Jitender P. Dubey

Jitender P. Dubey (born July 15, 1938) is a veterinary parasitologist and microbiologist who pioneered the control and diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis neurona. Dubey discovered the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii, and discovered and named both Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis neurona.

Early life Dubey was born in India and received his veterinary degree in 1960, and Master in Veterinary Parasitology in 1963. In 1966, Dubey received his Ph.D. in medical microbiology from the University of Sheffield, England. From 1968 to 1973, he completed post doctoral training with Dr. J.K. Frenkel at the Department of Pathology and Oncology, University of Kansas Medical Center, in Kansas City. Dubey has lived in Greenbelt, Maryland since 1982.

Career Jitender Dubey has spent over 30 years working for the United States Federal Government. During his career at the USDA Agricultural Research Service Animal Parasitic Diseases Research Unit, his work has involved the identification of lifecycle and ecology of parasites, parasitic disease, and how they infect their hosts. He discovered that Toxoplasma gondii can be carried by cats and they can release the parasite's eggs (oocysts) through their feces and causes birth defects and vision loss in humans and miscarriage in livestock. Dubey was the first recipient of the William C. Campbell One-Health Award from the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists in 2018. In 2021 Dubey was named a finalist for a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal.

Memberships

Member of the National Academy of Sciences since 2010.