Casimir Davaine | |
|---|---|
 Casimir Davaine | |
| Born | (1812-03-19)19 March 1812 |
| Died | 14 October 1882(1882-10-14) (aged 70) |
| Known for | Bacillus anthracis |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Microbiology |
Casimir-Joseph Davaine (19 March 1812 – 14 October 1882) was a French physician known for his work in the field ofmicrobiology. He was a native ofSaint-Amand-les-Eaux, department ofNord.
In 1850, Davaine along with FrenchpathologistPierre François Olive Rayer, discovered a certain microorganism in the blood of diseased and dying sheep.[1][2] In the diseased blood, Rayer and Davaine observed the bacillus that is known today asBacillus anthracis, the causative bacterium ofanthrax. Soon afterwards, Rayer published a description of the bacillus in a paper titled,Inoculation du sang de rate (1850).[3][4]
In 1863, Davaine demonstrated that the bacillus could be directly transmitted from one animal to another. He was able to identify the causative organism, but was unaware of its trueetiology.[5][6] Later on, German microbiologistRobert Koch investigated the etiology ofBacillus anthracis, and discovered its ability to produce "resting spores" that could stay alive in the soil for a long period of time to serve as a future source of infection.[7]
Casimir Davaine is also credited for pioneer work in the study ofsepsis (blood poisoning).[8]
