RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the survival period of Yunnan Province-derived smooth-shelled Oncomelania snails bred in laboratory. Methods Oncomelania snails were sampled from Heqing and Yongsheng counties where schistosomiasis is endemic, and uninfected adult snails were collected and bred in laboratory. The survival period of snails sampled from these two counties was compared. Results The 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year survival rates of laboratory-bred smooth-shelled snails sampled from Yunnan Province were 72.36%, 29.11%, 13.08% and 0.21%, respectively, and were 74.66%, 38.91%, 19.46% and 0.45% for snails derived from Heqing County, and 70.36%, 20.55%, 7.51% and 0 for snails sampled from Yongsheng County, respectively. The mean and median survival period of Yunnan Province-derived adult snails was 20.90 and 20.67 months, and there were significant differences between the snails sampled from Heqing and Yongsheng counties in terms of the mean (22.94 vs. 19.13 months, P < 0.05) and median survival period (21.63 vs. 19.81 months, P < 0.05). Conclusion The mean survival period of Yunnan Province-derived smooth-shelled adult snails is approximately 20 months in laboratory, and the survival varies in geographical areas.