[Francesco Redi and the birth of experimental parasitology]

Francesco Redi (1626-1697) born in Arezzo (Tuscany, Italy), an encyclopedic mind simultaneously naturalist, physician and poet is the founder of scientific and experimental parasitology by his works published in 1668 and 1684. In the first he showed the impossibility of spontaneous generation of insects (flies) and in the second are described over hundred species of parasites (helminths, mites, insects) from vertebrates and invertebrates with excellent illustrations. He has also recommended various antiparasitic remedies and specified their pharmacological action. It is besides under his influence that two of his disciples: Bonomo and Cestoni will rediscover and redescribe in 1687 the itch-mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis).