title: Compatibility of Ugandan Schistosoma mansoni isolates with Biomphalaria snail species from Lake Albert and Lake Victoria.
abstract: In order to investigate the capacity of being intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni, the Ugandan F1 generation of Biomphalaria snail species that were laboratory-bred from parent populations originally collected from either Lake Victoria or Lake Albert was challenged with sympatric and non-sympatric S. mansoni isolates. After a prepatent period of 20 days, a daily 10-hourly snail shedding for cercariae was done to determine the infection rate, cercarial production per hour and survival period of infected snails. The study suggests that when parasite strains from a different geographical origin is used for infection, survival of infected snails increase, leading to an increased transmission potential. Although earlier literature had indicated that the Lake Victoria Biomphalaria sudanica is refractory to S. mansoni, we showed that all Ugandan Biomphalaria spp., including B. sudanica from all locations, were highly susceptible to the S. mansoni isolates. Thus if B. choanomphala, which is an efficient intermediate host in Lake Victoria, is given an opportunity to occupy Lake Albert, it will most likely be compatible with the Albertine S. mansoni parasites. Equally, if B. stanleyi, currently restricted to Lake Albert invades Lake Victoria, it is likely to act as an efficient intermediate host. Future work should concentrate on intraspecific population-level differences in compatibility.
authors: Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7026, Kampala, Uganda; Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Plot 15 Bombo Road, Kampala, Uganda.
authors: Moses
authors: M
authors: Adriko
authors: Claire J
authors: CJ
authors: Standley
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Tinkitina
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Mwesigwa
authors: Thomas K
authors: TK
authors: Kristensen
authors: J Russell
authors: JR
authors: Stothard
authors: Narcis B
authors: NB
authors: Kabatereine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D060106:Lakes; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Biomphalaria; Compatibility; Lake Albert; Lake Victoria; Parasite strain; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; Uganda