title: [Ecological studies on mollusk populations of medical and veterinary relevance existing in La Coca farm].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ecological studies were carried out on mollusk populations of medical and veterinary importance with emphasis on Fasciola hepatica intermediary hosts species.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to determine the relative abundance of populations and the possible use of some species as biological control agents against F. hepatica intermediary hosts.
  
  
  METHODS
  a total of 13 freshwater bodies were sampled during March and November, 2008 using Capture by effort unit method to capture the mollusks
  
  
  RESULTS
  thirteen mollusk species (12 gastropods and 1 bivalve) were found after sampling. The relative abundance of species varied in different types of habitat. The intermediary host species of fascioliasis were dominant in two sites. Fossaria cubensis was dominant in Canal de la Entrada despite the presence of Melanoides tuberculata. The specie Pseudosuccinea columella was more abundant in Los Mangos. In La Presa del Matadero y Las Palmas despite the presence of these species, the prevailing ones were Physa acuta and some planorbids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the sites where intermediary hosts of Fasciola hepatica predominated were identified through data on the distribution and relative abundance. In some sites Melanoides tuberculata was present and acted as a biological control agent but it did not in others. Therefore, an evaluation on using a different thiarid would be useful to control these species.
authors: Ingenieria Química, Laboratorio de Malacología, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri (IPK), Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Wong Sarmiento
authors: Antonio A
authors: AA
authors: Vázquez Perera
authors: Maritza
authors: M
authors: Quesada Martínez
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Sánchez Noda
authors: Yosvania
authors: Y
authors: Hevia Jiménez
authors: Joaquín
authors: J
authors: Fuentes Leyva
authors: Ramón
authors: R
authors: Ramos Pérez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003462:Cuba; D008974:Mollusca; D010272:Parasitic Diseases; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal; D011156:Population Density