Biomphalaria alexandrina

About: Biomphalaria alexandrina is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 413 publications have been published within this topic receiving 3781 citations.

Effect of copper coated lupine extract nanoparticles on some aquatic and terrestrial pest snails.

Abstract: Effect of lupine extracts nanoparticles (NPs) coated with copper sulphate on the mortality and eggs productivity of aquatic snails, Biomphalaria alexandrina Ehrenberg and Bulinus truncatus Audouin, and terrestrial snail, Eobania vermiculata Muller, were investigated in comparison with copper sulphate nanoparticles and both treatments compare with untreated group in the present and previous investigation. This experiment was planned to elucidate the molluscicidal properties of lupine extract coated with CuSO4 NPs against adult B. alexandrina B. truncatus and E. vermiculata snails after 24 hours exposure, in dark conditions, followed by another 48 hrs. light for recovery. The results revealed that lupine extracts nanoparticles has more effect than copper sulphate nanoparticles on both aquatic or terrestrial snail mortality. It caused 100% mortality for B. alexandrina and B. truncates, at concentration of 20 ppm, after 24 hours of exposure in dark followed by 48 hours recovery in day light. Copper sulphate nanoparticles at the same concentration caused only 70% and 46. 67% mortality for B. alexandrina and B. truncates, respectively, under the same conditions. Mortality rate increased with the increase of concentrations either in lupine NPs or CuO4 NPs. On normal lupine extract the concentration that caused 100% mortality was equal to ten folds of lupine NPs. Egg productivity of the healthy thirty individuals, of B. alexandrina, B. truncatus and E. vermiculata, were investigated and compared with the survival snails in low concentrations of both Cu NPs and lupine NPs, to study the effect of nanoparticle materials on the snail fecundity. Both lupine extract nanoparticles and copper sulphate nanoparticles may have a sterilized effect, where B. alexandrina and B. truncatus snails exposed to sub lethal doses from them didn’t laid any egg masses after treatment. E. vermiculata, treated or untreated individuals, didn’t laid any eggs either, because it had a specific season of reproduction which not coinciding with the time of experiment

Effect of infection with Schistosoma mansoni on some biological parameters in Biomphalaria alexandrina snails.

Abstract: Histological alterations in digestive gland as well as hematological and biochemical changes in haemolymph of Shistosoma mansoni infected Biomphalaria alexandrina snails were studied. The results showed great histological damages in tissues of the digestive gland of infected snails with large numbers of sporocysts and cercariae at several stages of development encircled by cycts in tissue of digestive gland. A detailed light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) of the haemocytes in infected snails were described to evaluate the capability to respond to parasitic infections. Three main haemocytes categories could be distinguished namely: hyalinocytes, agranulocytes and granulocytes according to the presence or absence of granules. Phagocytic ability and pseudopodial formation were obviouisly increased in infected snails. The results showed a significant decrease in total protein and albumin content with elevation of total lipids content and glucose concentration in the haemolymph of infected snails. It was concluded that haemocytes (SEM) in infected snails have large cells with a large imagination, smooth surface and secretion particles adherent to these cells to respond to parasitic infections.

The comparative effect of chlorine and Huwa-san as disinfecting agents on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and free larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni

Abstract: Many chemicals are applied for disinfecting purposes. Although chlorination is the most common procedure, it has many drawbacks. So there becomes an urgent need for new chemicals which are both effective and less harmful to other water fauna. The present work aims at investigating the comparative effects of chlorine and Huwa-san as a new disinfectant on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails which act as bioindicators of toxicity, besides evaluating their miracicidal and cercaricidal activities. The results showed that Huwa-san was more toxic on tested snails than chlorine, where the LC50 values were 21 and 1368.9 ppm, respectively after 24 h. Also, it was found that the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in snails’ tissues were either induced or inhibited according to the tested disinfectant. Regarding reduced glutathione (GSH) content, it was increased as chlorine concentrations increased, while it reached its minimum content at the highest Huwa-san concentration. Such fluctuations were supported by histopathological examination of digestive and hermaphrodite glands, as prolonged exposure to chlorine led to more detrimental effects than Huwa-san concentrations. Moreover, Huwa-san was more effective on Schistosoma mansoni miracidia than on its cercariae, while the reverse was observed with chlorine. In conclusion, Huwa-san as a newly applied disinfectant can also be used as miracicidal and cercaricidal agent at small concentrations. Despite being more toxic to B. alexandrina snails, the chronic effect of its sublethal concentrations is less harmful than chlorine.

Fecundity, sex hormones and release of cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni in Biomphalaria alexandrina (Ehrenberg, 1831) treated with copper and magnesium chlorophyllin

Abstract: Schistosomiasis is a public health problem in many developing countries. Control of the snail intermediate hosts of Schistosoma is a promising method for eliminating this disease. Copper (Cu-chl) and magnesium chlorophyllin (Mg-chl) are potent photosensitisers used in diverse biological applications. Their effects on the fecundity of Biomphalaria alexandrina (Ehrenberg): its reproductive rate (R0) and total levels of progesterone, testosterone and estradiol were evaluated. Besides, we determined the production of cercariae of S. mansoni. The concentrations LC10 and LC25 of Cu-chl and Mg-chl significantly reduced the fecundity and R0 of the treated snails which could be partially due to the decrease in the level of steroid sex hormones. The reduction rates of R0 for the snails treated with LC10 Cu-chl and Mg-chl were 72.7% and 89.7%, respectively. Moreover, Cu-chl and Mg-chl significantly suppressed the cercarial production which dropped from 9,778 cercariae per snail in the light control group to 3,126 and 107 cercariae per snail in the groups treated with LC10 Cu-chl and Mg-chl 21 days after exposure to miracidia, respectively. Since Cu-chl and Mg-chl negatively interfere with the parasite transmission, they should be considered in schistosomiasis control programmes.