Historical Approach to the Foundation of the Cuban School of Parasitology

Authors

Keywords:

parasitology, Cuba, history, Cuban School of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine.

Abstract

Introduction: The Cuban School of Parasitology is considered as a theoretical school of the specialty, which was developed within the Chair of Parasitology and Tropical Diseases of the School of Medicine of the University of Havana, by Dr. Pedro Kourí Esmeja.

Objective: Highlight the emergence of the initial development of the Cuban School of Parasitology, the work of its members and the work carried out by the Institute of Tropical Medicine attached to the university chair.

Methodology: Descriptive, retrospective research, the logical historical method was used, applying the documentary review technique. Primary sources were reviewed: documents from the archive of the Department of Public Health History and the Museum of the Institute of Tropical Medicine and secondary: articles and books published on the subject.

Results: The Cuban School of Parasitology, linked to the Chair, revolutionized the teaching of the subject. He created diagnostic methods and original treatments for numerous parasitic diseases of man. He described new parasites present in Cuba.

Conclusions: The Cuban School of Parasitology with its theoretical and practical development was transcendental in the development of medical Parasitology in Cuba, arising from the accumulation of experiences of the Chair of the specialty of the School of Medicine of the University of Havana and its Institute of annexed research, its fundamental pillar Pedro Kourí Esmeja positioned it as a reference in international Tropical Medicine and began its growth and development to the present.

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Author Biography

Enrique Beldarraín Chaple, Centro Nacional de Información de Ciencias Médicas

Médico, especialista de 1o y 2o grados en epidmeiología. Doctor en Ciencias de la Salud. Profesor Titular, Investigador Titular y de Mérito.

References

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Rodríguez Expósito C. Dr. Juan Guiteras, apunte biográfico. La Habana: Editorial Cubanacán; 1947.

García-Lebredo M, Pazos Caballero JH, Plasencia Montes L. La parasitología en Cuba. En: Actas y Trabajos del I Congreso Médico Nacional. La Habana: Imprenta de Papel La Universal; 1905.

Sotolongo Guerra F. El profesor Pedro Kourí Esmeja como Clínico parasitólogo. Rev Cubana Med Trop 1966;18(2):83-7.

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Published

2024-12-27

How to Cite

1.
Beldarraín Chaple E. Historical Approach to the Foundation of the Cuban School of Parasitology. Rev Cuba Med Tropical [Internet]. 2024 Dec. 27 [cited 2025 Feb. 22];76. Available from: https://revmedtropical.sld.cu/index.php/medtropical/article/view/1081

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