scholarly journals Survey of Fresh Water Snails in Vandeikya Local Government Area, Benue State Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
T. S. Atsuwe ◽  
J. I. Chikwendu ◽  
V. U. Obisike
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Freshwater Snail ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Freshwater Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Biomphalaria Pfeifferi ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Water Ph ◽  
Bulinus Globosus

A survey was carried out in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria from April-July 2017 to determine availability of freshwater snails of and their preferred habitats. A total of 289 fresh water snails of four different genera were collected across 27 streams in the 7 districts in Vandeikya LGA. Water pH, water temperature and water velocity were also measured. Lenistislibycuswas found to be the most abundant freshwater snail species accounting for 40.83% of the total freshwater snails. Melanoidestuberculata was the second most abundant accounting for 29.411% of the total snails population sampled, Biomphalaria pfeifferi accounted for 17.99% while Bulinus globosus was significantly lower in abundance than the other snails, accounting for only 11.77%. By location, Mbaduku district had highest abundance of snails 84 (29.1%). The effect of the nature of the substratum on the availability of freshwater snails revealed that habitats with rocky substratum favoured the presence of snails accounting for 181(62.7%) freshwater snail collected.Our understanding of factors affecting the availability and abundance of freshwater snails in nature can prove useful in snail control which is integral for the control of the diseases for which they serve as intermediate host.

Effects of land use on intermediate snail host fauna, abundance, distribution and cercariae infection rate in Omo-Gibe river basin, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ketema Deribew ◽  
Etana Jaleta ◽  
Belayhun Mandefro ◽  
Zeleke Mekonnen ◽  
Delenasaw Yewhalaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Freshwater Snail ◽  
Snail Host ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Biomphalaria Pfeifferi

Abstract Background: Land use and land cover change significantly affects biodiversity, abundance and distribution of intermediate snail host fauna. In Omo-Gibe river basin the extent of land-use change is high due to anthropogenic activities leading to habitat change of freshwater snail intermediate hosts. Most intermediate snail hosts of human Schistosome parasites belong to two genera, Biomphalaria and Bulinus. In Addition, Lymnea spp. is another important host of Fasciola which causes fasciolasis in domestic animals and human. This study aims to assess the effects of land-use on the distribution and abundance of freshwater snail intermediate hosts and cercariae infection rates of fresh water intermediate snail hosts in Omo-Gibe River basin, Ethiopia.Methods: This study was conducted in Omo-Gibe river basin in 130 sampling sites which include rivers, lakes, dams, stream, wetlands and irrigation ditches. At each site data on land use, anthropogenic activities, freshwater snail abundance and species diversity, and water samples were collected. Snails were collected from each sampling sites using a scoop (20cm x 30cm) with a mesh size of 300µm. Snails were sorted by genus on Enamel pan using forceps and preserved in labeled vials containing 75% ethanol. Live snails collected from the same habitat were sorted carefully and put in clean plastic buckets half filled with water. Afterwards, snails were provided with fresh lettuce leaves and maintained in the laboratory. Snails were then identified morphologically to family, genus and to species level. Each snail was examined for cercaria shedding by placing in a petri dish containing water and exposed to the sun for 2 hours. Cercariae were morphologically identified by microscopy. ArcGIS software of version 10.3.1 was used to map snail distribution and data were analysed using SPSS version-20.Results: The results obtained in this study shows clearly that land use change affect the distribution and abundance of fresh water snails in Omo-Gibe river basin. Fresh water snails were more abundant in farmland and settlement areas. Of the total 2,559 freshwater snails collected from 130 surveyed sites in Omo-Gibe river basin, 1749 (68.34%) belongs to medically important snail species. Biomphalaria spp.914 (35.7%),, Lymnea spp.439 (17.1%),, Physa spp. 343(13.4%) and Bulinus spp 53 (2%)). Sphaeriidae group accounted for 810 (31.6%) of the collected specimens. Biomphalaria pfeifferi was the predominant species of the total snail sampled from lakes, wetlands, rivers and irrigation ditches. Biomphalaria pfeifferi was the most infected snail species by different cercariae. Bulinus globosus and L.natalensis were infected by more than one and same type of cercariae. However, none of B. sudanica and P. acuta specimens was infected by trematode.Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that land use change altered the abundance, distribution and diversity of medically important fresh water snails in the study area. In general medically important freshwater snails which include: Biomphalaria spp, Bulinus spp and Lymnaea spp were collected from lakes, rivers, wetlands, irrigation ditches.. The medically important snail species found infected by cercaria are L. natalensis, B. pfeifferi and B. globosus. Biomphalaria pfefferi was the predominant species and highly infected by cercariae. Higher infection rate was observed in snails collected in Farmland (16.59%) and Grassland (36.6%).

scholarly journals Susceptibility of 7 freshwater gastropod species in Zimbabwe to infection with Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus (Cobbold, 1876) Looss, 1896 : short communication

2004 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mukaratirwa ◽  
I.F. Munjere ◽  
M. Takawira ◽  
G. Chingwena
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Post Infection ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Freshwater Snail ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Biomphalaria Pfeifferi ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Bulinus Globosus

Gastrodiscosis outbreaks due to Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus were recorded in horses in the vicinity of Harare, Zimbabwe, in the absence of Bulinus forskalii, B. senegalensis and Cleopatra sp. which are considered to be the only intermediate host snails. This suggested the possibility of other snail species acting as intermediate hosts in the life cycle of the trematode. A study was carried out to determine the susceptibility of 7 freshwater snail species to infection with G. aegyptiacus. First generation (F-1) of 5 freshwater pulmonate snail species, Bulinus tropicus, Bulinus globosus, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Helisoma dyuri and Physa acuta that were bred in the laboratory, and 2 prosobranch snail species, Melanoides tuberculata and Cleopatra sp. that were collected from the field were used in this study. Data pertaining to mortalities and cercariae shedding were recorded throughout the experimental period. The prosobranch snails, M. tuberculata and Cleopatra sp. were susceptible to G. aegyptiacus with a minimum prepatent period of 45 days and 54 days, respectively. Bulinus tropicus, P. acuta and H. duryi were susceptible as evidenced by the presence of different generations of rediae and mature cercariae on dissection at 59 days post-infection although attempts to induce the snails to shed from 28 days post-infection did not produce cercariae. Bulinus globosus and Bio. Pfeifferi were refractory to infection. The results revealed the ability of G. aegyptiacus to infect M. tuberculata, Cleopatara sp., B. tropicus, P. acuta and H. duryi under experimental conditions and this may explain the recorded outbreaks of gastrodiscosis in equine populations in Zimbabwe in the absence of the known intermediate hosts. Bulinus tropicus is considered as the most likely major intermediate host of G. aegyptiacus because of its wide distribution in Zimbabwe and is well adapted to a wide variety of environments.

scholarly journals Local knowledge and attitudes about onchocerciasis in Oji-River local government area of Enugu State, Nigeria

2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. U. MANAFA ◽  
A. N. ISAMAH
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Farm Work ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Enugu State ◽  
Skin Snips

A total of 556 individuals in Agbalenyi Community of Oji-River local government area of Enugu State, Nigeria were studied using questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews to determine the socio-cultural factors affecting the transmission of onchocerciasis. The result revealed a low level of knowledge about the cause, prevention and complications of onchocerciasis. Respondents have developed a cultural system around the disease due to long exposure. The majority are aware of the disease which they recognize once their body starts itching or musculoskeletal pain develops but only 64·4, 34·0, 1·4 and 3·6%, respectively attributed chronic itching, nodules, bad vision and leopard skin to blackfly bite. Other perceived causes mentioned include ageing, the type of food eaten, farm work and ‘bad blood’. Only 0·8% knew diagnosis could be made through skin snips. Neither Oji-River nor any of the river systems were associated with any of the complications of onchocerciasis. Significant differences in most socio-demographic characteristics were associated with differences in the level of knowledge about the disease.

scholarly journals MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the identification of freshwater snails from Senegal, including intermediate hosts of schistosomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. e0009725
Author(s):  
Fatima Zohra Hamlili ◽  
Fatou Thiam ◽  
Maureen Laroche ◽  
Adama Zan Diarra ◽  
Souleymane Doucouré ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neglected Diseases ◽  
Freshwater Snails ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Biomphalaria Pfeifferi ◽  
Bulinus Truncatus ◽  
Maldi Tof Ms ◽  
Maldi Tof ◽  
Tof Ms

Freshwater snails of the genera Biomphalaria, Bulinus, and Oncomelania are intermediate hosts of schistosomes that cause human schistosomiasis, one of the most significant infectious neglected diseases in the world. Identification of freshwater snails is usually based on morphology and, potentially, DNA-based methods, but these have many drawbacks that hamper their use. MALDI-TOF MS has revolutionised clinical microbiology and has emerged in the medical entomology field. This study aims to evaluate MALDI-TOF MS profiling for the identification of both frozen and ethanol-stored snail species using protein extracts from different body parts. A total of 530 field specimens belonging to nine species (Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Bulinus forskalii, Bulinus senegalensis, Bulinus truncatus, Bulinus globosus, Bellamya unicolor, Cleopatra bulimoides, Lymnaea natalensis, Melanoides tuberculata) and 89 laboratory-reared specimens, including three species (Bi. pfeifferi, Bu. forskalii, Bu. truncatus) were used for this study. For frozen snails, the feet of 127 field and 74 laboratory-reared specimens were used to validate the optimised MALDI-TOF MS protocol. The spectral analysis yielded intra-species reproducibility and inter-species specificity which resulted in the correct identification of all the specimens in blind queries, with log-score values greater than 1.7. In a second step, we demonstrated that MALDI-TOF MS could also be used to identify ethanol-stored snails using proteins extracted from the foot using a specific database including a large number of ethanol preserved specimens. This study shows for the first time that MALDI-TOF MS is a reliable tool for the rapid identification of frozen and ethanol-stored freshwater snails without any malacological expertise.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document