Preliminary study on the culture and breeding of Bulinus nyassanus (Mollusca: Pulmonata) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

We successfully artificially cultured and bred Bulinus nyassanus, endemic to Lake Malawi and an intermediate host of Schistosoma haematobium. The laboratory culture of this snail species is essential in relation to further experiments on the feasibility of using facultative snail-eating fishes as biological control agents for intermediate hosts of Schistosoma haematobium in the open waters of Lake Malawi. The artificial culture of B. nyassanus will also enable us to collect important life history information including fecundity, egg development, hatchability, survival at varying temperatures and growth rates.

Keywords: schistosomiasis, Bulinus nyassanus, Lake Malawi, breeding