title: Rearing of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata under axenic conditions in isolators.
abstract: Germfree Biomphalaria glabrata were successfully reared through their life cycle in isolators. The snails were fed a diet sterilized either by heat or by irradiation. Snails fed an irradiated diet had a better growth and higher reproduction rate than the ones fed an autoclaved diet. There was no difference in survival between the two groups.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000254:growth & development*; D004032:Diet; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D008722:Methods