Evaluation of the ovicidal activity of calcium hypochlorite on the eggs of Bulinus globosus, intermediate host of Schistosoma haematobium in Nigeria

Abstract

The ovicidal activity of calcium hypochlorite was investigated in the laboratory using eggs of Bulinus globosus collected from a fresh water stream in Ipogun Village, Ondo State, Nigeria. Calcium hypochlorite concentrations of 3mg/l, 4mg/l, 6mg/l, 9mg/l, and 15mg/l were prepared using untreated well water. One-egg-mass was introduced into 60 ml each of the test solution concentrations and also into untreated well water in separate 100 ml beakers. The assays were conducted in three replicates and were observed for 48 hours at room temperature. Results showed that calcium hypochlorite had positive ovicidal effect with an LC95 of 12.86mg/l at 48 hours. This suggests that calcium hypochlorite has effective ovicidal activity, which may be used in the control of the schistosome bearing snail, Bulinus globosus.

Keywords: calcium hypochlorite, ovicidal, snail host, schistosomiasis, control.