Author:
Nwoko Onyekachi Esther,Manyangadze Tawanda,Chimbari Moses John
Abstract
AbstractThe spatial and seasonal distribution, abundance, and infection rates of human schistosomiasis intermediate host snails and interactions with other freshwater snails, water physicochemical parameters, and climatic factors was determined in this study. A longitudinal malacology survey was conducted at seventy-nine sites in seven districts in KwaZulu-Natal province between September 2020 and August 2021. Snail sampling was done simultaneously by two trained personnel for fifteen minutes, once in three months. A total of 15,756 snails were collected during the study period. Eight freshwater snails were found: Bulinus globosus (n = 1396), Biomphalaria pfeifferi (n = 1130), Lymnaea natalensis (n = 1195), Bulinus tropicus (n = 1722), Bulinus forskalii (n = 195), Tarebia granifera (n = 8078), Physa acuta (n = 1579), and Bivalves (n = 461). The infection rates of B. globosus and B. pfeifferi are 3.5% and 0.9%, respectively. In our study, rainfall, pH, type of habitats, other freshwater snails and seasons influenced the distribution, abundance, and infection rates of human schistosomiasis intermediate host snails (p-value < 0.05). Our findings provide useful information which can be adopted in designing and implementing snail control strategies as part of schistosomiasis control in the study area.
Funder
PhD studentship bursary, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal
National Institute for Health Research, using Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Cited by
3 articles.
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