Introduction:

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution. In the 1970s, there was an increase in the incidence of this disease in Cuba, mainly among agricultural workers. An outbreak in Camagüey led to the establishment of the National Program for the Control of Human Leptospirosis adopted by the Ministries of Public Health and Agricultures. In 1982, a clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the immunogenicity and the reactogenicity of a vaccine against human leptospirosis from the Institute of Vaccines and Sera of Stavropol.

Objective:

To retrace the first steps towards immunoprophylaxis against leptospirosis in Cuba.

Methods:

The historiographic method was used. Data were retrieved from the following databases: Infomed, Dialnet, Medigraphic, Medline and SciELO.

Analysis and synthesis of the information:

Recommendations from the research suggested administering the vaccine to risk groups, and producing a vaccine from autochthonous Leptospira strains. The analysis of the consulted bibliography from the last four decades corroborates the fulfillment of these recommendations.

Conclusions:

Forty years ago, Cuban scientists conducted the first studies on immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a vaccine from the former Soviet Union. The recommendations derived from the research were fulfilled. Population groups at risk, mainly agricultural workers, were vaccinated, and a vaccine from autochthonous Leptospira strains was obtained. Given the contributions to public health, which is a priority of the Cuban government, data presented on the first steps towards immunoprophylaxis against leptospirosis in Cuba are of paramount importance for the medical historiography.

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