Studies of Biomphalaria Snails Infected with Larval Trematodes Using Chromatography and Atomic Spectrometry

Abstract

This chapter describes chromatographic and atomic spectrometric methods used for the analysis of Biomphalaria snails infected with larval trematodes. Some of the analyses are concerned directly with larval schistosomes and echinostomes, whereas other analyses consider the snail tissues and organs infected with the larval schistosomes and echinostomes. Coverage includes the chromatographic methods used for the determination of different classes of organic compounds and atomic spectrometric methods for elemental analyses. The major chromatographic methods used have been thin-layer chromatography and high performance thin-layer chromatography. Atomic absorption spectrometry and inductivity coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry have been used for determining certain elements, including metals. These studies have contributed to a better understanding of the chemical composition of larval schistosomes and echinostomes and of Biomphalaria infected by these digeneans.