Rizk, E., Abu- Naser, N., Mona, M. (1997). IMPACT OF DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS AND STARVATION ON THE BIOLOGY AND LABORATORY MAINTENANCE OF BIOMPHALARLA ALEXANDRINA, THE INTERMEDIATE HOST SNAIL OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI IN EGYPT. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 1(2), 159-185. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.1997.3382
El-Sayed Rizk; Nagla Abu- Naser; Mohamed Mona. "IMPACT OF DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS AND STARVATION ON THE BIOLOGY AND LABORATORY MAINTENANCE OF BIOMPHALARLA ALEXANDRINA, THE INTERMEDIATE HOST SNAIL OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI IN EGYPT". Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 1, 2, 1997, 159-185. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.1997.3382
Rizk, E., Abu- Naser, N., Mona, M. (1997). 'IMPACT OF DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS AND STARVATION ON THE BIOLOGY AND LABORATORY MAINTENANCE OF BIOMPHALARLA ALEXANDRINA, THE INTERMEDIATE HOST SNAIL OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI IN EGYPT', Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 1(2), pp. 159-185. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.1997.3382
Rizk, E., Abu- Naser, N., Mona, M. IMPACT OF DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS AND STARVATION ON THE BIOLOGY AND LABORATORY MAINTENANCE OF BIOMPHALARLA ALEXANDRINA, THE INTERMEDIATE HOST SNAIL OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI IN EGYPT. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 1997; 1(2): 159-185. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.1997.3382
IMPACT OF DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS AND STARVATION ON THE BIOLOGY AND LABORATORY MAINTENANCE OF BIOMPHALARLA ALEXANDRINA, THE INTERMEDIATE HOST SNAIL OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI IN EGYPT
1Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University Tata,Egypt.
2Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University Tata,Egypt
Abstract
The present investigation has been performed to study the effect of different food items and starvation on some biological parameters and laboratory maintenance of B. alexandrina snail, the intermediate host of S. mansoni in Egypt. The growth rate, egg laying capacity, hatchability of deposited eggs, development of the newly hatched snails and the mortality rate of the experimental snails were quantitatively determined and compared with the control ones fed on dried lettuce. The tested experimental food items are, a market prepared food (the rabbit food pellets); a natural food source from the common aquatic plants (Eichhornia carassipes, Lemna gibba and Ceratophyllum demersttm) and a mixed food (dry lettuce supplemented with milk powder). The biochemical composition of the three food items and control food were analyzed. The results showed that snails fed on market food for a period of six weeks showed a significant increase in the number of egg masses and eggs, the rate of the egg hatchability and in the rate of growth. Moreover, market food was found a suitable food for maintenance of newly hatched as well as adult snails as indicated by low mortality rate. The results also showed that hermaphrodite gland acini of snails fed on market food were most frequently in the final stages of oogenesis and spermatogenegsis, and their digestive gland tubules were well organized. The wet weight of the digestive gland gonad complex was significantly increased than that of the control and other tested food items. In conclusion, the market food was recommended as the food for stock aquaria.