Evaluation of earth Tec R as a molluscicide against biomphalania Alexandria under laboratory conditions

ABSTRACT

Earth Tec [R] is an environmentally responsible copper sulfate product manufactured and marketed as an algaecide/bactericide with an active ingredient form of copper ion [Cu[++]]. Studies were carried out, under laboratory conditions to evaluate the molluscicidal activity of Earth Tec [R] on Biomphalaria alexandrina snails, the intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni. Earth Tec [R] was used in varying concentrations against young and adult snails, both non-infected and infected. Three modes of exposure to the molluscicide were used single, double and continuous. In the single exposure, lethal concentration [90][LC[90]] of Earth Tec[R]was found to be 0.45, 0.55, 0.32 and 0.4 ppm for non infected young and adult, infected young and adult snails respectively. The double exposure LCD [90] of Earth Tec[R]was found to be 0.35. 0.33, 0.26 and 0.3 ppm for non infected young and adult, infected young and adult snails respectively. The continuous exposure LC[90] of Earth Tec[R]was found to be 0.4, 0.29, 0.38 and 0.28 ppm for non infected young and adult, infected young and adult snails respectively. It was also tried against egg masses from both-non infected and infected snails in the same concentrations used against the snails. The continuous exposure inhibitory concentration [LC[90]] for egg masses was 2 and 1.1 ppm for eggs of non infected and infected snails respectively. It can be concluded that Earth Tec[R] has promising molluscicidal properties