Role of the lymnaeid snailPseudosuccinea columellain the transmission of the liver flukeFasciola hepaticain Egypt

Abstract

Experimental infections of three Egyptian Pseudosuccinea columella populations with sympatric miracidia of Fasciola sp., coming from cattle- or sheep-collected eggs, were carried out to determine the capacity of this lymnaeid to support larval development of the parasite. Using microsatellite markers, the isolates of Egyptian miracidia were identified as Fasciola hepatica. Apart from being independent of snail origin, prevalences ranging from 60.4 to 75.5% in snails infected with five miracidia of F. hepatica were significantly higher than values of 30.4 to 42.2% in snails with bi-miracidial infections. The number of metacercariae ranged from 243 to 472 per cercarial-shedding snail and was independent of snail origin, parasite origin and miracidial dose used for infection. If P. columella was subjected to two successive bi-miracidial infections with F. hepatica, prevalence of infection was 63.3%, with a mean of 311 metacercariae per snail. These values were clearly greater than those already reported for Radix natalensis infected with the same parasite and the same protocol. Successful experimental infection of P. columella with F. hepatica suggests that this lymnaeid snail is an important intermediate host for the transmission of fascioliasis in Egypt.

Fasciola hepaticainfections in cattle and the freshwater snailGalba truncatulafrom Dakhla Oasis, Egypt

“…In Egypt, G. truncatula was recorded in various districts, but with scarce data regarding natural infection by F. hepatica (Abd El-Ghani, 1976; Brown, 1994; El-Kady et al, 2000; El-Shazly et al, 2012). However, G. truncatula naturally infected with F. gigantica was reported (Dar et al, 2005, 2010) and under experimental conditions various snail species were successfully infected with F. hepatica (Dar et al, 2010, 2013, 2014). It is worth mentioning that in Egypt F. hepatica originated from imported animals (Lotfy et al, 2002; Mas-Coma et al, 2005; Hussain & Khalifa, 2010) and R. natalensis is considered to be its potential intermediate host (Dar et al , 2010).…”

“…However, in Egypt scant records are available incriminating G. truncatula in the transmission of F. hepatica infection (Abd El-Ghani, 1976; Brown, 1994; El-Kady et al, 2000; El-Shazly et al, 2012). On the other hand, an experimental infection of Pseudosuccinea columella with F. hepatica suggested its role as an important intermediate host for Fasciola transmission in Egypt (Dar et al, 2014).…”

Fasciola hepatica-Pseudosuccinea columella interaction: effect of increasing parasite doses, successive exposures and geographical origin on the infection outcome of susceptible and naturally-resistant snails from Cuba

“…Pseudosuccinea columella (Say, 1817), considered native from North America [ 3 ], can be also cited among the intermediate host species of F. hepatica in South America and the Caribbean [ 4 – 6 ]. In addition, it is a globally invasive freshwater snail that has been largely introduced out of its native range [ 3 ] with reports of established populations from Europe [ 7 ], Africa [ 8 ], Australia [ 9 ] and the Pacific islands [ 10 , 11 ]. The global spread of some invasive genotypes of P. columella might complicate the epidemiological scenario of fasciolosis transmission [ 3 ].…”

Patterns of distribution, population genetics and ecological requirements of field-occurring resistant and susceptible Pseudosuccinea columella snails to Fasciola hepatica in Cuba

“…columella is well-documented in its native range (North America; see 8 ) and in places where it has been introduced such as Brazil 9 , Argentina 10 and Australia 11 . This species is also thought to enhance transmission in remote regions where it has invaded, like in Egypt 12 and the Pacific islands, including Hawaii and French Polynesia 13,14 .…”