SEASONAL OCCURRENCE AND CERCARIA INFECTIVITY OF FRESHWATER SNAIL SPPECIES IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS: A PUBLIC H E A LT H CONCERN FOR SCHISTOSOMIASIS CONTROL
Authors
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Okete, James Agada
Department of Zoology, College of Biological Sciences, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, P. M.B 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria
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Okita, Faith Odije
Department of Biological Sciences, faculty of Science, Benue State University, Makurdi Nigeria
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Etta, Eme Effiong
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Cross River State, Calabar, Nigeria
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Lumi, Enoch Bitrus
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease that is still devastating rnmany rural community dwellers in Nigeria. Different species of rnfreshwater snails such Bulinus and Biomphalaria are rnincriminated in the transmission of the disease. Studies on the rnseasonal occurrence and cercarial infectivity of freshwater snail rnvectors of schistosomiasis were carried out in 3 different rncategories of freshwater habitats over a 12-month period in rndifferent localities. The objective was to determine prevalence rnof freshwater snails of public health importance and their rncercaria infectivity. A total of 24,415 freshwater snails collected rnwere morphologically identified and grouped into six different rngenera (Bulinus globosuss, B. forskalii, Pila ovata, Lanistes rnlybicus, Biomphaleria pfeifferi and Lymnae natalensis were rnencountered. Snails collected were kept under laboratory rncondition for cercaria emergence. B. globosus, B. forskalii and rnB. pfeifferi were identified as vectors of Schistosomes because rnthere secreted cercaria of S. haematoium and S. mansoni rnrespectively. Schistosome parasite infection was higher in the rnponds (83.33%); followed by dams (68.57%)) and streams rn(53.33%). The cercarial infection rate differ significantly rn(ANOVA; p < 0.05) across habitat types and vector species and rnstudy months. The findings indicate that the different freshwater rnhabitats investigated are potential transmission sites for rnschistosomiais. These recent studies, therefore, provide an rnepidemiological baseline data required for evaluation and rnimplementation of vector control of schistosomiasis in the study rnarea.
Keywords: Freshwatersnails, cercaria, infectivity, seasonal occurrence, schistosomiasis control, Makurdi, Nigeria