Fasciola hepaticain Cuba: compatibility of different isolates with two intermediate snail hosts,Galba cubensisandPseudosuccinea columella

Abstract

In Cuba, only two lymnaeid snails, Galba cubensis and Pseudosuccinea columella, with different ecology and distribution patterns, are intermediate hosts for Fasciola hepatica. The compatibility of these two species as hosts was analysed through their rates of infection, the production of rediae and survivorship when exposed to F. hepatica miracidia. Ten populations of G. cubensis, eight of P. columella collected from various habitats and six isolates of F. hepatica sampled in slaughterhouses from different localities were tested. Our results clearly demonstrate that G. cubensis is a more compatible host for F. hepatica in Cuba when compared with P. columella. However, the role that P. columella may have in fascioliasis transmission under certain conditions should not be disregarded. Variation in infectivity among isolates of F. hepatica were also observed and may explain why some regions in Cuba are more commonly subjected to fascioliasis outbreaks.

Natural prevalence in Cuban populations of the lymnaeid snail Galba cubensis infected with the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica: small values do matter

“…Our results constitute the first approach to study natural infection rates in Cuban populations of G. cubensis, considered the main host of F. hepatica in Cuba (Vázquez et al 2014). The other lymnaeid species occurring in Cuba, P. columella, has been found only twice infected in the field with a prevalence of 3 % (Gutiérrez et al 2011) and 2 % (author unpublished data).…”

“…In an experimental study on compatibilities between G. cubensis and F. hepatica, Vázquez et al (2014) showed both differences in susceptibility to the parasite between snail populations and differences in infectivity among F. hepatica strains. Two populations of G. cubensis (La Coca and V131) we analysed here for natural infestation were challenged to experimental infection by different isolates of F. hepatica, and La Coca proved to be less susceptible (overall prevalence 82 %) than snails from V131 (overall prevalence 100 %) (Vázquez et al 2014). Here, we failed to find infected snails in La Coca, and natural prevalence in V131 was only 1 %.…”

“…Here, we failed to find infected snails in La Coca, and natural prevalence in V131 was only 1 %. Vázquez et al (2014) also tested liver fluke isolates from two of our study sites: La Palma and Artemisa. They showed that F. hepatica from La Palma is more virulent than those from Artemisa (snail survival at 25 days post-exposure: 55 and 79 %, respectively; mean number of rediae per snail: 29±15.23 and 19± 10.39 SD,respectively).…”

“…The only two known lymnaeid species are Galba cubensis and Pseudosuccinea columella, both have experimentally been confirmed to transmit F. hepatica, and the former is considered the main intermediate host (Gutiérrez et al 2011;Vázquez et al 2014). However, although populations of G. cubensis have been found in sites with fascioliasis outbreaks in Cuba (Ferrer et al 1985), their infection rates have not been investigated.…”

Differences in the compatibility of infection between the liver flukes Fascioloides magna and Fasciola hepatica in a Colombian population of the snail Galba sp.

“…Pseudosuccinea columella from different localities (Vázquez et al, 2014). In this study, infection rates of G. (Dunkel et al, 1996) and Europe (Huňová et al, 2012;Novobilský et al, 2012;Rondelaud et al, 2014b) for this digenean.…”