Effects of Land-Use and Environmental Factors on Snail Distribution and Trematode Infection in Ethiopia



Mereta, Seid Tiku, Abaya, Samson Wakuma, Tulu, Fikirte Demissie, Takele, Kebede, Ahmednur, Mahmud, Melka, Girma Alemu, Nanyingi, Mark ORCID: 0000-0001-7485-6416, Vineer, Hannah Rose, Graham-Brown, John ORCID: 0000-0001-7305-5262, Caminade, Cyril ORCID: 0000-0002-3846-7082
et al (show 1 more authors) (2023) Effects of Land-Use and Environmental Factors on Snail Distribution and Trematode Infection in Ethiopia. TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE, 8 (3). 154-.

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Abstract

Freshwater snails are intermediate hosts for several snail-borne diseases affecting humans and animals. Understanding the distribution of snail intermediate hosts and their infection status is very important to plan and implement effective disease prevention and control interventions. In this study, we determined the abundance, distribution, and trematode infection status of freshwater snails in two agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia. We sampled snails from 13 observation sites and examined them for trematode infections using a natural cercarial shedding method. A redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to examine the relationship between snail abundance and environmental variables. Overall, a total of 615 snails belonging to three species were identified. <i>Lymnea natalensis</i> and <i>Bulinus globosus</i> were the dominant snail species, representing 41% and 40% of the total collection, respectively. About one-third of the total snail population (33%) shed cercariae. The cercariae species recorded were <i>Xiphidiocercaria</i>, <i>Brevifurcate apharyngeate distome</i> (<i>BAD</i>), <i>Echinostome,</i> and <i>Fasciola</i>. Snail species were found in high abundance in aquatic habitats located in the agricultural landscape. Therefore, land-use planning and protection of aquatic habitats from uncontrolled human activities and pollution can be considered as important strategies to prevent and control the spread of snail-borne diseases in the region.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: agroecology, cercariae, freshwater, land-use, snails, trematode
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 31 Mar 2023 08:26
Last Modified: 03 May 2023 22:26
DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8030154
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8030154
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3169379