title: Susceptibility of Argentinean Biomphalaria tenagophila and Biomphalaria straminea to infection by Schistosoma mansoni and the possibility of geographic expansion of mansoni schistosomiasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human migration and the presence of natural vectors (mollusks) of Schistosoma mansoni are the primary causes of the expansion of mansoni schistosomiasis into southern areas of South America. Water conditions are favorable for the expansion of this disease because of the extensive hydrographic network, which includes the basins of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers and favors mollusk reproduction. These rivers also aid agriculture and tourism in the area. Despite these favorable conditions, natural infection by S. mansoni has not yet been reported in Argentina, Uruguay, or Paraguay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two species of planorbid from Argentina, Biomphalaria straminea and B. tenagophila, were exposed to the miracidia of five Brazilian strains of S. mansoni.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biomphalaria tenagophila (Atalaya, Buenos Aires province) was infected with the SJS strain (infection rate 3.3%), confirming the experimental susceptibility of this Argentinian species. Biomphalaria straminea (Rio Santa Lucía, Corrientes province) was susceptible to two Brazilian strains: SJS (infection rate 6.7%) and Sergipe (infection rate 6.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that species from Argentina have the potential to be natural hosts of S. mansoni and that the appearance of foci of mansoni schistosomiasis in Argentina is possible.
authors.forename: Luciana Franceschi
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: Eliana Anunciato Franco
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.forename: Leticia Duart
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Maria  Francisca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: José Ferreira de
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Luiz Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Eliana Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zanotti-Magalhães
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D001938:Brazil; D004199:Disease Vectors / Q000145:classification; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000635:transmission