Malacological Study of Snail from some Fresh Water Bodies in Kano State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47430/ujmr.25103.040Keywords:
Freshwater snail, Schistosomiasis, Dam, Cercaria, Kano StateAbstract
Study’s Excerpt:
- Seven freshwater snail species were found across 21 sites in Kano State dams.
- Bulinus globosus was most abundant (44.3% of all snails collected).
- Pirenella conica showed widest distribution, present at all sampling sites.
- Species distribution varied significantly across the three dams (p < 0.001).
- Snail species were significantly linked to Schistosoma cercariae shedding (p = 0.002).
Full Abstract:
A malacological survey was conducted to assess the molluscan fauna, occurrence, and distribution of freshwater snail species in selected water bodies within Kano State, Nigeria. Three dams, Watari, Guzu-Guzu, and Tiga, located across three local government areas, were selected, comprising a total of 21 sampling sites. Seven freshwater snail species were identified, with Bulinus globosus exhibiting the highest occurrence (193 individuals; 44.3%), followed by Lymnaea natalensis (77; 19.5%), Pirenella conica (15.5%), Biomphalaria pfeifferi (69; 12.4%), Bulinus rohlfsi (20; 5.1%), Bellamya bengalensis (18; 4.6%), and Pila globosa showing the lowest occurrence (10; 2.6%). Chi-square analysis revealed significant differences in species distribution across the dams (χ² = 148.6, df = 12, p < 0.001). Watari and Tiga dams harbored the largest snail populations, while Pirenella conica was the most widely distributed species, present at all sampling sites. Cercarial shedding rates varied significantly among snail species and locations, with Fisher’s exact test indicating significant associations between snail species and Schistosoma cercarial infection prevalence (p = 0.002). Although Tiga Dam recorded the highest abundance of snail hosts for Schistosoma haematobium, cercarial shedding was relatively low, likely due to the presence of immature cercariae during sampling. These findings suggest that increases in snail populations may elevate the risk of human schistosomiasis through greater exposure to cercariae during water contact activities. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to elucidate seasonal infection dynamics and the spatial distribution of snail intermediate hosts in the region.
Downloads
References
Adewale, B., Oladejo, O., &Akinwale, O. (2020).Distribution and infection status of freshwater snails in endemic schistosomiasis areas of Nigeria.Parasitology International, 75, 102019.
Adriko, M., Tinkitina, B., Standley, C. J., Tukahebwa, E. M., &Stothard, J. R. (2018).Schistosomiasis control and water, sanitation, and hygiene: A review of recent evidence. Current Tropical Medicine Reports, 5(2), 97–105.
Akinwale, O., Oladejo, O., &Adewale, B. (2015).Freshwater snail distribution and schistosomiasis transmission in Nigeria.Parasitology International, 64(3), 209–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2015.02.004
Bichi, A. A., Abubakar, M., & Sani, M. (2023). Diversity and distribution of freshwater snails in selected water bodies of Kano State, Nigeria. Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 16(2), 113–119. https://doi.org/10.4314/bajopas.v16i2.17
Brown, D. S. (1994). Freshwater snails of Africa and their medical importance (2nd ed.). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781482295184
Chris, N., & Nelson, C. (2015). Ecological studies on freshwater snails in southern Nigeria: Implications for disease transmission. Journal of Applied Biosciences, 87, 8059–8067.
Colley, D. G., Bustinduy, A. L., Secor, W. E., & King, C. H. (2017). Human schistosomiasis.The Lancet, 383(9936), 2253–2264. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61949-2
Easton, E. E., Dunkel, A. M., & Addington, C. P. (2012). Invertebrate identification guide: Aquatic macroinvertebrates of North America. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Ecological Services and Group Resources (ESGR). (2014). Aquatic snail identification key. Ecological Services and Group Resources Publishing.
Ekpo, U. F., Oluwole, A. A., &Odaibo, A. B. (2010).Freshwater snails and schistosomiasis transmission in Nigeria.Malacologia, 52(1), 123–134.
King, C. H., Sutherland, L. J., &Bertsch, D. (2021).Systematic review and meta-analysis of molluscicide-based control of schistosomiasis.PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15(2), e0009163. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009163
Madsen, H., Stauffer, J. R., &Kristensen, T. K. (2020). Impact of dam construction on schistosomiasis transmission in Africa: A review. Environmental Research Letters, 15(4), 043001.
Moodley, R., Taylor, M., & Sibiya, M. (2003). Population dynamics of medically important snails in relation to environmental factors in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 99, 456–461.
Mutuku, M. W., Maina, G. M., &Mkoji, G. M. (2021).Ecological interactions among freshwater snails and their role in schistosomiasis transmission.Parasitology, 148(8), 897–907.
Nguyen, T. T., Nguyen, T. H., & Le, T. H. (2020).Role of non-host snail species in freshwater ecosystems and implications for schistosomiasis control.Hydrobiologia, 847, 123–134.
Rollinson, D., Knopp, S., Levitz, S., Stothard, J. R., TchuemTchuenté, L. A., Garba, A., &Utzinger, J. (2018).Time to set the agenda for schistosomiasis elimination.ActaTropica, 188, 238–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.03.010
Sokolow, S. H., Wood, C. L., Jones, I. J., Swartz, S. J., Lopez, M., Hsieh, M. H., & Lafferty, K. D. (2017). Global assessment of schistosomiasis control efforts and snail ecology. Trends in Parasitology, 33(7), 525–536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2017.03.004
Sow, S. O., Kouriba, B., &Doumbo, O. K. (2011). Schistosomiasis control and snail ecology in West Africa.Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 1(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-9957-1-8
Steinmann, P., Zhou, X. N., Wang, L. Y., &Utzinger, J. (2020).Schistosomiasis and water resources development: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and estimates of people at risk. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 20(12), e367–e375.https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30303-2
Steinmann, P., Zhou, X. N., Wang, L. Y., &Utzinger, J. (2020).Schistosomiasis and water resources development: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and estimates of people at risk. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 20(12), e367–e375.https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30303-2
Stensgaard, A. S., Vounatsou, P., Sengupta, M. E., &Utzinger, J. (2013).Modeling the distribution of freshwater snails and schistosomiasis transmission risk.Geospatial Health, 7(2), 299–310. https://doi.org/10.4081/gh.2013.60
Stothard, J. R., et al. (2020). Ecology and control of freshwater snails in schistosomiasis-endemic regions.Parasitology, 147(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182019001765
Sturrock, R. F. (1993). The intermediate hosts and host–parasite relationships. In T. Jordan (Ed.), Human schistosomiasis (pp. 33–85). CAB International.
Tchuenté, L. A., Rollinson, D., Stothard, J. R., & Webster, J. P. (2019).Schistosomiasis control in Africa: Current status and future perspectives. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 8(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-019-0537-6
Thompson, F. G., & Hershler, R. (2002). An identification manual for the freshwater snails of Florida. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida.
United Nations. (2019). World water development report 2019: Leaving no one behind. UNESCO.
Utzinger, J., Raso, G., Brooker, S., De Savigny, D., Tanner, M., & Singer, B. H. (2009).Schistosomiasis and neglected tropical diseases: Towards integrated and sustainable control and a word of caution. Parasitology, 136(13), 1859–1874. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182009991600
World Health Organization. (2022). Schistosomiasis: Progress report 2019–2021 and strategic plan 2021–2030. WHO.
World Health Organization.(2017). Preventive chemotherapy to control soil-transmitted helminth infections in at-risk population groups.WHO.
Zhou, X. N., Wang, T. P., Chen, M. G., Wu, X. H., Jiang, Q. W., Chen, J., &Utzinger, J. (2018). Seasonal transmission patterns of schistosomiasis in China: Implications for control. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 7(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-018-0411-4
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Yusuf, S. M., Almu, S. U., Abdu, H. M., Mannir Isah, Sulaiman Idris Mannir, Mohammed Yahaya Sani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
