Alexander John Haddow

Prof Alexander John Haddow CMG FRS FRSE FRCPSG FRES (27 December 1912 – 26 December 1978).^[1] FRS CMG was a Scottish entomologist recognised for his work at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, including the discovery of the Zika virus, and research into the insect vectors of the yellow fever virus. Other notable work included relating the incidence of Burkitt’s lymphoma to climatic conditions^[2] and the discovery of several previously unknown viruses in east Africa, particularly arboviruses.

Haddow spent most of his research career in Uganda, where he pioneered a method for studying the prevalence and habits of biting insects (particularly mosquitoes) known as the 24-hour catch.^[3] In 1953, Haddow was appointed the Director of the Institute and he remained in this position until his return to the University of Glasgow in 1965, where he took up largely administrative posts for the remainder of his career.

Early life

Alexander John Haddow was born in Glasgow in 1912, the son of Alexander and Margaret (née Whyte); he was one of two children along with his younger sister Marion. Haddow reportedly showed a strong interest in insects from an early age.^[4] He attended Hillhead High School in Glasgow, followed by the University of Glasgow where he attained first class Honours in Zoology in 1934. He went on to obtain his medical degree there in 1938, followed by a DSc in 1957^[5] and MD in 1961.^[6]

Career

Haddow first began his research into tropical diseases in 1941 in Kisumu, Kenya, where he studied the prevalence and habits of mosquito species in local huts,^[7] becoming the first researcher to build controlled experimental huts according to specification.^[8] In 1942, Haddow joined the Virus Research Institute at Entebbe, Uganda (now known as the Uganda Virus Research Institute) as a medical entomologist. The main research focus was on yellow fever but the Institute was also concerned with previously undiscovered diseases, particularly arboviruses. Here, Haddow’s work mainly involved catching and documenting biting insects over full 24-hour days in and near the jungle. In order to study the biting habits of mosquitoes at varying levels in the trees, platforms were built in the forest canopy and understory. Caught mosquitoes were typically separated over one-hour intervals, allowing Haddow to identify the biting cycles and vertical distributions of different species.^[9] The first isolation of the Zika virus from mosquitoes was made in 1948 from one of Haddow's catches of Aedes africanus in the Zika forest^[10]

In 1953, Haddow was promoted to Director of the Institute. Under his leadership, the Institute continued to research yellow fever and to attempt to discover and document emerging viruses affecting the local population. Other notable viruses that were first documented by Institute researchers during this time were: O'nyong'nyong, Chikungunya, Semliki Forest, Bunyamwera and West Nile.

In 1961, a steel tower was erected in the Zika forest to allow mosquitoes to be caught simultaneously at six different levels in and above the forest, giving more detailed information on the vertical migrations of mosquito species. Known as ‘Haddow’s Tower’, the structure is still used for mosquito research in the Zika forest^[11]

During his lifetime, Haddow’s most prominent work was considered to be that on yellow fever and Burkitt's lymphoma.^[1] The Zika virus has since emerged as an important human disease, but it was not considered so until very recently.^[11] Haddow was awarded the Chalmers Medal for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 1953, and elected to the Royal Society of London in 1972.^[4] After he left Uganda, he returned to Glasgow where he was made a Professor of Administrative Medicine at the University, before becoming Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in 1970.

Personal life

Haddow married Margaret “Peggy” Orr in Mombasa, Kenya, in 1946. They had two sons, David and Alastair. Haddow had a keen interest in traditional Highland Bagpipe music – he was a prominent member of the Glasgow Piobaireachd Society^[12] and wrote a book on the subject, published poshumously, titled "The History and Structure of Ceol Mor". The University of Glasgow Archive Services holds a collection of Haddow’s documents including research materials from his time at the Virus Research Institute and records relating to his studies into Piobaireachd Music.^[13] The University of Glasgow's Hunterian Museum also holds numerous artefacts donated by Haddow that represent his varied interests, including sketches of monkeys, game heads, ethnographic items from Uganda and archaeological finds from the Antonine Wall.^[14] Haddow died on December 26, 1978.

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