Leopold Kirschner

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Leopold Kirschner (born 12 May 1889, died 23 November 1970) was an Austro-Hungarian, Dutch, and New Zealand bacteriologist specializing in leptospirosis. [1] He is known for his work on the survival of Leptospira spp in the environment, [2] [3] research on conditions and media for Leptospira growth, [4] [5] [6] his role in the initial discoveries of leptospirosis in New Zealand, [7] [8] for early epidemiologic descriptions of leptospirosis as an occupational disease of dairy farmers, [9] and for the major pathogenic Leptospira species, Leptospira kirschneri, that was named in his honor. [10]

Contents

Early life and education

Kirschner was born in Andrichau, near Bielitz, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, (present-day Andrychów, Poland) to Jewish parents. He studied medicine in Vienna. Kirschner's studies were interrupted by service in the medical corps during World War One. Following the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kirschner followed Professor Robert Doerr, an experimental pathologist, [11] to Amsterdam for further studies at the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT), the Dutch Royal Tropical Institute. KIT housed the first leptospirosis reference laboratory in Europe. [12] [13]

Career and research

Pasteur Institute, Bandung, Dutch East Indies

In 1921 Kirschner joined the Pasteur Institute [14] at Bandung, Java, in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) where he served as Deputy Director of the Institute under Louis Otten. [15] The Institute was responsible for preparing vaccines and carrying out diagnostic services for 70 million people. While there, Kirschner undertook important work on the survival in the environment of the bacteria that causes leptospirosis, [2] and he and a colleague developed an effective vaccine against plague, testing early versions on themselves. Kirschner’s work in Java was cut short by the Japanese invasion in 1942. He and wife Alice, a gifted violinist from Vienna, survived and provided considerable covert assistance to other prisoners using his scientific knowledge. [16]

University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Kirschner was recruited to the University of Otago Medical School by Dr – later Sir – Charles Hercus in 1946, to the Medical Research Council Microbiology Unit. [17] At the time of his arrival, New Zealand was considered to be free of leptospirosis, an assumption based in part on the absence of native terrestrial mammalian hosts. [18] However, Kirschner noted that many mammalian species that could serve as hosts of Leptospira spp had been introduced to New Zealand, and that measures at ports to prevent rats being imported on ships were weak. [7] Kirschner hypothesized that leptospirosis was very likely to be present and responsible for febrile illness among farmers in New Zealand. He established a leptospirosis reference laboratory at the University of Otago Medical School, confirming with Dr – later Sir – Edward G. Sayers, future Dean of the Otago Medical School, human leptospirosis in New Zealand for the first time in a sharemilker from Auckland in 1949. [7] Then with Mr – later Professor – A. Neil Bruère the first livestock and occupational disease outbreak among dairy farm workers in Westland in 1951. [8] Kirschner promoted close collaboration between human and animal health experts, known today as the ‘One Health’ approach. Kirschner and colleagues went on to describe the major leptospirosis problem among dairy farmers in New Zealand; [9] studied factors supporting and inhibiting Leptospira growth; [4] [5] [6] and procedures for the culture, isolation, and identification Leptospira. [6] Kirschner was an important early influence on the career of a generation of leptospirosis experts, including Professor Solomon Faine, [19] Monash University, and Professor Roger Marshall, [20] Massey University. Kirschner died in Dunedin on 23 November 1970 and is buried with wife Alice Kirschner at the Dunedin Southern Cemetery. [21]

Honors and recognition

In 1992 Marshall and colleagues named the major pathogenic Leptospira species Leptospira kirschneri for Kirschner. [10] A portrait of Kirschner is displayed in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 8th Floor, Microbiology Building, University of Otago, and a plaque commemorates the site of his laboratory at room 304, Hercus Building, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [22]

Dr. Kirschner is recognised in the naming of the Dr. Leopold Kirschner database of Leptospira species and serovar isolations and detections from animals worldwide hosted by the University of Otago. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leptospirosis</span> Blood infection caused by bacteria

Leptospirosis is a blood infection caused by the bacteria Leptospira that can infect humans, dogs, rodents and many other wild and domesticated animals. Signs and symptoms can range from none to mild to severe. Weil's disease, the acute, severe form of leptospirosis, causes the infected individual to become jaundiced, develop kidney failure, and bleed. Bleeding from the lungs associated with leptospirosis is known as severe pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome.

<i>Leptospira</i> Genus of bacteria

Leptospira is a genus of spirochaete bacteria, including a small number of pathogenic and saprophytic species. Leptospira was first observed in 1907 in kidney tissue slices of a leptospirosis victim who was described as having died of "yellow fever".

Leptospira noguchii is a gram-negative, pathogenic organism named for Japanese bacteriologist Dr. Hideyo Noguchi who named the genus Leptospira. L. noguchii is famous for causing the febrile illness in Fort Bragg, NC during World War II. There was 40 cases of this fever documented during each summer from 1942 to 1944; however, there were 0 deaths recorded from this outbreak. Unlike other strains of Leptospira that cause leptospirosis, L. noguchii is characterized by showing a pretibial rash on the victim. Its specific epithet recognises Hideyo Noguchi.

<i>Leptospira interrogans</i> Species of bacterium

Leptospira interrogans is a species of obligate aerobic spirochaete bacteria shaped like a corkscrew with hooked and spiral ends. L. interrogans is mainly found in warmer tropical regions. The bacteria can live for weeks to months in the ground or water. Leptospira is one of the genera of the spirochaete phylum that causes severe mammalian infections. This species is pathogenic to some wild and domestic animals, including pet dogs. It can also spread to humans through abrasions on the skin, where infection can cause flu-like symptoms with kidney and liver damage. Human infections are commonly spread by contact with contaminated water or soil, often through the urine of both wild and domestic animals. Some individuals are more susceptible to serious infection, including farmers and veterinarians who work with animals.

Leptospira santarosai is a pathogenic species of Leptospira.

Leptospira borgpetersenii is a pathogenic species of Leptospira.

Leptospira inadai is a pathogenic species of Leptospira.

Leptospira alexanderi is a species of Leptospira. Its type strain is strain L 60T.

Leptospira fainei is a pathogenic species of Leptospira, first isolated from pigs in Australia and named for University of Otago and Monash University microbiologist Dr. Solomon Faine.

Leptospira kirschneri is a Gram negative, obligate aerobe species of spirochete bacteria named for University of Otago bacteriologist Dr. Leopold Kirschner. It is a member of the genus Leptospira. The species is pathogenic and can cause leptospirosis, most commonly in pigs.

Leptospira broomii is a species of Leptospira isolated from humans with leptospirosis. The type strain is 5399T.

Leptospira alstonii is a gram negative, mobile, spirochete. It is flexible, helical, and motile by means of two periplasmic flagella. It is obligately aerobic and oxidase positive. It was named after J. M. Alston, a British microbiologist who made significant contributions to the study of Leptospirosis. It is one of nine human or animal pathogenic species of Leptospira. It was originally isolated from material submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Iowa State University during an outbreak of swine abortion in 1983. It has been isolated and stored in liquid nitrogen or Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris medium. It also has been isolated in China from a frog. The strain is also available from culture collections of the WHO collaborating centers. Lipase is not produced by this species. NaCl is not required for growth. Growth is inhibited by 8-azaguanine at 225 µg/mL or 2,6-diaminopurine (10 µg/mL) and copper sulfate. It contains serovars from the serogroup ranarum. DNA G+C content is 39±8 mol%.

Solomon Faine was a New Zealand-born microbiologist known for his research on leptospirosis. With Dr. Leopold Kirschner, Faine made early epidemiologic descriptions of leptospirosis as an occupational disease of dairy farmers in New Zealand. The intermediate Leptospira species Leptospira fainei is named in his honor.

Diana Rosemary Lennon was a New Zealand academic and pediatrician, specialising in infectious diseases, and was a full professor at the University of Auckland.

Rhiannon Braund is a New Zealand academic and registered pharmacist. She is a professor in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago.

Joseph Michael Vinetz is a Professor of Medicine and Anthropology at Yale University, Research Professor at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and Associate Investigator of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute of Tropical Medicine at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia.

Leptospira wolffii is a gram negative aerobic bacterium in the spirochaete phylum. The species named after Dutch bacteriologist Jan Willem Wolff.

Leptospira biflexa is a spirochaete bacterium in the genus Leptospira and was the first saprophytic Leptospira genome to be sequenced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collin Tukuitonga</span> Niuean-born New Zealand public health doctor and academic

Sir Collin Fonotau Tukuitonga is a Niuean-born New Zealand doctor, public health academic, public policy expert and advocate for reducing health inequalities of Māori and Pasifika people. He has held several positions in public health and government in New Zealand and internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Benschop</span> New Zealand professor of veterinary public health

Jackie Benschop is a New Zealand Professor of Veterinary Public Health at Massey University, specialising in the animal–human–environment interface, particularly for Leptospira, Campylobacter and Salmonella. She is a member of the World Health Organisation's Steering Committee for the Global Leptospirosis Environmental Action Network, and a co-founder of the African Leptospirosis Network.

References

  1. ↑ Whitcombe, E.; Maze, M.J.; Crump, J.A. (2020). "Leopold Kirschner, Edward Sayers, and Neil Bruère: the initial descriptions of leptospirosis in New Zealand". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 44 (1): 5–7. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12946 . ISSN   1753-6405. PMID   31667900.
  2. 1 2 Kirschner, L. "Umwandlungsversuche an wasserspirochaeten". Z Hyg Infektionskr. 113: 48–60. doi:10.1007/BF02177064. S2CID   39862570.
  3. ↑ Kirschner, L.; Maguire, T. (1957). "Survival of Leptospira outside their hosts". The New Zealand Medical Journal. 56 (314): 385–391. ISSN   0028-8446. PMID   13465012.
  4. 1 2 Kirschner, L.; Maguire, T. (1955). "Antileptospiral effect of milk". The New Zealand Medical Journal. 54 (303): 560–564. ISSN   0028-8446. PMID   13288814.
  5. 1 2 Kirschner, L.; Maguire, T.; Bertaud, W. S. (1957). "Further Evidence of the Antileptospiral Effect of Milk: Electron Microscopic Studies". British Journal of Experimental Pathology. 38 (4): 357–361. ISSN   0007-1021. PMC   2082602 . PMID   13460180.
  6. 1 2 3 Kirschner, L.; Graham, L. (1959). "Growth, Purification and Maintenance of Leptospira on Solid Media". British Journal of Experimental Pathology. 40 (1): 57–60. ISSN   0007-1021. PMC   2082293 . PMID   13638484.
  7. 1 2 3 Kirschner, L.; Gray, W. G. (1951). "Leptospirosis in New Zealand; infection with spirochaetes in animals and man". The New Zealand Medical Journal. 50 (278): 342–351. ISSN   0028-8446. PMID   14882570.
  8. 1 2 Bruere, A.N. (1952). "An association between leptospirosis in calves and man". Aust Vet J. 28 (7): 174. doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.1952.tb06500.x.
  9. 1 2 Faine, S.; Kirschner, L. (1953). "Human leptospirosis in New Zealand, 1951-1952". The New Zealand Medical Journal. 52 (287): 12–14. ISSN   0028-8446. PMID   13054918.
  10. 1 2 Ramadass, P.; Jarvis, B. D.; Corner, R. J.; Penny, D.; Marshall, R. B. (1992). "Genetic characterization of pathogenic Leptospira species by DNA hybridization". International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 42 (2): 215–219. doi: 10.1099/00207713-42-2-215 . ISSN   0020-7713. PMID   1581182.
  11. ↑ Berger, S. (2010). ""Sie hätten in ein grosses Institut hinein- gehört" – Robert Doerr und der Boom der Basler Hygiene" (PDF). Universität Basel.
  12. ↑ "WHO | Leptospirosis". WHO. Archived from the original on March 19, 2005. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  13. ↑ "Leptospirosis Reference Centre". Leptospirosis Reference Centre. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  14. ↑ JackTour, Diposkan oleh Redaksi. "Institute Pasteur Bandung" . Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  15. ↑ "KNAW Historisch Ledenbestand | Digitaal Wetenschapshistorisch Centrum". 2019-04-19. Archived from the original on 2019-04-19. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  16. ↑ "Leopold Kirschner". The New Zealand Medical Journal. 72 (463): 414–415. 1970. ISSN   0028-8446. PMID   4925987.
  17. ↑ Magazine, Otago. "Unsung scientist". www.otago.ac.nz. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  18. ↑ Crump, J. A.; Murdoch, D. R.; Baker, M. G. (2001). "Emerging infectious diseases in an island ecosystem: the New Zealand perspective". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 7 (5): 767–772. doi:10.3201/eid0705.017501. ISSN   1080-6040. PMC   2631882 . PMID   11747690.
  19. ↑ "Solly Faine". www.antimicrobe.org. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  20. ↑ Manktelow, B.W. (2001). "Obituary: Roger Brereton Marshall". N Z Vet J. 49 (6): 252–3. doi:10.1080/00480169.2001.36240. S2CID   53915127.
  21. ↑ "Obituary: Dr. L. Kirchner was research pioneer". Otago Daily Times. 24 November 1970. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  22. ↑ Schutte, Kelsey (9 June 2022). "Portrait honours renowned scientist Dr Leopold Kirschner". University of Otago. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  23. ↑ Hagedoorn, Nienke N.; Maze, Michael J.; Carugati, Manuela; Cash‐Goldwasser, Shama; Allan, Kathryn J.; Chen, Kevin; Cossic, Brieuc; Demeter, Elena; Gallagher, Sarah; German, Richard; Galloway, Renee L.; Habuš, Josipa; Rubach, Matthew P.; Shiokawa, Kanae; Sulikhan, Nadezhda (2024). "Global distribution of Leptospira serovar isolations and detections from animal host species: A systematic review and online database". Tropical Medicine & International Health. 29 (3): 161–172. doi:10.1111/tmi.13965. ISSN   1360-2276.
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