Land Snail Eobania Vermiculata Research Articles

Determination the Toxicity of some Organic Acids and Fertilizers against the Land Snail Eobania vermiculata

Determination the Toxicity of some Organic Acids and Fertilizers against the Land Snail Eobania vermiculata

New approaches to improve the attractiveness and consumption of Rattus norvegicus for baits by using the land snail Eobania vermiculata grinded and 4-ethyl phenol substance

This study was carried out to clarifyThe beneficial and safe use of the Eobania vermiculata, which is considered an agricultural pest, to improve the attractiveness and consumption of Rattus norvegicus for baits by adding it to the bait alone or mixed with other materials, as it is an available method, cheap and easy to obtain and use, which ultimately leads to the use of less than rats pesticides in baits, thus increasing the safety ratio for other organisms. the effect of adding Eobania vermiculata ground to improve the properties of baits used against different ages of Rattus norvegicus (immature males and females, mature males and females, pregnant and lactating females). Obtained results confirmed that this addition of ground snail had a clear and effective effect on the attractiveness of the bait for all tested ages as the number of visits and the time spent next to the baits were increased. Different concentrations (10, 15 and 20%) of grinded E. vermiculata were mixed with the formulated feed of R. norvegicus. Our results showed that there was a positive relationship between the increasing in concentration and the amount of bait consumption by all tested ages. The effect of 4-ethyl phenol and E. vermiculata on the properties of rat's baits was compared. The higher effect on attractiveness was recorded for 4-ethyl phenol, but the mature male and female of R. norvegicus rats preferred feeding more on the snail baits. Formulated feed baits with 20% E. vermiculata ground were mixed with 1 and 2.5% of 4-ethyl phenol, this led to positive results as the amount of food consumed increased compared to the control, but when the concentration of this substance increased to 5%, this led to decreasing in consumption from baits for male and female individuals. An analysis was made of some of the chemical components of E. vermiculata, and it was found that it contains large amounts of protein, carbohydrates, sugars and calcium.

Eobania vermiculata as a potential indicator of nitrate contamination in soil

The effects of nitrates were analysed on the land snail Eobania vermiculata, a good bioindicator to assess the effects of certain pollutants in soil. It is known that the molluscs are very sensitive to contamination substances and can be used as sentinel organism for environmental pollution assessment. The nitrates are present in fertilizers and in food additives and their excess can not only be harmful to the environment but also dangerous for the humans. Indeed, in the mammals the nitrates are converted into nitrites and can cause a series of complications as the formation of methaemoglobin and cancers. In this study, adult organisms of E. vermiculata were exposed to soil containing 2000 mg/L of nitrates for 30 days to evaluate the stool microbiome and the histological changes at the level of the foot. Eggs of these snails were similarly treated to observe their hatching, survival and development. Histological changes were observed at level of the foot of adult snails exposed to nitrate and in their stools was evident an increase of bacteria, especially those that have a high ability to exploit nitrates and nitrogen as nutrients. Instead, the treated eggs showed changes in hatching, hypopigmentation of newborn snails and a decrease of their survival in time. The overall information obtained from these endpoints can provide important information regarding the quality of the environment. In addition, they also showed that the invertebrate organism E. vermiculata despite being a simple organism is very useful and efficient for ecotoxicological studies.

New Alien Species Mytilopsis Leucophaeata and Corbicula Fluminalis (Mollusca, Bivalvia) Recorded in Georgia and Notes on Other Non-Indigenous Molluscs Invaded the South Caucasus

Abstract First records of invasive bivalve freshwater mollusc species Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Conrad, 1831) and Corbicula fluminalis (O. F. Müller, 1774) in Georgia are reported. No native or alien extant dreissenid species have ever been recorded form this region so far. A finding of C. fluminalis in Georgia is also a new record for the country though this species inhabits the rivers of adjacent Azerbaijan. Apart from two mentioned bivalve molluscs three non-indigenous gastropod species are registered from Georgia: freshwater Ferrisia californica (Rowell, 1863) and Physella acuta (Draparnaud, 1805) and land snail Eobania vermiculata (O. F. Müller, 1774).

Dispersal of the Land Snail Eobania vermiculata in Citrus Orchards in Sharkia Governorate.

Dispersal of the Land Snail Eobania vermiculata in Citrus Orchards in Sharkia Governorate.

Impact of methomyl lannate on physiological parameters of the land snail Eobania vermiculata

The methomyl lannate is a carbamate pesticide, which is widely used and has known toxic effects on non-target organisms including land snails. This research investigated the acute and sublethal effects of lannate on land snail Eobania vermiculata. LD50 value (102.32μgsnail−1) of lannate was determined 48h following topical application. Some biomarkers such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as micronuclei (MN) and bi-nucleated cells (BN) were detected following 14-d topical exposure to sublethal doses 5.53, 21.32 and 53.30μgsnail−1. The results showed that AChE inhibition in the cerebral ganglia was higher than that in the foot muscle. With the exception of ALP, a significant induction in hemolymph enzymes was detected in the snails exposed to 21.32 and 53.30μgsnail−1. Also, the results showed that (MN) frequencies of lannate treated snails were ∼3-, 4- and 6-fold that of the control in the snail exposed to 5.53, 21.32 and 53.30μgsnail−1, respectively. The observed changes in these biomarkers may provide useful information regarding environmental conditions and risk assessments of terrestrial organisms.

Effect of low concentrations of two plant extracts on the spermatozoon ultrastructure of three snail species.

The present study deals for the first time the effect of two plant extracts on the ultrastructure of thespermatozoa of three species of gastropod snails. These snails were the land snail Eobania vermiculata andtwo freshwater ones Lymnaea caillaudi and Biomphalaria alexandrina. They were collected from gardensand fruit trees (E. vermiculata) and Manzala Lake (L. caillaudi and B. alexandrina), Dakahlia Governorate,Egypt. The extracts used were of the plants Euphorbia milii and Ethulia coynzoides. The first was used forL. caillaudi and B. alexandrina and the second was used for E. vermiculata.The snails used for this purpose were those still alive after the exposure period to the plant extracts (28dayes for E. vermiculata and 24 h for L. caillaudi and B. alexandrina). Examination of the longitudinal andtransverse thin sections revealed that the genital cells gonadal follicles and the head and the neck region ofthe sperm were the most affected ones. This indicates that these snails become nearly sterile where thegonads become unable to produce spermatozoa or the liberated sperms become immotile having damagedmitochondrial derivatives and loose their viability. This effect on sperms can be considered as a new wayto control the injurious snails to agriculture and can bring their population down to a low level within areasonably short period of time.

Bioaccumulation and histopathological changes of the digestive gland of the land snail Eobania vermiculata (Mollusca: Gastropoda), as biomarkers of terrestrial heavy metal pollution in Taif city

The present study aimed to investigate the efficiency of bioaccumulation and histological changes of Eobania vermiculata as biomarkers for terrestrial heavy metal pollution. E. vermiculata were collected from polluted and non-polluted areas. The contents of cadmium, copper, iron, calcium, lead and zinc were evaluated in the digestive gland of the snail, shell and soil. The bioaccumulations of heavy metal in the digestive gland and shell as well as in soil were determined. Moreover, the histological and histochemical changes in the digestive gland were examined. The results revealed appreciable alterations of the histological changes as biomarker values in the field, accompanied by significant correlations with bioaccumulation. Therefore, this study suggests E. vermiculata is a suitable sentinel organism and the selected biomarkers are efficient for terrestrial heavy metal biomonitoring.

Effect of starvation and hibernation on the values of five biomarkers of general and specific stress using the land snail Eobania vermiculata

Values of five biomarkers related to cell stress or pollution were evaluated in tissues of the land snail Eobania vermiculata under starvation or hibernation conditions. The biomarkers applied were lysosomal membrane stability in digestive gland cells (LMS) or in haemocytes (neutral red retention assay (NRR)), acetylcholinesterase activity (AchE; EC 3.1.1.7), metallothionein content (MTs), and cyclic AMP content (cAMP). Three groups of snails were studied that were kept under starvation, hibernation and normal conditions, respectively. The results indicated statistically lower values of LMS and NRR in snails kept under starvation or hibernation compared to control ones. Higher values of AChE activity were measured in snails under hibernation compared to controls. MT contents were statistically higher in snails under starvation compared to controls. Measurement of cAMP contents showed no significant differences among the tested groups. The values of the first four biomarkers may be affected by factors other than pollution, such as starvation or hibernation. Therefore, these factors should be taken into consideration when biomonitoring studies are performed in time intervals of hibernation or starvation.

Using the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense system of the land snail Eobania vermiculata as biomarkers of terrestrial heavy metal pollution

The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of antioxidant defense system of the land snail Eobania vermiculata as biomarkers for terrestrial heavy metal pollution. For this reason, a set of biomarkers was performed on land snails E. vermiculata collected from polluted and non-polluted areas in the field. The biomarkers used were lactate dehydrogenase activity, level of lipid peroxidation, activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and content of glutathione, metalothionines, total proteins and total lipid in the digestive gland tissue. The correlation between the bioaccumulation of heavy metal in gland tissue and all the biomarkers in the digestive gland was determined. The results revealed appreciable alterations in the biomarker values in field, accompanied by significant correlations among the biomarkers. Therefore, this study suggests E. vermiculata is a suitable sentinel organism and the selected biomarkers show efficacy for terrestrial heavy metal biomonitoring.

Stable isotope composition of Late Pleistocene-Holocene Eobania vermiculata (Müller, 1774) (Pulmonata, Stylommatophora) shells from the Central Mediterranean basin: Data from Grotta d’Oriente (Favignana, Sicily)

This paper presents stable isotopic results (oxygen and carbon) from both modern and Late Pleistocene-Holocene shells of the land snail Eobania vermiculata (Müller, 1774) from Favignana Island (Sicily). It aims to contribute to the understanding of climate and vegetation history of this region during formation of Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Meso-Neolithic deposits of Grotta d’Oriente (ORT). Results from both an evaporative model (FBM) and an empirical regional isotopic model (i.e. linear relation between oxygen isotopic composition of shells (δ 18Os) and those of local precipitation (δ 18Op)) indicate that the δ 18Os values of modern specimens are mainly controlled by local temperature, relative humidity and δ 18Op at the time of snail activity. Data also suggest that the modern snails are nocturnally active almost all-year round in the study area. The carbon isotopic compositions of shells (δ 13Cs) of the same specimens indicate a diet prevalently (or exclusively) composed of C3 vegetation. The δ 18Os values of Late Pleistocene specimens suggest that climate conditions at ∼14.2 ka cal BP were similar to the present day, in agreement with additional δ 18Os records from southern Italy. By contrast, early-middle Holocene shells are notably 18O-depleted and suggest wetter conditions, possibly combined with a decrease in isotopic composition of precipitation source, compared to the present day. When compared with regional palaeoclimatic records a large-scale isotopic response to millennial-scale changes in atmospheric and hydrological conditions (e.g. enhanced rainfall) in the central-eastern Mediterranean is observed during the early-middle Holocene. The δ 13Cs of Late Pleistocene and Holocene specimens are consistently higher than those of modern ones. For the Late Pleistocene, this could be reasonably explained in terms of water-stressed vegetation. On the other hand, this seems to be less valid for Holocene counterparts when the climate was wetter. Probably δ 13Cs values result from the combination of distinct competing factors, involving atmospheric CO 2 concentration, seasonal water budget, vegetation type-cover and other carbon sources. Results reveal coherent relationships between regional δ 18Os and δ 13Cs, demonstrating that Late Pleistocene-Holocene land snail shell remains from archaeological sites may provide useful snapshots of past seasonal climate conditions.

Introduction of the land snail Eobania vermiculata as a bioindicator organism of terrestrial pollution using a battery of biomarkers

The present study aimed to enrich the group of sentinel organisms of terrestrial pollution biomonitoring, by investigating the efficacy of the land snail Eobania vermiculata. For this reason, a package of biomarkers was performed on land snails E. vermiculata collected from polluted areas in the field or treated with heavy metals in the laboratory. The biomarkers used were neutral red lysosomal retention assay of the haemocytes, acetylcholinesterase activity in the digestive gland and the haemolymph, and metallothionein content of the digestive gland. Moreover, the morphometric changes in the lysosomal system and the morphometric alterations of the neutral lipids were also investigated. In addition, the content of cadmium, lead and copper was evaluated in the digestive gland of the snails. The results revealed appreciable alterations in the biomarker values both in field- and laboratory-conditions, accompanied by significant correlations among the biomarkers. Therefore, this exploratory study suggests the utility of E. vermiculata as a sentinel organism for biomonitoring the biologic impact of terrestrial pollution, and supports the package's efficacy of the selected biomarkers.

The potential role of cAMP as a pollution biomarker of terrestrial environments using the land snail Eobania vermiculata: Correlation with lysosomal membrane stability

The present study investigates the role of the signal transduction molecule cAMP, and the lysosomal membrane stability (LMS), as biomarkers of terrestrial environmental pollution using the land snail Eobania vermiculata. Snails were exposed to different concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Cu) and organic pollutants (chlorpyrifos, parathion-methyl and PAHs) in laboratory conditions for 25 days. In addition, snails were collected from various sites located at different distances away from two polluted areas in northern Greece (the road Agiou Dimitriou in Thessaloniki city and a lignite power station in the district of Kozani). The results of the current investigation showed significantly increased levels of cAMP in the digestive gland of snails, as well as decreased LMS values in all experimental groups compared to control animals. In support of our data, cAMP levels were significantly negatively correlated with the conventional biomarker LMS, thus encouraging the use of cAMP as a new potential stress index in terrestrial pollution biomonitoring studies.

Neuropathological effect of carbamate molluscicides on the land snail, Eobania vermiculata

The present study was designed to investigate the neuropathological effect of the two carbamate pesticides: methomyl and methiocarb on the neurons of the buccal ganglia in the land snail Eobania vermiculata using topical application and baiting technique. Their in vivo effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) activity were also investigated. Sublethal dose and concentration (1/4 LD(50) and 1/4 LC(50)) of both pesticides were used, and the experiment lasted for 14 days. Histopathological and ultrastuctural alterations in the buccal ganglia were more obvious after the baiting technique treatment than after the topical application method, and methomyl was found to be more toxic than methiocarb. These alterations included shrinkage of the perikarya of neurons, increased cytoplasmic basophilia, and extreme indentation of the plasma membrane. In addition, the nuclei appeared karyolitic, eccentric, and highly shrunken with an irregular nuclear envelope. The most outstanding symptom observed after topical application of methiocarb was a highly vacuolated cytoplasm with a peripheral increase in electron density associated with dense accumulations of free ribosomes. On the other hand, an increased number of lysosomes and autophagosomes were observed after topical application of methomyl. Mitochondrial damage, increased number of lipid droplets, and myelin figures were frequently observed in ganglia treated with either methomyl or methiocarb. Moreover, it was noticed that both compounds induced reductions in AChE activity. However, methomyl exhibited more potency in reducing AChE activity than methiocarb.

Mercury in a primary consumer (Eobania vermiculata) collected near a chlor‐alkali complex

Abstract Mercury concentration in the land snail Eobania vermiculata, in plants, soil and air has been carried out in an area affected by a chlor‐alkali complex to evaluate the bioaccumulation processes in a primary consumer. Very low values were measured in the snail shell (0.001–0.020 μg g‐1 d.w.), while in the soft tissue values (0.03–0.72 μg g‐1 d.w.) comparable to those present in the plants were observed.The high mercury levels (0.20–5.97 μg g‐1 d.w.) found in the snail gut seem to indicate the presence of a detoxification mechanism preventing the bioaccumulation of the metal. However mercury is transferred by the snail to the subsequent levels of the food chain.

Energy flux in a natural population of the land snail Eobania vermiculata (Müller) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Stylommatophora) in Greece

Survivorship, production, mortality rate, consumption rate, assimilation, and growth and ecological efficiencies were studied in a natural population of the land snail Eobania vermiculata in Greece. Eobania vermiculata may take 5 years or more to reach maximum size (33 mm). Mortality rate and life expectancy decreased with age. Net reproductive rate was 3.4 and per capita rate of increase was 1.0. Energy flux in E. vermiculata was studied using Urtica dioica and Lactuca sativa as food. The highest daily consumption and assimilation rates (weight specific) were observed in newly hatched animals and the lowest in adults. Assimilation efficiency, mean monthly production, and gross growth and ecological or net growth efficiencies fluctuated with the season and the physiology of the snails. Snails fed U. dioica showed higher assimilation, gross growth, and net growth efficiencies than those fed L. sativa. Energy flow through the E. vermiculata population was 78.9 cal∙m−2∙year−1 (1 cal = 4.1868 J), mean assimilation efficiency was 52% if the snails were fed U. dioica only, and the ingestion rate was 19.5%. When E. vermiculata was fed U. dioica during its lifetime, 4.26% of the total assimilated energy was used for egg production, 10.2% for growth, and 87.8% for metabolic energy. Annual secondary production gave a mean adult density of 4.1 individuals/m2, a mean annual standing crop (biomass) of 6.8 g∙m−2, and an annual production of 13.9 ± 1.8 g∙m−2 or 2859.5 mg C∙m−2. The annual turnover ratio, or productivity rate constant, was 2.0.

Lipid Composition and Structural Studies on Lipids from the Land Snail Eobania vermiculata

The total lipids of the commercial land snail Eobania vermiculata (Gastropoda, Pulm onata, Stylom m atophora) are found to constitute a small percentage (0.8% ) of the wet tissue, which is comparable to that reported for other gastropods. Polar lipid components comprise 61.4% of the total lipids. The individual lipid classes obtained by column chromatographic fractionation were purified by preparative TLC or by column chromatography and their structure was confirmed by a combination of chromatographic and analytical determinations before and after mild alkaline hydrolysis and/or (dry) acid methanolysis and by IR analysis. Neutral lipids represent 36.4% of total lipids, containing cholesterol, cholesterol esters and triglycerides as their major components (26.2% , 29.1% and 25.5% respectively). They contain also a significant amount (14%) of free glyceryl ethers, which are found in a mollusc for the first time. The overall composition of the polar lipids (mol/100 mol lipid-P) was found as follows: Cardiolipin, 2.9; phosphatidylethanolamine, 24.9 (of which 19.8% plasmalogen analog); phosphatidylcholine, 49.2 (of which 45.6% glycerylether analog); ceramide aminoethylphosphonate, 7.5 plus 0.01 (another three minor species); diglyceride-am noethylphosphonate, 6.3; Sphingoethanolamine 1.65 (for the first time found and structurally studied in a land gastropod); and phosphatidic acid 1.1. Unsaturated fatty acyl groups represent about 72.6 and 44.1 respectively in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. A significant amount (70.5% ) of unsaturated fatty acids is concentrated in neutral lipids. The C16:0 alk-1-enyl chain was found to predominate (55.6% ) in the side chains of ethanolamine plasmalogen. Batyl alcohol was found as the main glycerylether bound to choline phosphate (97.5% ). Saturated fatty acyl groups with 16 carbon atoms were main components (54%) of the major ceramide aminoethylphosphonate species.

Evidence for the Presence of Glycerophosphonolipids in the Land Snail Eobania vermiculata

Abstract Total phosphonolipids from the land snail have been iso­lated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using the sol­vent system methanol-water (2:1) and have been sub­jected to silicic acid column chromatography. The fraction eluted with 40% methanol in chloroform has been ob­tained, the single species isolated by these means has been identified as the phosphono analog of phosphatidyl choline and has been fully characterized by TLC, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and phosphono-phosphorus determina­tions.