Fasciola hepaticain Cuba: compatibility of different isolates with two intermediate snail hosts,Galba cubensisandPseudosuccinea columella

Abstract

AbstractIn Cuba, only two lymnaeid snails,Galba cubensisandPseudosuccinea columella, with different ecology and distribution patterns, are intermediate hosts forFasciola hepatica. The compatibility of these two species as hosts was analysed through their rates of infection, the production of rediae and survivorship when exposed toF. hepaticamiracidia. Ten populations ofG. cubensis, eight ofP. columellacollected from various habitats and six isolates ofF. hepaticasampled in slaughterhouses from different localities were tested. Our results clearly demonstrate thatG. cubensisis a more compatible host forF. hepaticain Cuba when compared withP. columella. However, the role thatP. columellamay have in fascioliasis transmission under certain conditions should not be disregarded. Variation in infectivity among isolates ofF. hepaticawere also observed and may explain why some regions in Cuba are more commonly subjected to fascioliasis outbreaks.