Laboratory Rearing of Biomphalaria glabrata Snails and Maintenance of Larval Schistosomes In Vivo and In Vitro

Abstract

This chapter describes the methods used by the current authors and numerous other investigators to optimize conditions for successfully growing and maintaining both uninfected and infected Biomphalaria glabrata in the laboratory, with particular emphasis on the optimal physical, chemical, and biological factors that affect successful snail rearing and/or breeding, and the ways that they can be measured. Consideration is also given to incidental organisms that can alter aquarium ecology and affect both the snails and their intended trematode parasites. Various methods of infecting snails and maintaining snail tissues and cells in vitro are also described. The goal of this chapter is to aid researchers who have the need or desire to maintain the life cycle of this pulmonate and its trematode parasites in the laboratory.

New scope on the relationship between rotifers and Biomphalaria alexandrina snails

“…The effects of such unintended contaminants on the growth, survival and fecundity of snails have always been of wide interest [8] . Biological control of snail borne diseases offers an inexpensive and environmentally acceptable control approach [7] .…”

“…The effects of rotifers on schistosomiasis were found to be quite dissimilar and their relationships with snails remain imprecisely defined; most are symbionts or commensals, although few could be pathogenic [7] . Several species of rotifers, including Rotaria and Philodina spp., naturally exist on the shells of snails with no proof of a predator-prey association to the snail [8] .…”

“…rotifers, most probably released active byproducts that directly influenced the cercarial swimming performance and consequently their infectivity. They were accused of being one of many factors that are known to be able to reduce the infective indexes under field environment, as well as laboratory-adjusted conditions [8] . This has been attributed to the rotifer's ability to emit small molecular weight components, whose effect could extend to cause reversible paralysis of S. mansoni cercariae [16] .…”

“…Philodina snails are needed by Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) parasites to be able to complete their life cycle [7] . Indeed, snails thrive in nature under diverse and changing environmental conditions [8] . Numerous metazoa have been described as living in close association with snails [9][10][11] .…”

Efecto de la espirulina (Arthrospira platensis) (Oscillatoriales: Cyanobacteria) en la cría experimental de Pseudosuccinea columella (Basommatophora: Lymnaeidae)

“…In nature, snails thrive under diverse and changing environmental conditions, making it highly difficult to calculate essential biological variables such as growth rate, fecundity, survival and longevity (Eveland, & Haseeb, 2011). These biological characteristics are often studied under laboratory-controlled conditions, as such, a successful rearing system is the first requirement for maintaining the life cycle of snails (Eveland, & Haseeb, 2011).…”