Cuban scientific production of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.1981-2015

Abstract

Introduction: In 1981, Angiostrongylus cantonensis was first reported in Cuba and in the Western Hemisphere. Objective: To characterize the scientific Cuban production during the years 1981-2015. Materials and Methods: Google Academic, Medline(PubMed), SciELO, CUMED, IBECS and LILACS databases were consulted, retrieving all the published papers from Cuban authors with or without the cooperation of foreign researchers. Journal and authors network were listed using UCINET and yearly frequency using GoPubMed software respectively. Most productive authors were characterized using Publish or perish and also its family index. Results: During the above mentioned period, 40 papers were collected from Cuban authors. The most productive authors published were between 14 and 22 papers. Revista Cubana de Medicina Tropical, Revista de Neurología and American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene were the journals where the Cuban authors have published more articles. Spanish and English languages were used. The average of Articles references was 9,92. The strongest collaboration network was LABCEL, collaboration with Ecuador stood out. Conclusions: There is a group of Cuban authors that have been publishing about this topic and a collaboration networks were established with a wider used among other regional countries due to the expansion of the parasite and its consequence on the host. Keywords: Angiostrongylus cantonensis, reference’s analysis, Cuba, scientific production, collaboration network.