Theodor Bilharz and a life trip to Egypt

Abstract

abstract: Theodor Billharz, the German professor born in Sigmaringen in 1825, is one of the eminent professors in the history of Parasitiology and Tropical Medicine. He came to Egypt as an assistent of professor Griesinger in the year 1850, and was fascinated with the country, to the degree that he studied Arabic and hieroglyphic languages in order to understand Egypt and Egyptians. He was assigned to work in Kasr Al Ainy hospital in Cairo where he served the patients and lectured the midecal students. During his work, he detected the blood fluke Distomum haematobium (that was later called Schistiosoma), the causative agent of hematuria and severe diseases among the Egyptians since ancient time. This discovery is considered a very important advancement in the recongnition of the diseases and its control. Billharz died in Egypt and was buried in Cairo. The Ministry of Health in Egypt honored him by establishing the institute of Theoder Billharz, for Schistosomiasis research.