Evaluation of the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacies of mucus and tissue nucleoproteins extracted from snails on schistosomiasis .

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease with considerable morbidity. The lone effective drug, praziquantel (PZQ), is showing emergence of drug resistance hence, searching for new supportive treatment is crucial. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of mucus and nucleoproteins (NPs) extracted from () snails on miracidia, cercariae and () adults in vitro and assess their experimental in vivo effect through parasitological, histopathological, and biochemical parameters.

Assessment of schistosomiasis transmission in the River Nile at Greater Cairo using malacological surveys and cercariometry.

Continuous field studies on the abundance and distribution of freshwater snails and cercarial populations are important for schistosomiasis control programs. In the present work, snail surveys and cercariometry were conducted for four successive seasons at 12 sites on the Nile River banks in the area of Greater Cairo to identify potential transmission foci for schistosomiasis. In addition, water physicochemical parameters were recorded.

Biomphalaria alexandrina as a bioindicator of metal toxicity.

Heavy metals are common environmental pollutants to the aquatic ecosystems. Several aquatic species have been used as bioindicators and biomonitoring subjects for heavy metals pollution. In the present study, the effects of cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn) on the survival, attachment, locomotion, and feeding behaviours of the gastropod snail Biomphalaria alexandrina were determined.

Histamine Immunoreactive Elements in the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems of the Snail, Biomphalaria spp., Intermediate Host for Schistosoma mansoni.

Histamine appears to be an important transmitter throughout the Animal Kingdom. Gastropods, in particular, have been used in numerous studies establishing potential roles for this biogenic amine in the nervous system and showing its involvement in the generation of diverse behaviours. And yet, the distribution of histamine has only previously been described in a small number of molluscan species.

Potential correlation between carboxylic acid metabolites in Biomphalaria alexandrina snails after exposure to Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Carboxylic acids play an important role in both aerobic and anaerobic metabolic pathways of both the snail and the parasite. Monitoring the effects of infection by schistosome on Biomphalaria alexandrina carboxylic acids metabolic profiles represents a promising additional source of information about the state of metabolic system. We separated and quantified pyruvic, fumaric, malic, oxalic, and acetic acids using ion-suppression reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to detect correlations between these acids in both hemolymph and digestive gland gonad complex (DGG's) samples in a total of 300 B.

Carboxylic acids as biomarkers of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails infected with Schistosoma mansoni.

Biomphalaria alexandrina snails play an indispensable role in transmission of schistosomiasis. Infection rates in field populations of snails are routinely determined by cercarial shedding neglecting prepatent snail infections, because of lack of a suitable method for diagnosis. The present study aimed at separation and quantification of oxalic, malic, acetic, pyruvic, and fumaric acids using ion-suppression reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to test the potentiality of these acids to be used as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers.