Effect of X-ray on the snails of schistosomiasis in Egypt

ABSTRACT

Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus snails were exposed to sublethal doses [0, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 20 rad of X-ray]. The survival and reproductive rates of these snails were highly affected by these doses. The maximum survival periods of laboratory populations of Biomphalaria snails were less than those of field ones, which means a high sensitivity of laboratory snails to X-ray. The reproductive capacity of irradiated Biomphalaria and Bulinus snails was highly suppressed and this was interrupted by Schistosomiasis transmission. A deleterious effect of gametogenesis of irradiated Biomphalaria was histologically proved. After 3 weeks of snail irradiation with high dose [40 rad], the hermaphrodite gland became completely evacuated