J Med Biogr. 2008 May;16(2):72-6.

Pursuit of medical knowledge: Charles Donovan (1863-1951) on kala-azar in India.

Source

University od Burdwan, West Bengal, India. achintya6@rediffmail.com

Abstract

Kala-azar was a lethal disease in colonial India. Charles Donovan of the Indian Medical Service (IMS) in Madras discovered the parasite independently in 1903 while William Boog Leishman was carrying out his research in Great Britain. Donovan's discovery ended the confusion prevalent over the anomalous and puzzling cases of malarial fevers in India and proved they were not related to malaria. This added to the promotion of medical knowledge, initiated further research and created enthusiasm among medical scientists throughout the world. Donovan was the first person to see the kala-azar parasite in the peripheral blood and thus provided a clue to the carriage and transmission of the kala-azar parasite by the insect through peripheral blood. Donovan's research on kala-azar also convinced the government of its utility and the need for further investigation; he fell victim to professional rivalry.

PMID:: 18463075; [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Personal Name as Subject, Grant Support

Publication Types

MeSH Terms

Personal Name as Subject

Donovan C

Grant Support

Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom

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Leishmaniasis - MedlinePlus Health Information

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J Med Biogr. 2008 May ;16(2):72-6.

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