Radula and mandible of Biomphalaria (Planorbidae) of São Paulo, Brazil

The radular apparatus of Biomphalaria occidentalis Paraense, 1981, Biomphalaria oligoza Paraense, 1971, Biomphalaria peregrina (d’Orbigny, 1835), Biomphalaria schrammi (Crosse, 1864) and Biomphalaria tenagophila (d’Orbigny, 1835) from the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, Brazil were analyzed from Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrographs. The data support the usage of characters of central, lateral and intermediate teeth in the species identification of Biomphalaria. The use of SEM provided additional quantitative and structural details to radula descriptions, which are extremely important for elucidating the taxonomy of Biomphalaria species...

Molecular and morphological identification of Biomphalaria species from the state of São Paulo, Brazil

DNA barcoding and morphological characters were used to identify adult snails belonging to the genus Biomphalaria from 17 municipalities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The DNA barcode analysis also included twenty-nine sequences retrieved from GenBank. The final data set of 104 sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was analyzed for K2P intraspecific and interspecific divergences, through tree-reconstruction methods (Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesianinference), and by applying different models (ABGD, bPTP, GMYC) to partition the sequences according to the pattern of genetic variation. Twenty-seven morphological parameters of internal organs were used to identify specimens. The molecular taxonomy of Biomphalaria agreed with the morphological identification of specimens from the same collection locality. DNA barcoding may therefore be a useful supporting tool for identifying Biomphalaria snails in areas at risk for schistosomiasis...

Developmental toxicity, acute toxicity and mutagenicity testing in freshwater snails Biomphalaria glabrata (Mollusca: Gastropoda) exposed to chromium and water samples

A protocol combining acute toxicity, developmental toxicity and mutagenicity analysis in freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata for application in ecotoxicological studies is described. For acute toxicity testing, LC50 and EC50 values were determined; dominant lethal mutations induction was the end point for mutagenicity analysis. Reference toxicant potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) was used to characterize B. glabrata sensitivity for toxicity and cyclophosphamide to mutagenicity testing purposes. Compared to other relevant freshwater species, B. glabrata showed high sensitivity: the lowest EC50 value was obtained with embryos at veliger stage (5.76 mg/L)...

Larvas de trematódeos associadas a moluscos de água doce em municípios da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Larvas de trematodos asociadas a moluscos de agua dulce en municipios de la Región Metropolitana de São Paulo, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Trematode larvae associated with freshwater mollusks in municipalities of Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil

O trabalho identifica larvas de trematódeos encontradas parasitando moluscos dulciaquícolas em municípios da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. A pesquisa malacológica foi realizada no período de novembro de 2008 a outubro de 2011. Os moluscos foram identificados e submetidos a exame parasitológico. Foram identificados moluscos das famílias Ampullariidae, Ancylidae, Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae e Thiaridae. Observaram-se 21 formas larvais de trematódeos parasitando os moluscos. Dessas, sete não foram encontradas na literatura consultada: cercária I, echinocercária I, echinocercária IV, strigeocercária I, strigeocercária II, strigeocercária III e strigeocercária IV. A presença de moluscos dulciaquícolas, hospedeiros intermediários de trematódeos, pode representar risco para a transmissão de agentes infectantes causadores de doenças de interesse médico e veterinário em municípios da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, sendo o monitoramento dessas áreas extremamente importante...

This study found trematode larvae as parasites in fresh water mollusks in municipalities of Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil. Malacological search was made from November, 2008 to October, 2011. The following mollusks were identified and had parasitological examination: Ampullariidae, Ancylidae, Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae, and Thiaridae families. Twenty-one trematode larvae were observed parasitizing mollusks, but seven were not found in literature search: cercaria I, echinocercaria I, echinocercaria IV, strigeocercaria I, strigeocercaria II, strigeocercaria III and strigeocercaria IV. Freshwater mollusks as intermediate hosts of trematodes can be a risk of transmission of infectious agents causing diseases of great medical and veterinarian concern in Metropolitan Region of São Paulo. Therefore monitoring such areas is extremely important...

El trabajo identifica larvas de trematodos encontradas parasitando moluscos dulce acuícolas en municipios de la Región Metropolitana de São Paulo, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. La investigación malacológica se realizó en el período de noviembre de 2008 a octubre de 2011. Los moluscos fueron identificados y sometidos a examen parasitario. Se identificaron moluscos de las familias Ampullariidae, Ancylidae, Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae y Thiaridae. Se observaron 21 formas larvales de trematodos parasitando a los moluscos. De estas, siete no fueron encontradas en la literatura consultada: cercaria I, echinocercaria I, echinocercaria IV, strigeocercaria I, strigeocercaria II, strigeocercaria III y strigeocercaria IV. La presencia de moluscos dulceacuícolas, huéspedes intermediarios de trematodos, puede representar riesgo de transmisión de agentes infectantes causadores de enfermedades de interés médico y veterinario en municipios de la Región Metropolitana de São Paulo, siendo el monitoreo de estas áreas extremamente importante...

Schistosomiasis Control Using Piplartine against Biomphalaria glabrata at Different Developmental Stages

Schistosomiasis is one of the most significant diseases in tropical countries and affects almost 200 million people world wide. The application of molluscicides to eliminate the parasite’s intermediate host, Biomphalaria glabrata, from infected water supplies is one strategy currently being used to control the disease. Previous studies have shown apotent molluscicidal activity of crude extracts from Piper species, with extracts from Piper tuberculatum being among the most active. Methods and Findings: The molluscicidal activity of P. tuberculatum was monitored on methanolic extracts from different organs (roots, leaves, fruit and stems). The compounds responsible for the molluscicidal activity were identified using 1HNMR and ESIMS data and multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis and partial least squares. These results indicated that the high molluscicidal activity displayed by root extracts (LC50 20.28 mg/ml) was due to the presence of piplartine, a well-known biologically-active amide. Piplartine was isolated from P. tuberculatum root extracts, and the molluscicidal activity of this compound on adults and embryos of B. glabrata was determined...

Gastrópodes dulciaquícolas e helmintos associados, em coleções hídricas de Santo André, São Paulo, Brasil / Freshwater gastropods and helminthes associated, in water collections from Santo Andre, São Paulo, Brazil

Registrou-se a mal acofauna e a helmintofauna associada nas coleções hídricas do município de Santo André, em especial da Represa Billings, contribuindo para a identificação de focos de parasitoses no município, em especial da esquistossomose. As coletas foram realizadas em coleções hídricas do tipo piscinão, lago, córrego e represa, no períodode abril a maio de 2009. Os moluscos dulciaquícolas foram identificados e submetidos a exame parasitológicopara a verificação da presença de larvas de trematódeos. Foram identificadas oito espécies e um gênero de moluscos:Biomphalaria tenagophila, Drepanotrema depressissimum, Lymnaea columella, Lymnaea viatrix, Melanoides tuberculatus,Omalonyx matheroni, Physa acuta, Physa marmorata, e Pomacea sp. É ampliada a distribuição geográfica deL. viatrix no Estado de São Paulo. Foram encontrados espécimes de B. tenagophila infectados por larvas de trematódeosidentificadas como Cercaria caratinguensis, Cercaria granulifera e echinocercaria I, e de L. columella infectadospor Ornatae cercaria. A presença de B. tenagophila, L. columella, L. viatrix e M. tuberculatus, em coleções hídricas de Santo André, deve ser visto com certa cautela, já que são espécies hospedeiras intermediárias de trematódeosque parasitam o homem e animais. Santo André é um município de risco potencial para parasitoses por apresentarregistro de moluscos hospedeiros intermediários de helmintos...

We registered the malacological and helminthological fauna in water collections in the county of Santo Andre, especiallythe Billings Reservoir, auxiliary in the identification of outbreaks of parasitic diseases in the county, special ofschistosomiasis. The snails were collected in water collections like artificial pool, lake, stream and reservoir in the periodfrom April to May 2009. The freshwater mollusks were identified and submitted to a parasitological exam to verifythe presence of trematodes larvae. Eight species and one genus of mollusks were found: Biomphalaria tenagophila,Drepanotrema depressissimum, Lymnaea columella, Lymnaea viatrix, Melanoides tuberculatus, Omalonyx matheroni,Physa acuta, Physa marmorata e Pomacea sp. The geographic distribution of L. viatrix is expanded in the state of SaoPaulo, which until now was only known in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul. Specimensof B. tenagophila were also found infected by larvae of trematodes, identified as Cercaria caratinguensis, Cercariagranulifera and echinocercária I and of L. columella infected by Ornatae cercaria. The presence of B. tenagophila, L.columella, L. viatrix and M. tuberculatus in water collections in the county of Santo André should be viewed with somecaution, because they are intermediate hosts of trematode that affect animal.and human population. Santo Andreis considered a potential risk for parasitic diseases for presenting records of intermediate helminthes host mollusks...

A new species of Belocaulus (Gastropoda: Veronicellidae)from southern and southeastern Brazil

A new species is proposed based on material collected in the states of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The morphology, radula, and jaw are described and illustrated. The new species is compared to Belocaulus angustipes, the only species of the genus currently considered valid. The main differences are found in the penis. The new species has small projections, similar to tubercles, on the anterior region of the glans, which can be scattered or arranged in two, three or more longitudinal rows. The terminal extremity of the glans has digitiform margin. The penis base is short and poorly defined. The accessory gland is completely immersed in the tegument. The description of the new species extends the distribution range of Belocaulus for the states of Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo, Brazil...