Sporotrichosis research in the Transvaal--how it began 60 years ago.

The Transvaal was once known as an area with a high incidence of sporotrichosis in workers on the goldmines. The nature of the infection was not understood before the disease was first clinically identified 60 years ago by the pathologist, Dr B. D. Pullinger. Working with Dr A. Pijper in Pretoria, she demonstrated the presence of a pathogenic Sporothrix fungus. Now in retirement, Dr Pullinger has told how this discovery was made.