Francesco (Frank) Veglia, Italian parasitologist, was the son of Luigi Vegia, a merchant, and his wife Dominica Barale. He qualified as a veterinarian (Dr Med Vet) in Turin, Italy, in 1904 and came to South Africa in December 1911 to join the staff of the Veterinary Research Institute at Onderstepoort as a government veterinary research officer. He was the institute's first helminthologist, though L. Gough* had done some work on tapeworms in sheep and antelopes during the previous few years. During World War I (1914-1918) Veglia served in the Italian army but in 1917 returned to Onderstepoort to resume his research on economically important endo-parasites of mainly sheep. He is best known for his pioneering studies on the anatomy and development of wire worm (Haemonchus contortus) in sheep and was responsible for the development of the first effective remedy against wire worms. This "Onderstepoort wire worm remedy" remained in use for many years. Among others he published papers on "Oesophagostomiasis in sheep (preliminary note)" in the 13th and 14th Report of the Director of Veterinary Education and Research (1928, Part 2, pp. 755-801) and "The oviposition of some Strongylidae: Laboratory observations and practical deductions" in the South African Journal of Science (1926, Vol. 23, pp. 713-716).

Veglia became a foundation member of the South African Biological Society in 1916. He returned to Italy at the end of May 1927, where he was associated with the University of Turin and purchased the Burdizzo Instrument Company in Turin. He appears to have been still active on his wine farm in Italy around 1960. He was married to Adelaida Candelo, with whom he had three sons and three daughters.

List of sources:

Author and Subject Index to the Government Veterinary Reports of the Transvaal and Union of South Africa (1903-1932). Pretoria: Department of Agriculture, June 1937.

Death Notice: Adelaide Veglia. Retrieved on 7 April 2023 from https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGsltMvncdfRJPNNNQMPbLwKChT?projector=1&messagePartId=0.2

Estate Register: Francesco Veglia. Retrieved on 7 April 2023 from https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGsltMvncdfRJPNNNQMPbLwKChT?projector=1&messagePartId=0.3

Journal of the South African Veterinary Medical Association, 1927, Vol. 1(1), pp. 71-73, Notes and news.

National Automated Archival Information Retrieval System (NAAIRS). http://national.archives.gov.za/naairs.htm Documents relating to Veglia, F.

Ortlepp, R.J. 'n Oorsig van Suid-Afrikaanse helminte, veral met werwysing na die wat in ons wildherkouers voorkom. Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskappe, 1961, Vol. 1, pp. 203-212.

Posthumus, P.J. Past veterinarians in South Africa (10th edition), Vol. 2, [1992].

South African Journal of Natural History, 1918, Vol. 1(1), pp. 8-15: Roll of Foundation Members [of the SA Biological Society]; 1920, Vol. 2(2), pp. 293-301, Roll of Members.

South African Journal of Science, 1926, Vol. 23, paper by Veglia.

Union of South Africa. Public service list, 1914.

Veglia, Francesco. WordPress.com. Retrieved on 25 March 2021 from https://storiamedicinaveterinariaemascalcia.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/veglia-francesco-.pdf

Whitcomb, C.C.F. Die geskiedenis van die Veeartsenykundige Navorsingsinstituut op Onderstepoort. Pretoriana, 1962, Nr. 39 & 40, pp. 14-21.

Compiled by: D.W. Verwoerd

Last updated: 2023-04-07 11:43:44