title: Evaluation and updating of the Medical Malacology Collection (Fiocruz-CMM) using molecular taxonomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Medical Malacology Collection (Coleção de Malacologia Médica, Fiocruz-CMM) is a depository of medically relevant mollusks, especially from the genus Biomphalaria, which includes the hosts of Schistosoma mansoni. Taxonomic studies of these snails have traditionally focused on the morphology of the reproductive system. However, determination of some species is complicated by the similarity shown by these characters. Molecular techniques have been used to try to overcome this problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Fiocruz-CMM utilizes morphological and/or molecular method for species' identification. However, part of the collection has not been identified by molecular techniques and some points were unidentified. The present study employs polymerase chain reaction-based analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) to evaluate the identification of Biomphalaria in the Fiocruz-CMM, correct existing errors, assess the suitability of taxonomic synonyms, and identify unknown specimens. The results indicated that 56.7% of the mollusk specimens were correctly identified, 4.0% were wrongly identified, and 0.4% was identified under taxonomic synonyms. Additionally, the PCR-RFLP analysis identified for the first time 17.6% of the specimens in the Collection. However, 3.1% of the specimens could not be identified because the mollusk tissues were degraded, and 18.2% of the specimens were inconclusively identified, demonstrating the need for new taxonomic studies in this group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data was utilized to update data of Environmental Information Reference Center (CRIA). These studies demonstrate the importance of using more than one technique in taxonomic confirmation and the good preservation of specimens' collection.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica do Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002 Brasil.
authors.forename: Cryslaine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aguiar-Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica do Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002 Brasil ; Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG Brasil.
authors.forename: Cristiane Lafetá Furtado
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica do Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002 Brasil.
authors.forename: Pedro Henrique
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: da Cunha Kellis Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica do Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002 Brasil.
authors.forename: Silvia Gonçalves
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica do Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002 Brasil.
authors.forename: Omar Dos Santos
authors.initials: Odos S
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica do Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002 Brasil.
authors.forename: Roberta Lima
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Caldeira
keywords: Biomphalaria; Molecular taxonomy; Morphological identification; PCR-RFLP; Zoological collection