Abstract
BackgroundSnail intermediate host control is a widely canvassed strategy for schistosomiasis control in endemic countries. While there have been increasing studies on the search for potent molluscicides in the past years, the use of nanoparticulate agents as molluscicides is yet to gain wide attention. The aim of this study was to assess the molluscicidal potential of curcumin-nisin poly lactic acid (PLA) entrapped nanoparticle (CurNisNp) against Biomphalaria pfeifferi, a snail intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni.Methodology/Principal findingsCurNisNp formulated by double emulsion method was tested against the young adults, < 1 week, 1-2-week old juveniles, 1 day (blastula) and 7 day-old (hippo-stage) egg masses of B. pfeifferi. Mortality in the different stages was determined after 96-h of exposure at varying concentrations (350, 175, 87.5, 43.75 and 21.88 ppm). The sub-lethal effects of CurNisNp on the hatchability of the 7-day-old egg masses and egg laying capacity of the young adult snails were determined. The CurNisNp diameter, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential and drug entrapment efficiency were 284.0 ± 17.9 nm, 0.166 ± 0.03, -16.6 ± 2.45 mV and 35.0% respectively. The < 1 week old juveniles and the 1-day-old egg stage (blastula) of B. pfeifferi with LC50 277.9 ppm and 4279.5 ppm were the most susceptible and resistant stages to the drug respectively. CurNisNp was also observed to cause significant reductions (P<0.05) in egg hatchability and egg laying capacity with strong negative correlation between egg laying capacity and concentration (r = -0.928; P<0.05).Conclusion/SignificanceThis study showed that CurNisNp has molluscicidal activities on different developmental stages of B. pfeifferi. It is therefore recommended that the formulation be more optimised to give a nanoparticle with a narrow range monodispersed PDI for better drug distribution and eventual greater molluscicidal activities.
Highlights
Trematodes, the causal agents of schistosomiasis and fascioliasis are important parasites of economic and public health implications in most of sub-Saharan Africa
This study showed that CurNisNp has molluscicidal activities on different developmental stages of B. pfeifferi
It is recommended that the formulation be more optimised to give a nanoparticle with a narrow range monodispersed polydispersity index (PDI) for better drug distribution and eventual greater molluscicidal activities
Summary
Trematodes, the causal agents of schistosomiasis and fascioliasis are important parasites of economic and public health implications in most of sub-Saharan Africa. The increase in number of individuals that need to be treated with praziquantel (PZQ) necessitates the corresponding increase in PZQ deployment in sub-Saharan Africa raising concerns about the emergence and establishment of Schistosoma resistance to PZQ [3]. The control of snail intermediate hosts in an attempt to break the parasite transmission cycle is a widely advocated strategy in schistosomiasis control. Snail intermediate host control is a widely canvassed strategy for schistosomiasis control in endemic countries. The aim of this study was to assess the molluscicidal potential of curcuminnisin poly lactic acid (PLA) entrapped nanoparticle (CurNisNp) against Biomphalaria pfeifferi, a snail intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni
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