The effects of low concentrations of sodium pentachlorophenate on the fecundity and egg viability of Australorbis glabratus.

Abstract

Summary Australorbis glabratus adults were placed in either 0.05 or 0.1 ppm of sodium pentachlorophenate for 7 or 8 days and the effects of this treatment on egg production and on viability of the eggs laid were determined. In general the treatment drastically reduced egg production and a very large proportion of all eggs recovered from the aquaria were dead. Removal of the chemical resulted in improved egg production and egg viability. The possible significance of these results for field control of the snail vectors of schistosomiasis is discussed.