Experimental Infections Of Biomphalaria Glabrata, B.Pfeiferi And B.Sudanica With Schistosoma Mansoni

I O WEY 322 PAGES (0 WORDS) Parasitology Thesis

ABSTRACT

A laboratory study was carried out to determine quantitatively the degree of compatibility between Biomphalaria glabrata, B. pfeifferi and B. sudanica and Schistosoma mansoni. The effect of host diet and mode of exposure to miracidia, continuous darkness, origin of host species and parasites strains, miracidial dosage level, age and intensity of primary infection in dual infections were examined by measuring snail survival, growth, fecundity, prepatent period, infection rate and cercarial production.

The results of experiments on host diet and exposure technique showed that individual exposure of B. glabrata snails to miracidia resulted in injection rates varying from31% -85% compared with a range of 6%- 22% obtained in mass exposed snails. Lettuce plus tetramin and lettuce plus rabbit pellets were found to be superior diets to lettuce alone.