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Showing papers on "Biomphalaria alexandrina published in 1997"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was developed for detecting the presence of Schistosoma mansoni sporocysts in intermediate host snails of the genus Biomphalaria and has utility in determining if snails in endemic areas bear prepatent or inactive infections and in assessing the degree of compatibility between local snail and schistosome populations.
Abstract: A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was developed for detecting the presence of Schistosoma mansoni sporocysts in intermediate host snails of the genus Biomphalaria. To accomplish this, rDNA genes encoding the 18S rRNA of S. mansoni and Biomphalaria alexandrina from Egypt were sequenced, as were 18S-encoding genes of the 13-16-R1 and Salvador strains of Biomphalaria glabrata. Based on a comparison of host and parasite sequences, a nested set of PCR primers was designed to allow specific amplification of portions of S. mansoni 18S rDNA. These primers allowed detection of as little as 10 fg of S. mansoni DNA diluted in 100 ng of snail DNA and did not allow amplification of snail 18S sequences. Using nested PCR, the presence of a single S. mansoni sporocyst within an adult snail could be detected at 1 day postexposure. In DNA samples extracted from each of 74 snails of the M-line strain of B. glabrata exposed to from 1 to 10 S. mansoni miracidia for intervals ranging from 1 to 44 days, use of the outside primer pair alone detected the parasite's presence in 51% of the snails, whereas the sequential use of outside and nested primer pairs detected parasites in 92% of the snails. This approach has utility in determining if snails in endemic areas bear prepatent or inactive infections and in assessing the degree of compatibility between local snail and schistosome populations. It will also facilitate studies of resistance of snails to infection.

56 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The molluscicidal properties of Solanum nigrum L. were tested against three Egyptian snail species (Biomphalaria alexandrina, Bulinus truncatus and Lymnaea natalensis), each an intermediate host of parasites causing human schistosomiasis or fascioliasis, and a time-concentration relationship was observed.
Abstract: The molluscicidal properties of Solanum nigrum L. were tested against three Egyptian snail species (Biomphalaria alexandrina, Bulinus truncatus and Lymnaea natalensis), each an intermediate host of...

25 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the active ketenylidene-(2a) or thioketenylidenetriphenylphosphoranes (2b) react with 2-benzylidenes-1,3-indandione (1), 5-benzinylidens-barbituric acid (11), and 4-bennylidsidene-1-2-diphenyl-3,5-pyrazolidinedione (16) to give the corresponding pyranones and thioxopyran
Abstract: The active ketenylidene-(2a) or thioketenylidenetriphenylphosphoranes (2b) react with 2-benzylidene-1,3-indandione (1), 5-benzylidenebarbituric acid (11), and 4-benzylidene-1,2-diphenyl-3,5-pyrazolidinedione (16) to give the corresponding pyranones and thioxopyranones (3a,b, 12a,b) and (17a,b), respectively. On the other hand, compounds 1 and 11 can be converted by reaction with the stabilized alkylidenephosphoranes 4a–e into the phosphoranylidenes 6a–e and 13a–e. Moreover, the oxaphosphinins 8 or 14 and the oxazaphosphinins 10 or 15 were obtained when compounds 1 and 11 were allowed to react with the phosphorane 7 and the iminophosphorane 9, respectively. Some of these new organophosphorus compounds are found to have insecticidal and molluscicidal properties against cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis larvae and Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. © 1997 John Wiley, & Sons, Inc.

19 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: There are different levels of susceptibility between B. alexandrina from the various localities in Egypt and infection with S. mansoni (TBRI strain) infection, and snails from Alexandria were the most susceptible, followed by those from Cairo, Giza, Menoufia and Minia.
Abstract: Susceptibility of snail vectors to schistosome infection varies between geographical areas, populations in the same area and among individuals in the same population. It is also affected by biological factors of which are snail size (age), number and age of miracidia exposed to water, temperature, illumination and darkness. Our preview studies indicated that snails 4-6 mm in diameter exposed to 5 freshly hatched miracidia under light and in water at 25 degrees C are optimum conditions for infection of Biomphalaria alexandria from various localities in Egypt with Schistosoma mansoni (TBRI strain maintained in hamsters). In the present study, groups of 16 snails from three successive generations from positive and negative laboratory bred B. alexandrina from Giza, Alexandria, Menoufia, Cairo and Minia were exposed to S. mansoni miracidia (TBRI Strain) from Giza under the above mentioned optimum conditions. From the 20th day infection snails were checked from cercariae shedding to estimate the prepatent period and their number from each snail light for one hour. B. alexandrina from the various localities in Egypt were susceptible to S. mansoni (TBRI strain) infection. Snails from Alexandria were the most susceptible, followed by those from Cairo, Giza, Menoufia and Minia. Snails from positive generations were more susceptible to infection than those from negative ones. However, there has been a decline in the susceptibility of snails from one generation to the next. The prepatent period for shedding of cercariae was 27 days in case of snails from positive generations and it was extended to 38 days among snails from negative ones. It can be concluded that: (1) There are different levels of susceptibility between B. alexandrina from the various localities in Egypt and infection with S. mansoni from Giza. (2) Unsusceptibility (refractory character) of B. alexandrina to S. mansoni infection could be a heritable character like susceptibility. Consequently, it would be beneficial to select actively resistant snails and mass culture them to increase the proportion of alleles for insusceptibility as a possible mean for biological control of schistosomiasis in natural population.

11 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: Data revealed that direct and/or indirect exposure to the abnormal high density (50,000 plants/L) resulted in complete kill of B. alexandrina snails after two weeks from continuous exposure and the same trend of results was recorded with hatchability of Biomphalaria eggs.
Abstract: Data indicated that Azolla pinnata plants variously reduce the growth rate of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails expressed as net increase in shell diameter (direct or indirect exposure). The plant density played an important role in this respect. The higher the plant density was the lower the growth rate and vice versa. Too, indirect exposure of newly hatched B. alexandrina resulted from exposed treated eggs reduced the growth rate of these snails. Data revealed that direct and/or indirect exposure to the abnormal high density (50,000 plants/L) resulted in complete kill of B. alexandrina snails after two weeks from continuous exposure. Snails exposed directly to Azolla at 50,000 and 25,000 plants/L failed to lay eggs. On the other hand, sanils exposed to 10,000 plants/L laid few eggs, resulted in low reproductive rate (57.94) compared with unexposed ones (110.6). The same trend of results was recorded with hatchability of Biomphalaria eggs.

11 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that Biomphalaria alexandrina snails are sensitive to only bait formulations with low concentrations of molluscicides, and the effectiveness of these bait formulations was reduced after long storage periods (> 3 weeks).
Abstract: Exploration of methods of snail control indicated a need for a new method because many failures in control programmes are due to lack of contact between molluscicides and the target snail population. The incorporation of molluscicides inside food pellets that are attractive to and ingestible by the target snails is suggested. Different concentrations of alcoholic extracts of Ambrosia maritima, Cucumis prophetarum and Rhynchosia minima-molluscicides of plant origin-were compared with niclosamide (Bayluscide) which is a strong synthetic molluscicide. They were incorporated into attractive food pellets and the lethal doses were determined. The results showed that Biomphalaria alexandrina snails are sensitive to only bait formulations with low concentrations of molluscicides. Laboratory and semi-field trials were conducted to study the efficacy of the prepared bait formulations on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. The stability of these bait formulations was studied and it was observed that their effectiveness was reduced after long storage periods (> 3 weeks). The results revealed that Ambrosia maritima was the most effective molluscicide.

9 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: The infection rate of B. alexandriina snails is affected by snail size and the number of miracidia penetrated and there has been a decline in the susceptibility of snails from one generation to the next.
Abstract: Snail size and the number of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia penetrated are two important factors among others that might influence Biomphalaria alexandrina infection with S. mansoni. Groups of 16 snails of fixed age but of different size class (2-4 mm), (4-6 mm), (6-8 mm), (8-10 mm) and (10-12 mm) from three successive generations of positive and negative laboratory bred B. alexandrina from Giza and Alexandria governorates were each exposed to five S. mansoni miracidia (TBRI from Giza) under light and in water at 25 degrees C. After 20 days, the snails were examined for cercarial shedding to determine their prepatent periods and to estimate the number of cercariae shed from each snail under light for one hour. Other groups of snails (4-6 mm) from three successive generations of positive and negative laboratory bred B. alexandrina from these two Governorates were each exposed to 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 miracidia. Snails were checked starting from the 20th day of infection to assess whether or not they had acquired infection. The infection rate of B. alexandrina from Giza and Alexandria governorates and their generations decreased significantly as the snail size increased while it increased significantly as the number of miracidia increased. However, there has been a decline in the susceptibility of snails from one generation to the next. The prepatent period for the shedding of cercariae was long in large sized snails and from those descending from negative snails. It can be concluded that the infection rate of B. alexandriina snails is affected by snail size and the number of miracidia penetrated.

4 citations



Journal Article
TL;DR: Effect of physical (UV- and gamma-irradiation) treatment as well as chemical (PZQ) treatment on infected laboratory bred Biomphalria alexandrina snails have been studied and Gamma irradiation and PZQ-treatment showed severe effects on hermaphrodite gland and cercariae.
Abstract: Schistosomiasis control represent the main target of many research programme allover the world. Effect of physical (UV- and gamma-irradiation) treatment as well as chemical (PZQ) treatment on infected laboratory bred Biomphalria alexandrina snails have been studied. Gamma irradiation and PZQ-treatment induced high rate of mortality than UV-irradiated and non-treated control snails. The cercarial production was severely reduced as a result of UV-, gamma-irradiation and PZQ-treatment. Pre-patent period was significantly increased in gamma-irradiated and PZQ-treated groups than UV-irradiated and control groups. Gamma irradiation and PZQ-treatment showed severe effects on hermaphrodite gland and cercariae. Trials of experimental infection in swiss albino mice revealed that low rate of infection (9.7% and 1.3%) was induced by cercarial shedding from UV-irradiated and PZQ-treated snails respectively. Whereas, cercarial production of gamma-irradiated snails failed to induce infection in swiss mice.

3 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
31 Dec 1997
TL;DR: The four spirostanol saponin glycosides isolated from the butanol fraction of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Agave heteracantha exhibited strong molluscicidal activites against Biomphalaria alexandrina and Lymnaea cailliaudi, the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola gigantica in Egypt respectively.
Abstract: Four spirostanol saponin glycosides were isolated from the butanol fraction of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Agave heteracantha (Agavaceae). The structures of these saponins were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analysis and hydrolysis followed by identification of both aglycones as tigogenin and gitogenin as well as the sugar moieties. The four saponins exhibited strong molluscicidal activites against Biomphalaria alexandrina (LC90 = 10, 15, 7 and 9 ppm) and Lymnaea cailliaudi (LC90 = 8, 13, 5 and 6 ppm), the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola gigantica in Egypt respectively.

1 citations