Studies on the biology and population parameters of Bulinus globosus and Bulinus truncatus in the laboratory

Abstract

Investigation was made into some aspects of biology and population parameters of Bulinus globosus and Bulinus truncatus which are snails implicated in the transmission of urinary schistosomiasis in Agulu Lake Area of Anambra state, Nigeria. These snails were collected from the lake and reared in the laboratory. From observations, life tables were constructed and some population parameters calculated. The incubation period for the two species was 7-14 days while 21% of the egg was unviable for both species. The highest rate of oviposition by B. globosus was 261.64 ± 59.01 eggs/snail (week 20) while B. truncatus had 241.04 ± 52.87 at week 18. The net reproductive rate (ro), generation time (Tc) and capacity rate of increase (rc) for the two species were similar. Since both species are well adapted and thrive well at different arms of the lake, control of both species will
remarkably reduce the infection rate of Schistosoma haematobium in the area.

Keywords: Bulinus trucatus, Bulinus globosus, population parameters, control, S. haematobium.

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 29 (1) 2008 pp. 11-14