Relationship between gut content and habitat periphyton and plankton of snail intermediate hosts of schistosomes in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Specimens of Bulinus globosus and B. rohlfsi, intermediate hosts of Schistosoma haematobium were collected from two freshwater habitats in Kano State of Nigeria for a period of 13 months. Their gut contents were analysed and compared with their habitat periphyton and plankton. The results obtained showed that the quality of contents encountered in B. rohlfsi from Rimin Gado dam and B. globosus from the Panshekara pool closely resembled that of the periphyton and plankton of their habitat. Since of the depletion of the diets of the gastropod snails could influence their numbers, these data, could serve as the basis of a sound snail control program in the area.

Keywords: Bulinus globosus, Bulinus rolfsi, Schistosoma, periphyton, plankton

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 1(1) 2005: 25-35