The Breeding of Bulinus truncatus in Total Darkness

Abstract

Starting with eggs from a natural habitat the authors were able to raise and breed Bulinus truncatus, the snail vector of schistosomiasis haematobia, under conditions of total and continuous darkness and to complete the life-cycle from egg to egg in 70 days. The rearing of a second generation was interrupted by circumstances beyond the authors’ control. Darkness is shown nevertheless to have a restrictive effect on population growth and the use of covered channels and pipes for irrigation water, although not a complete control measure, should therefore be adopted wherever possible in endemic foci of schistosomiasis haematobia where snail control is necessary.

Biodiversity of Mollusca in Dalmaj Marsh, Southern Marshland, Al-Diwaniya City, Iraq

“…[21], has stated that Bulinus truncatus is more abundant in drains, marshes, irrigation canals or in swamps in northern part of Iraq. However, this species has been found to be extinct in southern part of Iraq [23].…”

Study of the behavior of snails intermediate hosts of Schistosoma spp. under different maintenance conditions and their resistance to salinity in an african laboratory environment

“…In most of snails breeding protocol, the physico-chemical conditions such as temperature, humidity, pH, dissolved oxygen and the quality of the food and the water are the essential elements taken into account. Sometimes, natural water from snail breeding site or tap water is used during experimental procedures ( Christensen et al., 1979 ; Kalinda et al., 2017 ; Watson and Al-Ali, 1961 ). However, this practice could induce biases during laboratory experiments due to the fact that the physico-chemical quality of these waters may change according environmental conditions or water treatment by chemical compounds.…”