INFECTED FRESHWATER SNAILS, BIOMPHALARIA ALEXANDRINA, THE INTERMEDIATE HOST OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI

IBRAHIM, AMINA M.; HAMMAM, OLFAT A.; EL-DAFRAWY, SHADIA M.

doi:10.21608/jesp.2018.76544

INFECTED FRESHWATER SNAILS, BIOMPHALARIA ALEXANDRINA, THE INTERMEDIATE HOST OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Medical Malacology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Imbaba P.O. Box 30, Giza, Egypt.

² Department of Pathology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Imbaba P.O. Box 30, Giza, Egypt.

10.21608/jesp.2018.76544

Abstract

The objective was to study the chromosomes of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails (class Gastropoda) in control and infected state which could be helpful in understanding how host-parasite relationships in feasible and effective control measures. The chromosomal changes were studied using the air-drying method. The results showed that B. alexandrina had a diploid chromosome number, 2n = 36. Also, the meiotic stages were detected as early- leptotene and late leptotene, zygotene, diplotene, metaphase I. The result also revealed the presence of a primitive sperm, with a conical head and a very long, uni-flagellate tail. A comparative meiotic chromosome analysis between the control and infected ones showed some significant differences, as pachytene and diplotene were more condensed.

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