title: Fasciola hepatica in Cuba: compatibility of different isolates with two intermediate snail hosts, Galba cubensis and Pseudosuccinea columella.
abstract: In Cuba, only two lymnaeid snails, Galba cubensis and Pseudosuccinea columella, with different ecology and distribution patterns, are intermediate hosts for Fasciola hepatica. The compatibility of these two species as hosts was analysed through their rates of infection, the production of rediae and survivorship when exposed to F. hepatica miracidia. Ten populations of G. cubensis, eight of P. columella collected from various habitats and six isolates of F. hepatica sampled in slaughterhouses from different localities were tested. Our results clearly demonstrate that G. cubensis is a more compatible host for F. hepatica in Cuba when compared with P. columella. However, the role that P. columella may have in fascioliasis transmission under certain conditions should not be disregarded. Variation in infectivity among isolates of F. hepatica were also observed and may explain why some regions in Cuba are more commonly subjected to fascioliasis outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Malacología,Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí,Apartado Postal 601, Marianao 13,La Habana,Cuba.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Malacología,Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí,Apartado Postal 601, Marianao 13,La Habana,Cuba.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE, Criobe Université de Perpignan,66860Perpignan,France.
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pointier
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia,66860Perpignan,France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Théron
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Génétique et Evolution des Maladies Infectieuses,UMR 2724 CNRS-IRD,IRD 911 avenue Agropolis, BP64501,34394Montpellier Cedex 5,France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hurtrez-Boussès
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003462:Cuba; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D012908:Snails / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D013045:Species Specificity