Biomphalaria Snails and Larval Trematodes

Abstract

), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights.Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) v The history of research on the relationships between Biomphalaria spp. and larval trematodes, particularly Schistosoma mansoni, is long, active, and ongoing today. Snails of the genus Biomphalaria are of significant medical importance with many species living in freshwater habitats associated with human settlements; many of these snail species are obligate intermediate hosts of the human blood fluke S. mansoni, the causative agent of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. This parasitic disease continues to disrupt the lives of about 200 million people in over 70 countries and prevents these individuals from otherwise reasonable expectations of healthy and productive lives. Furthermore, it is estimated that within the developing world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, more than 700 million people are at risk of becoming infected, despite the efforts to control transmission in human and snail populations by mass chemotherapy and the use of molluscicides. Several factors, such as the absence of a schistosome vaccine, the recent appearance of resistance to antischistosome drugs, and human activities that expand snail habitats, have increased the need for a better understanding of schistosome-snail interactions. In recent years, the application of new technologies has contributed to the accumulation of considerable new information on this topic that may be of great use to biomedical scientists.In addition to the impact of Biomphalaria spp. on public health, these snails are also interesting models for the study of other topics such as population biology, including genetics and demography, proteomics, invertebrate immunobiology, mating systems, and biogeography, among others. Biomphalaria spp. snails have been extensively used as experimental biological models contributing significantly to new developments in many areas studied by biomedical scientists. Extensive coverage of these topics is included in this book, also considering trematode species other than schistosomes.The aim of the present book is to provide an overview of the recent advances in the Biomphalaria spp.-larval trematode interactions, especially in Biomphalariaschistosome systems. Emphasis is placed on gaps in our knowledge that must be filled to gain a better understanding of the relationships in these host-parasite systems. This may be critical for a deeper knowledge of the transmission of schistosomiasis and other snail-borne parasitic diseases. Pref...

Antagonism between parasites within snail hosts impacts the transmission of human schistosomiasis

“…We have shown that S. mansoni occupies an intermediate position in a trematode dominance hierarchy in B. pfeifferi in west Kenya and can be routinely displaced if present in co-infections by echinostomes and amphistomes, although particular species may vary in their predatory tendencies and the degree of their dominance (Hechinger et al, 2011; Garcia-Vedrenne et al, 2016). Surprisingly, even though much of the previous work focusing on interspecific trematode antagonism has been undertaken in the context of exploiting it as a potential control strategy for schistosomiasis (Combes, 1982; Moravec et al, 1974; Pointier and Jourdane, 2000; Toledo and Fried, 2011) ours is the first study undertaken in which all the species involved are extant in sub-Saharan Africa, where schistosomiasis assumes its greatest public health significance.…”

Kepadatan dan Tingkat Infeksi Serkaria Schistosoma japonicum pada Keong Oncomelania hupensis lindoensis dengan Kasus Schistosomiasis di Daerah Endemis Schistosomiasis, Sulawesi Tengah

“…Penelitian tersebut menunjukkan bahwa salinitas yang tinggi menyebabkan berkurangnya kepadatan keong perantara schistosomiasis, sedangkan serkaria dari schistosoma masih dapat bertahan hidup. 13,14 Tinggi rendahnya infection rate serkaria S. japonicum dapat dipengaruhi oleh banyaknya hewan mamalia positif schistosomiasis sebagai sumber telur S.japonicum yang melewati daerah fokus keong tersebut. Hewan mamalia yang dimaksud bisa saja hewan liar maupun ternak milik masyarakat yang kebetulan berada di daerah fokus.…”