The Gordon Scott Topical Collection: articles on peste des petits ruminants and other infectious diseases of domestic livestock.

Abstract

Gordon Ramsey Scott is irrevocably linked with the control and eradication of rinderpest. From 1950 to 1962, his research, initially at Kabete and then Muguga laboratories in Kenya, contributed significantly to improved diagnosis and control of rinderpest. Returning to Scotland and the post of lecturer in tropical veterinary medicine at the Royal “Dick” Veterinary School and the subsequent Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine (CTVM), Gordon’s enthusiasm for teaching infectious diseases and their control made him a popular figure with hundreds of students who attended courses there. At the CTVM, he played an important role in the start and ensuing success of the Centre’s own journal, Tropical Animal Health and Production ,b oth as consultant scientific editor and contributor and in his eventual position of “Reader Emeritus” maintained his involvement with the journal during his retirement. His knowledge of rinderpest was frequently sought by international agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and in 1992 he and Dr Alain Provost produced the background document for the establishment of the Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme (Scott and Provost 1992). During the 1970sand1980s,hebecameinvolvedwith pestedespetits ruminants (PPR) in West Africa and the process of showing that the different syndromes known as PPR, “kata” and pneumo-enteritis were one disease, and in promoting its similarities with rinderpest and the concept that it was equally susceptible to eradication (Scott 1981). Since Gordon’ sd eath in 2004, rinderpest has been globally eradicated and now, a decade later, PPR has been officially identified as the next livestock disease to be specifically targeted for global control leading to possible eradication (OIE 2014). In keeping with new trends in the publication of scientific research, Tropical Animal Health and Production (TAH&P )i s launching a topical collection of papers on PPR and other infectious diseases predominantly affecting tropical livestock. To commemorate his close association with rinderpest and PPR, and with this journal, this collection will be known as “The Gordon Scott Topical Collection” (GSTC). Articles accepted for the GSTC will be published in Tropical Animal Health and Production in routine fashion but form part of a specificcollection ofpapersthatcan beaccessedas a whole. It is anticipated that the GSTC will become the site for an increasing number of quality papers on PPR in particular as well as some other infections and, over time, prove a valuable record of the development of new ideas and methodologies leading to the eradication of PPR and possibly other diseases. The types of contributions to be considered include commentaries and reviews on selected topics affecting the control of PPR, as well as laboratory and field research findings and periodic summaries of progress towards global control. The editors will invite occasional contributions from known authorities in these fields. The common factor in all articles on PPR will be their relevance to improved control and the beneficial impact this should have on livestock owners. The GSTC will have no time frame and hopes to attract longerterm studies of the disease and its control in the field.