A History of Human
Helminthology
Preface ....................................................................................................................................... vii
Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... viii
1. The
nomenclature and classification of worms ...................................................................... 1
2. Understanding
the origin and transmission of worms .......................................................... 33
3. The
discovery and development of anthelmintics ................................................................ 75
4. Fasciola hepatica and fascioliasis .................................................................................. 103
5. Fasciolopsis buski and fasciolopsiasis ............................................................................ 127
6. Clonorchis sinensis and clonorchiasis ............................................................................ 141
7. Paragonimus westermani and
paragonimiasis ............................................................... 159
8. Schistosoma haematobium and
schistosomiasis haematobia .......................................... 187
9. Schistosoma mansoni and schistosomiasis
mansoni ........................................................ 233
10. Schistosoma japonicum and
schistosomiasis japonica .................................................... 263
11. Trematode
infections of lesser importance ....................................................................... 297
12. Echinococcus granulosus and
echinococcosis or hydatid disease ................................... 319
13. Taenia solium and taeniasis solium and
cysticercosis ...................................................... 355
14. Taenia saginata and taeniasis saginata ........................................................................... 385
15. Diphyllobothrium latum and
diphyllobothriasis .............................................................. 397
16. Cestode
infections of lesser importance ........................................................................... 421
17. Enterobius vermicularis and enterobiasis
...................................................................... 439
18. Trichuris trichiura and trichuriasis ................................................................................. 455
19. Ascaris lumbricoides and ascariasis ............................................................................... 469
20. Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus and hookworm disease ......................... 499
21. Strongyloides stercoralis and
strongyloidiasis ................................................................ 543
22. Trichinella spiralis and trichinosis .................................................................................. 571
23. Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia species and filariasis ........................................................ 597
24. Loa loa and loiasis ......................................................................................................... 641
25. Onchocerca volvulus and onchocerciasis ....................................................................... 661
26. Dracunculus medinensis and Guinea worm
disease ....................................................... 693
27. Nematode
infections of lesser importance ........................................................................ 721
28. Miscellanea
.................................................................................................................... 765
29. Biographies
...................................................................................................................... 83
Person index ............................................................................................................................ 823
Subject index ........................................................................................................................... 836
Ash, L.R. Clinical Infectious Diseases
“Anyone with a
keen (or even passing) interest in medical history and in knowing more than just
the recent developments in the study of particular parasites will enjoy and
savor the fascinating tales of our understanding of the major helminthic
diseases in humans…this book will certainly serve as the dominant historic
reference on helminthic diseases for many years to come, and deservedly so.
David Grove has accomplished a major feat and is to be applauded for it.”
Ashford, R.W. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology
“Grove admits in
his preface that the preparation of his History
of Human Helminthology was a labour of love. A brief skim of his pages
quickly reveals that his love has been fully requited…. This is a thoroughly
scholarly work, which will deserve a central place in the bookshelf of anyone
who wishes to be called a parasitologist, and will enhance the subject for
years to come.”
Boreham, P.F.L. International Journal for Parasitology
“Reviewing books
can be an arduous chore but occasionally a real jewel appears. David Grove has
produced such a book… This book can be summed up in one word, ‘scholarly’ and
the author should be congratulated on his splendid contribution to the History
of Science.”
Cook, G.C. Transactions of the Royal Society of
Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
“This is a major
scholarly text and it would be wrong to regard it is an “easy read”…. it is a
masterly coverage of a vast series of observations and discoveries relating to
those macroparasites which affect … Homo
sapiens.
Goodwin, C.S. Nature
“Writing in a
clear, direct narrative style, Grove retains the reader’s attention and
interest, even in the more involved arguments and disputes… A History of Human Helminthology is full
of good stories… A splendid achievement, certain to become the standard text on
the history of human helminthology for many years.”
Nelson, G.S. Journal of Helminthology
“The publication
of this book represents a major landmark in the literature of parasitology. It
is a monumental achievement by the author, Dr David Grove.”
“…helminthologists
throughout the world will be grateful to David Grove for this tremendous
contribution to the history of their subject…. With this work of scholarship
David Grove joins those key players; this book will be of immense value as a
reference source for parasitologists (in particular helminthologists),
physicians and, naturally, for all who are interested in the history of
parasitic diseases.
Théoridès, J. Annals of Science
“this is very
impressive work and the most complete one ever written on the subject…a work deserving
the admiration and gratitude of historians of medicine and parasitology.”
Warrell, D.A. The Lancet
“The coverage is
extremely thorough… Strongly recommended to those interested in helminthology,
tropical infectious diseases and geographical medicine, or medical history.”
Print form:
This book was originally
published as A History of Human Helminthology, CAB International,
Internet Version
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In his History of
Tropical Medicine published in 1939, HH Scott wrote : "Ankylostomiasis
is almost the only helminthic infestation of man in the tropics which can be
said to have a history, at all events a history of sufficient interest to call
for any detail". Scott was wrong. Many worms are visible to the naked eye
and some have been recognized for millenia. The study of worms has been an
integral component of Man's struggle to come to grips with the origins of infectious
diseases and the means by which they are transmitted from one to another. This
book is an attempt to describe the unfolding of those events which have led to
our current understanding of helminths infecting humans. They have occupied
many centuries and have been undertaken by diverse men and women in many
locations and climes. The first three chapters of the book are general in
nature, the next eight are concerned with trematodes (flukes), the next five
deal with cestodes (tapeworms and cystic worms), the following eleven consider
nematodes (roundworms) and the final chapter covers various miscellaneous
items. Chapters concerned with specific worm infections follow a consistent
plan, beginning with the discovery of the parasite and then its life cycle,
followed by an historical treatment of how the clinical features have been recognized, diagnostic techniques developed,
treatment evolved, the epidemiology understood and preventive and control
measures applied. Short biographies of the major research workers are appended
at the end of the book. This work has been a labour of love from its conception
some dozen years ago till the presentation of the typeset manuscript to the
publisher. History is a dynamic subject, and it is my hope that others will build
upon and refine all that is recounted herein.
I am very grateful to the University of Western
Australia for twelve months' sabbatical leave during which time much of the
basic research for this book was undertaken in the United Kingdom. Special
tribute must be paid to two key sources. The first is the magnificent Tropical Medicine and Parasitology: Classic
Investigations edited by BH Kean, KE Mott and AJ Russell (Cornell
University Press, Ithaca, 1978) in which translations of many of the most
important original articles are brought together. The second is the Tropical Diseases Bulletin in which the
helminthological literature has been abstracted since the early part of this
century. Thanks are due to Dr CR Morris for providing a photograph of his
grandfather, WH Ransom, to Dr John Walker for
obtaining a photograph of H Dew from the