Studies on seasonal variations in the gut contents of snail intermediate hosts of schistosomes in Kano State of Nigeria

Abstract

Samples of two species of freshwater gastropod, namely, Bulinus rohlfsi (Clessin) and Bulinus globosus (Morelet),
intermediate hosts of Schistosoma haematobium were collected from two freshwater habitats in Kano State of
Nigeria for a period of one year. Their gut contents were analyzed. Among the items found to have been ingested
by these snails were rotifers, protozoa, diatoms, and various forms of algae, macrophyte tissue and spore-like
materials. For the two species, the quality as well as quantity was seen to vary probably with seasonal changes in
their habitat flora and fauna.

Keywords: Bulinus rohlfsi, Bulinus globosus, schistosomiasis, gastropod snails.

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 27 2006: pp. 49-53