Prevalence of snail vectors of schistosomiasis and their infection rates in two localities within Ahmadu Bello University (A.B.U.) Campus, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

648 snails comprising 392 (60.5%) Bulinus globosus (Morelet, 1866) and 256 (39.5%) Biomphalaria pfeifferi (Krauss, 1848) obtained from Samaru stream and ABU dam between April and September 2007 were examined for cercariae. Of this total, 355 snails were obtained from Samaru stream while 293 snails were obtained from A.B.U dam. 247 (69.58%) of the snails from Samaru stream were B. globosus and 108 (30.42%), B. pfeifferi. Similarly, 145 (49.49%) B. globosus and 148 (50.51%) were gotten from A.B.U dam. Two schistosomes were observed during the study; Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium with the former being more prevalent (20.31%) than the latter (18.37%). Occurrence of snails at each locality showed marked differences; B. globosus being more prevalent at Samaru stream and B. pfeifferi more prevalent at ABU dam. There was no significant difference in the comparison of means of prevalence in the two snails.   Key words: Bulinus globosus, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Schistosoma mansoni,Schistosoma haematobium, Zaria.