Freshwater snails of africa and their medical importance in. Freshwater snails of africa and their medical importance crc press book the first half of this book is primarily a systematic survey of the snails, beginning with glossaries, keys for identification to genera and a checklist of species. That shell normally consists of several layers, one to several mineral calcium carbonate, usually aragonite or calcite and one outermost periostracum, composed mostly or entirely of organic material and usually pigmented. Freshwater snails do interesting things in a tank and have many intriguing behaviors to observe. Snail farming 8 snails as a pest snails that have escaped from a farm, or been dumped by a farmer, may quickly develop into a serious pest in agriculture and horticulture. For these reasons it must be emphasised that snail farming should be seen as only one component in a diversified farming venture. Distribution of bulinus species in subsaharan africa. Previous phylogenetic studies on the east african radiation have found that each of the great lakes possesses its own endemic species flock 24, 25. Freshwater snails of africa and their medical important. Two species physa marmorata physidae and bulinus forskalii planorbidae were recorded only at one sampling site.
Freshwater snails constitute an important element of the freshwater fauna. Key to the identification of east and central african freshwater. Correspondence analysis of shell morphology in the african. Disjunct distributions of freshwater snails testify to a central role of the congo system in shaping biogeographical patterns in africa roland schulthei. Most are members of the subclass pulmonata, which also includes the terrestrial snails and slugs, but some are members of the subclass prosobranchia. A total of 8 freshwater species is regarded as belonging to the fauna of normal freshwater. Eastern africa has notyet been thoroughly investigated as regards freshwater snails and the occurrence of hitherto unknown forms cannot be excluded. Frequently the shells of ampulariids and viviparids are very similar. The infection cannot be transmitted directly from person to person. Freshwater snails feed on nuisance algae and are great for keeping your tank clean. Molecular characterization of freshwater snails in the.
Relationships are then described between snails and schistosomes and with other parasites. Chapter pdf available january 2011 with 2,527 reads how we measure reads. Health authority who to study african freshwater snails. The disease is most commonly found in africa, asia, and south america. Pdf two asian freshwater snails newly introduced into. Freshwater snails of africa and their medical importance david s brown the first half of this book is primarily a systematic survey of the snails, beginning with glossaries, keys for identification to genera and a checklist of species.
Consumers preferences for snail meat in the african community of. Snail shell is made of calcium carbonate and keeps growing as long as the snail grows. Land snails are suitable pets for elementaryschoolage kids, who can learn from watching snails crawl, eat, grow and breed. Freshwater snails of africa and their medical importance second. African freshwater mollusc fauna is geographically divided into the regions north of the sahara, where the af. Consumers preferences for snail meat in the african. All freshwater snails have a shell, a hard structure covering most of the body, providing protection. The influence of domestic and industrial effluents on populations of sessile and benthic organisms in lagos lagoon. Ampullariidae, common name the apple snails, is a family of large freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks with a gill and an operculum. Pdf two asian freshwater snails newly introduced into south. List of nonmarine molluscs of south africa wikipedia. Bellamya is a speciesrich genus of freshwater snails occurring in asia, india and africa 24, 25. Stanford libraries official online search tool for books, media, journals, databases, government documents and more.
Freshwater snail diversity in benin west africa with a. The study of snails and slugs in east africa by bernard verdcourt, b. Some species of land snail are illegal to possess in the united states. Water provided for irrigation has a particularly important role. The list of nonmarine molluscs of south africa is a list of freshwater and land species. Freshwater snails of africa and their medical importance second edition. Mandahlbarth eastern africa has not yet been thoroughly investigated as regards freshwater snails and the occurrence of hitherto unknown forms cannot be excluded. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 2. Two asian freshwater gastropods, radix rubiginosa michelin, 1831 lymnaeidae and gyraulus chinensis dunker, 1848 planorbidae are reported from a facility supplying fish and plants to the aquarium trade in kwazulunatal, south africa. Achatina fulica may be spread to new locations as a novelty fauna addition. Ecology of freshwater snails in southwestern nigeria. This identification key has been prepared to enable field workers in. The list of nonmarine molluscs of south africa is a list of freshwater and land species that form a part of the molluscan fauna. Schistosomiasis affected about 252 million people worldwide in 2015.
This revised edition takes account of advances made in taxonomy and in the understanding of the ecology and distribution of these read more. Freshwater snails includes mystery, inca, apple, nerite and rabbit snail species. It is hoped that this identification key will stimulate interest in these important snails and result in an increased numberofsnails being sent to the whosnail identification, danmarks akvarium. Asia pacific forest invasive species network the asiapacific forest invasive species network apfisn has been established as a response to the immense costs and dangers posed by invasive species to the sustainable management of forests in the asiapacific region. Mar 11, 2020 while alien species introductions are, after habitat modification and pollution, considered the third most important threat to freshwater biodiversity in southern africa darwall et al. Achatina fulica has been introduced to new locations as a novelty pet thiengo et al. Key to the identification of east and central african freshwater snails of medical and veterinary importance g. Freshwater snails of florida id guide invertebrate zoology.
Snails may be inadvertently transported with personal belongings. An overview of freshwater snails in asia with main focus on. This station which received domestic sewage from the neighbouring cities was characterized by the highest conductivity and ph. This is followed by a synopsis of species, with brief notes on ecology, distribution and parasites. Key to the identification of east and central african freshwater snails. In east and west africa, due to their large populations, snails are consumed, sold for income, and exported to. Apr 01, 2012 freshwater snails and environmental variables were studied at seven stations along the banco river ivory coast.
This study aimed to the density and distributions of some freshwater snails collected from eight freshwater streams at egyptian governorates giza, ismailia, menoufia and gharbia. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stool, or blood in the urine. This family is in the superfamily ampullarioidea and is the type family of that superfamily. Lymnaea pseudosuccinea columella say 1817, described from specimens probably obtained in the vicinity of philadelphia1, is widely distributed in still and slowflowing waters in the eastern. The life expectancy of snails in the wild is about 3 to 7 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 1015 years or even more. This revised edition takes account of advances made in taxonomy and in the understanding of the ecology and distribution of. Many species of freshwater snail belonging to the family planorbidae are interme diate hosts of highly infective. Physical and chemical properties of water quality i. In africa, snails have been harvested in the wild, and sold in markets for decades, such that the giant african snail gas archachatina marginata is bound for extinction unless preservation measures like extensive snail farming are implemented. Key to the identification of east and central african freshwater snails of. The basic arrangement is taxonomic, following that in turgeon et al.
Most members of the society probably see a few snails during their rambles, but have not been able to identify them. Impact of seasonal water quality and trophic levels on the distribution of various freshwater snails in. Asia pacific forest invasive species network giant african. One species occurs naturally in florida, and three others have been introduced. An overview of freshwater snails in asia with main focus. Although, some snail control will be necessary in order to control some of the diseases transmitted by snails, this should be done only in limited areas and focussed on. The first half of this book is primarily a systematic survey of the snails, beginning with glossaries, keys for identification to genera and a checklist of species. Chapter 8 freshwater snails intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis and foodborne trematode infections many species of freshwater snail belonging to the family planorbidae are intermediate hosts of highly infective.
Freshwater snail, any of the approximately 5,000 snail species that live in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. This revised edition takes account of advances made in taxonomy and in the understanding of the ecology and distribution of these. African aquatic pulmonate snail biomphalaria pfetyereri suggests the existence of. The snails can travel up to 50 m in a night, moving on the slime made by the soft part known as the foot. Key to the identification of east and central african. Freshwater snails of africa and their medical importance brown, david s on. They keep adding more calcium carbonate to the edge until the snail reaches adult size. Achatina fulica has been introduced to new locations for ornamental purposes thiengo et al. Sep 11, 2002 the first half of this book is primarily a systematic survey of the snails, beginning with glossaries, keys for identification to genera and a checklist of species.
Much material is still needed from east africa particularly by local museums. They are especially great for school projects, and for teaching young children how to care for a living thing. Jan 21, 2015 two asian freshwater snails newly introduced into south africa and an analysis of alien species reported to date article pdf available in african invertebrates 561. Those who have been infected for a long time may experience liver damage, kidney failure, infertility, or bladder cancer. Gastropoda from the commonwealth of dominica with a discussion of their roles in the transmission of parasites will k. Freshwater snail diversity in benin west africa with a focus on human schistosomiasis. The family contains many genera and numerous species in south america, central america, mexico, africa, and southeast asia. Colonization of fresh waters in the republic of south. Freshwater mollusks introduction this field guide is intended for use in identification of the 19 currently recognized september, 1999 rod 1994 record of decision survey and manage freshwater mollusks. Severalhavealid or operculum attached to the dorsal side of the tail, bythe aid ofwhich the openingofthe shell can be closed when the snail has retired into it. Two asian freshwater snails newly introduced into south africa and an analysis of alien species reported to date article pdf available in african invertebrates 561. Snails are also quite easy to feed, although there are some variations among. Colonization of fresh waters in the republic of south africa. Alien freshwater fauna in south africa springerlink.
The urinary tract or the intestines may be infected. Keyto identification central african freshwater snails of. Around 700 million people, in more than 70 countries, live in areas where the disease is common. Freshwater snails belonging to the genus bulinus act as intermediate hosts in the life cycle of the widespread and debilitating parasitic disease schistosomiasis in africa, madagascar and adjacent regions see fig.
Many may not have realised that they are worth collecting. Freshwater snails of oman, south eastern arabia springerlink. Freshwater snails were searched using stainless steel sieves 18 cm in diameter, 8 cm deep, 20 cm handle and pdf is not rendering correctly, you can download the pdf file here. Pdf on jan 1, 2011, seddon and others published freshwater molluscs of africa. Bulinus is a group of freshwater snails of the gastropod genus, which belongs to the planorbidae family. Of the approximate 700 species in north america, 67 species 10% are considered likely extinct, 278 40% endangered, 102 15%, threatened, 73 10% vulnerable, and 26 4% have uncertain taxonomic status. In addition to aquatic species found in freshwater ponds, rivers and lakes, here is included a selection of snails found in mangrove forests and estuaries. Snail husbandry spread throughout the roman empire but died out by the late middle ages nordsieck, 2010.
For both formats the functionality available will depend on how you access the ebook via bookshelf online in your browser or via the bookshelf app on your pc or. Brownfreshwater snails of africa and their medical importance. This revised edition takes account of advances made in taxonomy and in the understanding of the ecology and distribution of these species and also covers snailborne parasitic. A guide to the freshwater snails that can be found in botswana, namibia, south africa, zimbabwe and mozambique. Schistosomiasis, also known as snail fever and bilharzia, is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes. Conservation freshwater snails are among the most imperiled groups of organisms in the world. All of the survey and manage taxa are freshwater gastropods snails. Pdf we collected six species of freshwater snails from dominica, including biomphalaria kuhniana clessin, 1883, gundlachia radiata guilding, 1828.
In other cases, freshwater snails are introduced accidentally. Reviews freshwater snails of africa and their medical importance. Disjunct distributions of freshwater snails testify to a. Freshwater snail distribution related to environmental. Like many other subsaharan african coun tries, angola. Ijerph free fulltext the effect of climate change and the snail. Hence, snails are a crucial and necessary part of the life cycle that schistosomes depend upon for their development, multiplication and transmission. Dasch3 1 usda agricultural research service, arthropodborne diseases research laboratory, agriculture building, room 5031, department. The unique characteristics and wide variety of freshwater snails provide an appealing addition to your aquarium. Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails and intestinal schistosomiasis. If freshwater snails are on live aquarium plants or in the plastic bag of store display tank water when adding purchased fish, they make their way into the tank that way.