The behavioral effects of antibiotic treatment on the snailBiomphalaria glabrata

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a detrimental neglected tropical disease that is transmitted by Planorbid snails. Understanding the transmission and control of this disease requires an extensive understanding of these intermediate hosts, which is only achieved by the effective rearing and study of species such asBiomphalaria glabrata. This species is the intermediate host forSchistosoma mansoniin the New World, and is also the main model for studying schistosomes in mollusks. Antibiotics are used routinely inB. glabratatissue culture, and occasionally on live snails. Here we show that standard doses of three common antibiotics (penicillin, streptomycin and gentamicin) drastically diminish the activity of healthyB. glabrata, but that treated snails recover rapidly when placed in fresh water. Ampicillin treated snails did not show altered activity. We suggest that researchers keep these apparent toxicities in mind if a need for antibiotic treatment of live Planorbid snails arises.