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Showing papers by "Virgínia Torres Schall published in 1989"



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The snail population showed seasonal variation in density, with a decrease in number of individuals at the beginning of the rainy season, and the release of cercariae of S. mansoni and of birds seems to depend on environmental temperature, which during certain months would show a daily variation of up to 13 degrees C, with the lower thermal limit approaching the limit value for sporocyte development.
Abstract: The present study was performed using data from a Biomphalaria tenagophila population located in a water cress garden in the Alto da Boa Vista region representing an isolated focal point of schistosomiasis in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The density and age structure of this B. tenagophila population and its rate of intection by Schistosoma mansoni were studied for a period of 15 months. The snail population showed seasonal variation in density, with a decrease in number of individual at the begining of the rainy season. At the end of this season, the population consisted mainly of adults (92.8% in May 1985 and 82.8% in April 1986). The population growth curve was logistic and of sigmoidal configuration. Shiscotoma mansoni cercariae were eliminated over a short period of time (March, April and May 1986). The release of cercariae of S. mansoni and of birds seems to depend on environmental temperature, which during certain months would show a daily variation of up to 13oC, with the lower thermal limit approaching the limit value for sporocyte development.

3 citations