Efficacy of Achyranthes aspera (L.) as a Molluscicidal Bait Formulation against Fresh Water Snail Biomphalaria pfeifferi

Abstract

Molluscicidal plant products have interesting attributes of environmental friendliness and accessibility to local communities. Their bait formulations are more economical and target specific as they are applied only to the snail-infested sections of the water habitat. Their active ingestion by target snails could also increase gastric concentrations and enhance effectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of Achyranthes aspera (A. aspera) leaf hydroethanolic extract in bait and immersion applications. Serial dilutions of the extract in water for immersion, and in snail food pellets for bait test, were set. Adult Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails exposed to the bioassays for 24 hours and data were analyzed using probit model. The plant showed molluscicidal activity in both methods. The respective LC50 and LC90 doses were 20.37 and 46.84 ppm in the immersion and 3.10 and 11.08 ppm in the bait. The more efficient bait method reduced the LC50 by 6.57 and the LC90 by 4.23 times. This finding provides a strong foundation for the molluscicidal potential of A. aspera. It is applicable and possibly more effective if formulated into those commercially available snail food pellets or flakes. However, selection and optimization of suitable baits is a crucial step for maximum output.

Analysis of Achyranthes aspera leaf extract and environmental safety evaluation to non target Nile tilapia fish fingerlings, Oreochromis niloticus.

“…Achyranthes aspera is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used for ailments of various diseases in many parts of the world [14]. In addition, the molluscicidal potential of this plant is recently discovered [17] But assessment on its negative toxic impact on non target species is mandatory before applied in the aquatic environment for snail control.…”

“…[14][15][16]. Very recently, The molluscicidal property of A. aspera is discovered by after investigation on the aqueous and ethanolic extracts as well as in bait formulation [17,18].…”

Ethnobotanical survey of some medicinal plants used in the treatment of schistosomiasis in Sokoto mteropolis, Sokoto State, Nigeria

“…The preliminary phytochemical screening of the three candidate plants is presented in Phytochemical screening of the stem-bark extracts of three plant used in the study for their bioactive constituents have been shown in the mortality of exposed freshwater snails and influenced by time taken in the extracts and quantity of doses used in the experiment. The plant extracts present of high content of saponin, tannin, alkaloids, glycoside and steroids could cause high snail mortality as suggested by Akinfelu et al, 2012, Guraswamy et al, 2017, Mandefro et al, 2018, Bashay et al, 2018, Abdullahi et al, 2018and Elamin 2005.…”

“…It serves as the most reliable method of choice in achieving drastic reduction in snail intermediate host population density and eradication of schistosomiasis disease in the tropical countries of the world (WHO, 2013). There is dearth of literature on the molluscicidal potentials of Acacia nilotica, Balanites aegyptica and Khaya senegalensis) stem-bark extracts, if found effective, it will offer a double functions of causing death of snails and cercarial stages of Schistosoma specie as suggested by (Mandefro et al, 2018). The screening of medicinal plants with molluscicidal activities by herbalist in Sokoto State may offer alternative solution on synthetic molluscicides in the endemic areas of the world if found effective.…”

Natural products as a control measure of the Achatina fulica (Gastropoda: Achatinidae)

“…Another factor for the increase in the effectiveness of the baits is that the contact area of the gastric epithelium is greater than the area of the cephalopedic surface, thus favoring a greater absorption of the molluscicide. Molluscicide ingestion by the mollusks that ingest the baits can still lead to easier molluscicide dispersion to other mollusk vital organs, such as liver tissues (Mandefro et al, 2018). Some studies have tested baits with synthetic molluscicides on terrestrial mollusk species, such as A. fulica (Smith et al, 2013), Deroceras reticulatum (Salvio et al, 2008), andEobania vermiculata (Essawy et al, 2009).…”