Diagnosis, presence of endoparasites, and local knowledge on the infestation of the exotic giant African snail (gastropoda: pulmonata: achatinidae), in the urban zone of Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil

Abstract

The giant African land snail, Lissachatina fulica is considered to be one of the world's worst invader species. This snail can provoke major economic and public health problems in urban areas, in particular as a potential vector of nematodes that infect both humans and animals. In this context, the present study investigated the extent of the infestation of this exotic snail in the urban neighborhoods of the city of Rio Branco, verified the presence of endoparasites in these snails, and evaluated the knowledge of local residents with regard to the presence of this invader species. For this, daytime surveys were conducted between August 2015 and June 2016. For the analysis of endoparasites, 44 live specimens were sent to the National Reference Laboratory for Schistosomiasis-Malacology (LRNEM) of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (FIOCRUZ). The knowledge of local residents in the infested neighborhoods was investigated using questionnaires with direct, closed questions. The exotic invader species (L. fulica) was detected in 24 of the 36 neighborhoods visited. A total of 858 L. fulica specimens were collected, of which, 329 were alive and 527 were dead. The total length of the shell ranged from 0.7 to 14.2 cm, with a mean±standard deviation of 4.8±2.21 cm. The density of snails in the areas surveyed varied from 0.34 individuals/m2 to 3.54 individuals/m2, while the mean density within the whole study area was estimated to be 0.54 individuals/m2. Mature eggs were found in only 9 (2.7%) of the 329 specimens dissected. The endoparasitological analysis revealed the presence of rhabditiform larvae in 84% of the specimens examined, as well as the nematodes Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (22.7% of the specimens) and Strongyluris sp. (2.2%). A total of 39 local residents were interviewed, and while all were conscious of the presence of the mollusk, none knew its origin or the most adequate way of dealing with it. The results of the study indicate an ample infestation of the city of Rio Branco by L. fulica, and confirmed a complete lack of intervention on the part of the local authorities for the implementation of measures foe the control and management of this pest within the urban zone of Rio Branco.

First Case of Clinical Cat Aelurostrongylosis in the Brazilian Amazon: Clinical and Molecular Insights

“…This is the first molecularly confirmed A. abstrusus infection in domestic cats from Brazil and the first report of cat aelurostrongylosis in Brazilian Amazonia. Thus, the enzooticity of A. abstrusus in Brazil is herein confirmed as previously suggested by past [ 32 ] and recent descriptions of gastropods ( L. fulica ) naturally harbouring larvae of A. abstrusus in the Amazonia [ 31 ]. The infection rate here detected appears low if compared for instance to the rates described in Europe, e.g., 6.6% in Germany [ 33 ], 10.3% in Italy [ 12 ], 8–13.2% in Greece [ 10 , 34 ], 14.5% in Hungary [ 35 ],17.4% in Portugal [ 36 ], but compatible with values published for the Americas, i.e., 2.1% in USA [ 37 ], 0.4% in Colombia [ 38 ].…”

“…Indeed, studies on elusive felids living in wild and remote areas are difficult, but further studies are truly encouraged. In this view, the successful recent use of molecular methods to obtain information on the occurrence of metastrongyloids in intermediate hosts of South America are very encouraging [ 3 , 31 ].…”

“…No data are known on its occurrence in felines living in the Brazilian Amazonas, albeit its recent detection in gastropod intermediate hosts. For instance, in a recent study carried out in Rio Branco, Acre, an infection rate ~22% by A. abstrusus was described in the giant African snail Lissachatina fulica [ 31 ]. The present study reports for the first time the occurrence of A. abstrusus in domestic cats living in Brazilian Amazonia, to update knowledge on this lungworm in South America and provide clinical and molecular insights.…”

Achatina fulica (Gastropoda: Pulmonata): Occurrence, environmental aspects and presence of nematodes in Sergipe, Brazil

“…Nowadays A. fulica has been reported in the most diverse environments such as forests, capoeiras, caatingas, savannahs, plantations, vegetable gardens, decomposing materials and urban areas (Eston et al, 2006;Ohlweiler et al, 2010;Santos, Delabie, 2011;Onyshi et al, 2018). Recently, infestation has been reported in urban areas of the Brazilian Amazon, probably due to transport of the mollusks in accidental loads; this is a matter of concern for the dispersal capacity and lack of natural mollusk predators (Moreira et al, 2013;Lima and Guilherme, 2018). The soil plays a key role in the protection of A. fulica, since it is used as a food source and defense strategy .…”

Terrestrial gastropods of Humaitá Forest Reserve, southwestern Brazilian Amazon

“…Paraense (1967Paraense ( , 1981Paraense ( , 1983 recorded planorbids in the region for the first time, while Salvador et al (2020b) recorded Helicina chionea Pilsbry, 1949 in Brazil for the first time, as well as two new records of Helicina spp. Lima and Guilherme (2018) also recently reported the infestation of the urban zone of the state capital, Rio Branco, by the exotic land snail Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822). Given the paucity of data from that region, the present study aimed to compile an inventory of the terrestrial gastropods found in a forest reserve in eastern Acre, the Reserva Florestal Humaitá (Humaitá Forest Reserve, henceforth HFR).…”