[Research and production at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute for lifestock protection against virus epidemics in the German Democratic Republic].

Friedrich Loeffler's discovery of the pathogen of foot and mouth disease actually ushered in the era of virus research on man and animal and gave birth, at the same time, to efforts for immunoprophylaxis against the disease. This led directly to the foundation of the world's first virological institute on Riems Island. A brief account is given of the developments that have taken place up to our days in research and production at Friedrich-Loeffler Institute for Epizootiological Research on Riems Island. The Institute is affiliated to the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of the German Democratic Republic. The importance of immunoprophylaxis to prevention and control of infectious diseases among agricultural animals has grown on the basis of present microbiological knowledge and along with progress in livestock production. This concept is explained in greater detail, and aspects of fundamental importance to appropriate research are expounded.