title: Schistosoma haematobium: comparative studies on prevalence and cercarial shedding according to the shell diameter of Planorbarius metidjensis at miracidial exposure.
abstract: Experimental infections of Planorbarius metidjensis by Schistosoma haematobium were carried out under controlled conditions to determine whether there was a size limit after which the snail could not longer sustain Schistosoma infection. Snails measuring 1-6 mm in diameter were exposed to two miracidia each and were raised at 24-26 degrees C until their death. The frequency of snails with cercarial shedding was 63% in the 2.1- to 3-mm group. In the other groups the frequencies were lower, decreasing to 2.8% in the 5.1- to 6-mm group. The periodicity of S. haematobium cercarial shedding was not modified by the snail diameter at miracidial exposure.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Eaux et Environment, Faculté des Sciences, Agadir, Morocco.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zekhnini
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yacoubi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moukrim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rondelaud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001824:Body Constitution; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000254:growth & development*; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology*