TREMATODE SHEDDING OF FRESHWATER SNAILS FROM SILUKO RIVER IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to determine cercariae diversity and prevalence of trematode infection in freshwater snails from Siluko River in Edo state. The sampling was carried out from May to September 2019. A total of 366 freshwater snails and 8 fresh water mussels were collected from the River. 7 species of fresh water snails were observed. The observed freshwater snail species were: Pila ovata, Melanoides tuberculata, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Bulinus truncatus, Lymnaea natalensis, Subulina octona. Limicolaria flammea. The mussel species found is Aspatharia dahomeyensis. The most abundant species is the Melanoides tuberculata. Harvest of cercariae was by natural emergence and crushing method. Out of 7 species of snail found, 6 were infected with trematodes. Of the total freshwater snails collected, P. ovata has the highest prevalence of infection (81.25%). The Bulinus truncatus which is an intermediate host of schistosoma haematobium has the highest mean intensity (50%). Five different morphotypes of cercariae were recorded, of which they all conform to previously described cercariae from Africa. The five morphotypes are; Schistosome sp. furcocercus cercariae from B. truncatus, furcocercus cercariae from M. tuberculata, xiphidiocercariae from P. ovata, monostome cercariae and cercariae from Limicolaria flammea. The monthly distribution of freshwater snails and the trematode they shed suggests the risk of human and animals to trematodiasis in Siluko community. Public enlightenment on good sanitation, proper hygiene serves as control measures to avoid being infected. Further studies should be done to estimate the distribution and abundance of the snails and the rate of their infection with different trematodes’ cercariae, and control programs should be established in each region in Edo state, Nigeria