Biological control of Biomphalaria tenagophila (Mollusca, Planorbidae), a schistosomiasis vector, using the fish Geophagus brasiliensis (Pisces, Cichlidae) in the laboratory or in a seminatural environment.
In order to investigate a possible method of biological control of schistosomiasis, we used the fish Geophagus brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) which is widely distributed throughout Brazil, to interrupt the life cycle of the snail Biomphalaria tenagophila (Orbigny, 1835), an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni. In the laboratory, predation eliminated 97.6% of the smaller snails (3-8 mm shell diameter) and 9.2% of the larger ones (12-14 mm shell diameter). Very promising results were also obtained in a seminatural environment. Studies of this fish in natural snail habitats should be further encouraged.
Weinzettl
M
M
Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Departamento de Biologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Jurberg
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000517:prevention & control