Cercarial shedding and trematodes infestation in freshwater snail species from selected freshwater bodies in Zuru Emirate, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Cercariae shedding and trematodes infestation in freshwater snails were studied in 503 snail species collected from reservoirs, dams, ponds, and streams in four Local Government Areas of Zuru Emirate, Kebbi State, Nigeria from January to May 2019. Of this number, three (3) freshwater snail species namely; Bulinus globosus, Lymnaea natalensis, and Melanoides tuberculata were collected in twelve (12) sites of four local government areas (Danko/Wasagu, Fakai, Sakaba and Zuru) of the study area. The snails were then exposed under direct between 9.00am to 1.00pm sunlight for cercarial shedding, and a percentage prevalence of trematode infestation (8%) was recorded in the study area. Distribution of cercariae among the snail species screened showed that Bulinus globosus, and Lymnaea natalensis, shedded 8.59% and 8.53% of the Schistosoma haematobium and Fasciola species cercariae respectively, while Melanoides tuberculata shedded 4.22% of Paragonimus species cercariae. The intensity of infection rate among the examined snails varied significantly (P<0.05) based on Local Government Areas of sampled. The highest cercarial infection (8.63%) was recorded in Fakai, followed by Danko/Wasagu (8.59%), Sakaba (7.96%), and the least infection (6.50%) was recorded in Zuru in conclusion, related studies to establish the incidence of diseases vectored by snails on the water quality parameters to certain the factors that could influence freshwater snail distribution in the study area is highly recommended.