called an abscess, not a cyst. Once formed, a cyst could go away on its own or may have to be removed through surgery.- Locations :* Acne...
s on the wall of the abomasum
Abomasum
The abomasum, also known as the maw, and the rennet-bag, and the read, is the fourth and final stomach compartment in ruminants. It secretes rennin - the artificial form of which is called rennet, and is used in cheese creation....
of cattle and other ruminants. The disease associated with the organism is called ostertagiosis.