Diversity and comparative studies on bulinus snails collected from two localities in Egypt

A comparative study of the shell structure, seasonal temperature and Calcium content of Bulinus snails from two areas [Damietta and Giza] in Egypt was done and compared with laboratory snails from Schistosome Biological Supply Center [SBSC]. The shells of collected snails identified as Bulinus truncatus, showed a wide variation in shape. The results showed a significant differences were detected between the populations from SBSC and Damietta [p<0.05] for mean of measured shell width, aperture length, length of spire and number of whorls. The populations from Giza and Damietta governorates showed significant differences [P<0.05] in mean of measured length of diagonal, length of body whorl above aperture, length of spire and number of whorls. There were no statically significant differences between the populations from SBSC and Giza. The seasonal temperature affected on susceptibility of snails to infection with Schistosoma haematobium. The mean prepatent period was short in summer and long in winter. The shells of S. haematobium - infected B. truncatus snails showed hypocalcification from all localities

Cytokines and mother sporocysts in susceptible and resistant bulinus truncatus snails infected with schistosoma haematobium

The presence of immunoreactive interleukin [IL-2] interferon gamma [FN-y] and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha] in addition to the citation of mother sporscytes in cephalopodal musculature in the susceptible and resistance Bulinus truncatus the specific intermediate host for the trematode Schistosoma haematobium were investigated. Using ELISA tests, Results indicated that the concentration of IL-2-like activity in the susceptible and resistant snails decreased significantly after infection then persisted at low levels until the 4[th] week post exposure [WPE] in susceptible snails, while in resistant snails elevated during the second WPE, and returned to initial level at 3 and 4 WPE. Susceptible snails had low detectable levels of TNF-alpha and INF-y like-activity after infection. However, the resistant snails had significant low levels of TNF-alpha and INF-y like-activity from 3 WPE until the 4th WPE without any sign of normalization. Histological sections in the head- foot region of susceptible and resistance B, truncatus infected with S. haematobium, mother sporocysts exists froml to 7 [day post exposure] DPE, in the susceptible snail the mother sporocysts were found as single, multiple and mature types. No mother sporocysts were appear in the lip and mantle of the snail on 2, 5, 7 DPE and on 1-3, 6 DPE respectively. In the resistant snails few mother sporocysts were found in the lip, mantle and tentacles. The results showed that schistosome-resistant Bulinus can be an alternative strategy for the control of schistosomiasis