Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Oct 2006)

Biomphalaria spp. (Preston, 1910) snails in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Zona da Mata Mineira mesoregion, ate of Minas Gerais, Brazil

  • Sandra Helena Cerrato Tibiriçá,
  • Elisabeth Cristina Almeida Bessa,
  • Adalberto Mittherofhe,
  • Milton Ferreira de Castro,
  • Omar dos Santos Carvalho,
  • Roberta Lima Caldeira,
  • Liana Konovaloff Jannotti Passos,
  • Ana Márcia Menezes de Mattos,
  • Liliane Sena Pinheiro,
  • Dirany Sacramento e Silva,
  • Fabiana Oliveira Bastos,
  • Gabriela Quirino Andreoli,
  • Glauco Resende Bonato,
  • Elaine Soares Coimbra

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762006000900028
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 101
pp. 179 – 184

Abstract

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This study focuses on the geographic distribution of the snail of the genus Biomphalaria and evaluates its infectivity by Schistosoma mansoni in 5264 specimens collected in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Of the 31 locations studied, 6 were reservoirs, 11 rudimentary holding ponds, 7 irrigation ditches, 5 lakes, 1 ornamental pond, and 1 waterfall. Intermediate hosts were found only in the rudimentary ponds and ditches, which were 100% positive. Using morphological and molecular analysis techniques, B. tenagophila, B. peregrina, and B. straminea were identified. This is the first report of B. stramínea in the municipality, and evaluation of its infective potential revealed susceptibility of 25.4%. Although we did not find specimens of Biomphalaria infected by S. mansoni, the data obtained indicate the presence of intermediate hosts, especially in the irrigation ditches in Juiz de Fora, and their proximity to contaminated areas.

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