Species and infectivity of schistosoma snails in middle Egypt

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out, in order to determine, the species of Schistosome snails and its infection rate, in three villages around Assiut. Different Schistosome snails, were classified according to the size and age. The total number of Bulinus trancatus snails collected from the three villages was 4169, and there were 2 peaks of increased number of snails. Two hundred and six Biomphalaria alex and rina snails were collected from two villages only. None of the collected Biomphalaria alex and rina snails were found to be infected, and the infection was rates of Bulinus trancatus in the three villages were 0.06%, 0.12% and 0.4%. Each snail infected with Schistosoma haematobium or Echinostome cercariae was not found to be infected with any other trematode cercariae. The appearance of Biomphalaria alex and rina snails, together with decrease in the Bulinus/Biomphalaria ratio, as noted in this study, is most probably due to favorable environmental conditions brought up after the construction of the High-Dam