Candido Africa
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Candido Macasaet Africa (2 October 1895 – February 12, 1945) was a Filipino physician and medical researcher. He was an associate professor in parasitology at the School of Hygiene and Public Health, University of the Philippines.[1][2] His researches gained worldwide recognition in the field of parasitology. His researches involved parasites that can cause heart failure.[2]
Biography
[edit]Born in Lipa, Batangas on October 2, 1895, he received his medical degree from the College of Medicine of the University of the Philippines in 1920.[2][3] He then study at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and graduated with a degree in Tropical Medicine in 1929.[2][3] In 1929, he also became a Fellow in the Tropen Institute of Hamburg, Germany. In 1930, he received a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation which allowed him to study at Harvard University and John Hopkins University.[2] In 1931, he graduated from John Hopkins University with a degree on parasitology.[3]
In 1932, he became the head of the Department of Parasitology and associate professor at the University of the Philippines. He was an active member of many scientific organizations like American Society of Parasitologists and the Philippine Scientific Society. He was also a member of the Philippine Medical Association.[2]
He served as a medical practitioner for the Philippine government until 1941 when World War II broke out. He died on February 12, 1945. He was one of the civilians who died during the liberation of Manila.[2]
Research
[edit]Africa discovered four human flukes. These parasites attach themselves in the heart resulting in disease and death.[2] Africa, along with Dr. Eusebio Y. Garcia, discovered a new species of parasite from dogs, Heterophyes expentans, which has been synonymized with H. continua.[4][5] The Plagiorchis philippinensis was also discovered by Africa and Garcia in 1937.[6][5] Haplorchis vanissimus was first described by Africa in 1938 from a naturally infected man in the Philippines.[5] He also made contributions to the understanding of life cycle on ascaris as well as the epidemiology of the Schistosomiasis japonica.[7]
He was one of the first parasitologists who describe heterophyiasis cases in the human heart.[8] According to a series of papers by Africa, Garcia, and Walfrido de Leon, they suggest that in humans, certain health conditions, such as heart dilation, chronic heart muscle damage, and brain and spinal cord lesions, were shown to be linked to the presence of heterophyid eggs in the blood vessels. These eggs, which are typically found in other hosts, can migrate to the human intestinal wall, die, and release their eggs into the bloodstream, potentially causing these health problems.[9]
He also studied the causes and prevention of malaria.[10]
Recognition
[edit]His works were compiled in special books and exhibited in different universities. In 1937, his works were exhibited during Dr. Sadao Yosida's silver jubilee from the Institute for Research in Microbic Diseases of the Osaka Imperial University in Japan. It was also exhibited during Dr. Sadamu Yokogawa's silver of the Taihoku Imperial University, Formosa and the 30th professorship of Dr. K.J. Skrajabin of the All-Union Institute of Helminthology in Moscow, Soviet Union.[2]
Due to his worldwide fame, Africa visited leading laboratories to conduct experiments. These include London, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Rome, Utrecht, etc.[2]
After his death, he was posthumously awarded as a UP Outstanding Alumnus for medical science in 1964.[8]
Selected publications
[edit]- Africa, Candido M.; Garcia, E.Y.; De Leon, W. (1940). "Visceral complications in intestinal heterophyidiasis of man" (PDF). Acta Medica Philippina (Monographic Series). 1 (1): 1–132.
- Africa, Candido M. (1931). "Studies on the Host Relations of Nippostrongylus muris, with Special Reference to Age Resistance and Acquired Immunity". The Journal of Parasitology. 18 (1): 1–13. doi:10.2307/3271737. ISSN 0022-3395.
- Africa, Candido M. (1931). "Studies on the Activity of the Infective Larvae of the Rat Strongylid, Nippostrongylus muris". The Journal of Parasitology. 17 (4): 196–206. doi:10.2307/3271455. ISSN 0022-3395.
References
[edit]- ^ Manila City Directory. Philippine Education Company. 1933.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Candido Africa was Born October 2, 1895 in Lipa, Batangas". The Kahimyang Project. 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
- ^ a b c The Johns Hopkins University Circular. Johns Hopkins University. 1948.
- ^ Velasquez, Carmen C. (1973). "Observations on Some Heterophyidae (Trematoda: Digenea) Encysted in Philippine Fishes". The Journal of Parasitology. 59 (1): 77–84. doi:10.2307/3278575. ISSN 0022-3395.
- ^ a b c Chai, Jong-Yil; Shin, Eun-Hee; Lee, Soon-Hyung; Rim, Han-Jong (October 2009). "Foodborne Intestinal Flukes in Southeast Asia". The Korean Journal of Parasitology. 47 (Suppl): S69–S102. doi:10.3347/kjp.2009.47.S.S69. ISSN 0023-4001. PMC 2769220. PMID 19885337.
- ^ Yu, Sen-Hai; Mott, Kenneth E. (1994). "Epidemiology and morbidity of food-borne intestinal trematode infections" (PDF). World Health Organization.
- ^ Salcedo Jr., Juan (1957). "Contributions of Filipino Scientists to the Basic Medical Sciences" (PDF). Philippine Studies. 5 (4): 388–398.
- ^ a b Rizal & the Dev. Of National Consciousness. Goodwill Trading Co., Inc. ISBN 978-971-574-103-3.
- ^ Martin, W. E. (1950). "Euhaplorchis californiensis n.g., n. sp., Heterophyidae, Trematoda, with Notes on Its Life-Cycle". Transactions of the American Microscopical Society. 69 (2): 194–209. doi:10.2307/3223410. ISSN 0003-0023.
- ^ Quirino, Carlos (1995). Who's who in Philippine History. Tahanan Books. ISBN 978-971-630-046-8.