title: The carboxylic and amino acid chemoreception niche of Bulinus rohlfsi (Clessin), the snail host of Schistosoma haematobium.
abstract: The response of the freshwater snail, Bulinus rohlfsi, to gradients of carboxylic acids, amino acids and some related compounds was investigated by means of diffusion olfactometers. The snails proved to be very discriminating in their responses to the chemical species tested and there were also very marked ontogenetic differences. Although 15 distinctive types of amino and carboxylic acids proved to be attractants and arrestants, only octanoic acid proved effective for snails of all ages. Possible mechanisms involved in the chemoreception of active compounds, the ecological, physiological and biochemical relevance of the responses and possible application to controlled release technology are discussed.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Ndifon
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ukoli
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002033:Bulinus / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000502:physiology*; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002264:Carboxylic Acids