Ram's Horn Snail Planorbella Research Articles

EXPERIMENTAL ELUCIDATION OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF DREPANOCEPHALUS SPATHANS (DIGENEA: ECHINOSTOMATIDAE) WITH NOTES ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL PLASTICITY OF D. SPATHANS IN THE UNITED STATES.

The echinostomatid Drepanocephalus spathans (syn. Drepanocephalus auritus) parasitizes the double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus. In North America, the marsh rams-horn snail Planorbella trivolvis and ghost rams-horn snail Biomphalaria havanensis serve as snail intermediate hosts, both of which inhabit catfish aquaculture ponds in the southeastern United States. Studies have demonstrated D. spathans exposure can be lethal to juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Two studies were undertaken to elucidate the life cycle of D. spathans to establish a developmental time line. In both studies, D. spathans cercariae collected from naturally infected P. trivolvis individuals were used to infect channel catfish fingerlings, which were then fed to double-crested cormorants (DCCOs) that had been pharmaceutically dewormed. In study 1, laboratory-reared P. trivolvis and B. havanensis individuals were placed in aviary ponds with experimentally infected DCCO and examined bi-weekly for release of cercariae. Trematode eggs were observed in the feces of exposed birds 3 days post-infection. Birds were sacrificed 18 days post-exposure (dpe), and gravid adults morphologically and molecularly consistent with D. spathans were recovered. Snails from the aviary pond were observed shedding D. spathans cercariae 18-54 dpe. In study 2, trematode eggs were observed in the feces of exposed DCCOs beginning 8 dpe. Once eggs were observed, birds were allowed to defecate into clean tanks containing naïve laboratory-reared P. trivolvis individuals. Additionally, eggs from experimental DCCO feces were recovered by sedimentation and placed in an aquarium housing laboratory-reared P. trivolvis individuals. Birds in study 2 were sacrificed after 60 days, and gravid D. spathans specimens were recovered. Snails from the experimental DCCO tanks shed D. spathans cercariae 89-97 dpe. Lastly, trematode eggs were isolated and observed for the hatching of miracidia, which emerged on average after 16 days at ambient temperatures. No D. spathans adults were observed in control birds fed non-parasitized fish. This is the first experimental confirmation of the D. spathans life cycle, resolving previously unknown developmental time lines. In addition, the effects of fixation on adult trematode morphology were assessed, clarifying reports of pronounced morphological plasticity for D. spathans.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the file ramshorn snail Planorbella pilsbryi (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hygrophila: Planorbidae)

The file ramshorn snail Planorbella pilsbryi Baker, 1926 (Gastropoda: Hygrophila: Planorbidae) is a widespread herbivorous North American freshwater snail found in diverse habitats, including standing and moving water bodies. Genome skimming by Illumina sequencing allowed the assembly of a complete nuclear rRNA repeat sequence and a complete circular mitogenome of 13,720 bp from P. pilsbryi consisting of 75.3% AT nucleotides, 22 tRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs and a control region in the typical order found in panpulmonate snails. Planorbella pilsbryi COXI features a rare TTG start codon while COXII, CYTB, ND2, ND3, and ND5 exhibit incomplete stop codons completed by the addition of 3′ A residues to the mRNA. Phylogenetic reconstruction of mitochondrial protein-coding gene and rRNA sequences places P. pilsbryi as sister taxon to Planorbella duryi (Planorbidae) within family Planorbidae, which is consistent with previous phylogenetic hypotheses.

Clinostomum poteae n. sp. (Digenea: Clinostomidae), in the trachea of a double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Lesson, 1831 and molecular data linking the life-cycle stages of Clinostomum album Rosser, Alberson, Woodyard, Cunningham, Pote & Griffin, 2017 in Mississippi, USA.

Clinostomum spp. (Digenea: Clinostomidae) are a group of trematodes commonly found in the buccal cavity and oesophagus of a variety of piscivorous birds. The metacercariae, colloquially known as "yellow grubs," have been reported from a diverse group of freshwater fishes worldwide. In the catfish farming region of the southeastern USA, piscivorous birds present a continuous challenge for aquaculturists in the form of fish depredation and the introduction of trematodes into these static, earthen pond systems. Clinostomum spp. are commonly encountered in farm-raised catfish. While generally considered pests of minimal importance, heavy infections can result in unmarketable fillets. Of the piscivorous birds that frequent catfish aquaculture operations in the southeastern US, the double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus Lesson) is one of the most damaging, although reports of Clinostomum spp. from P. auritus are limited. In this study, adult trematodes morphologically consistent with Clinostomum sp. were found in the trachea of a double-crested cormorant captured in Lowndes Co., Mississippi, USA. These specimens differed from other recognised Clinostomum spp. in several key morphological characters. Moreover, sequence data of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene (nad1) and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions did not match any known Clinostomum sp. for which sequence data are available. While genetically similar to C. marginatum and C. album Rosser, Alberson, Woodyard, Cunningham, Pote & Griffin, 2017 reported from the great egret Ardea alba L. in Mississippi, these adult clinostomids were larger in size and limited to the trachea, whereas both C. marginatum Rudolphi, 1819 and C. album are found in the oral cavity and esophagus. Given these distinct morphological and molecular characters we propose a new member of the genus, known hereafter as Clinostomum poteae n. sp. Additionally, larval stages in the life-cycle of C. album are morphologically and molecularly identified for the first time from ramshorn snails Planorbella trivolvis Say and fathead minnows Pimephales promelas Rafinesque.

Evaluation of Snail Consumption by Black Buffalo

AbstractBolbophorous damnificus is a digenetic trematode that causes economic loss for commercial catfish producers by decreasing adult growth rates and increasing mortality in juvenile catfish Ictalurus spp. Efforts to control B. damnificus mainly center around control of an intermediate host, the Ram's Horn Snail Planorbella trivolvis. Black Buffalo Ictiobus niger is a catostomid fish species documented to consume mollusks and, therefore, is a potential control option; however, gastropod consumption by this species has not been documented. Thus, experiments were conducted to (1) evaluate Ram's Horn Snail consumption by Black Buffalo at juvenile and adult life stages and (2) determine whether juvenile Black Buffalo are able to consume sizes of snails typically found in catfish ponds. Nine wild‐caught adult Black Buffalo and 56 captively reared juveniles (age 1) were used in this study. No snails were consumed in adult or juvenile experiments, thus suggesting Black Buffalo do not have the capacity to reduce incidence of B. damnificus through direct consumption of Ram's Horn Snails.

Biomphalaria havanensis is a Natural First Intermediate Host for the Trematode Bolbophorus damnificus in Commercial Catfish Production in Mississippi

AbstractThe digenetic trematode Bolbophorus damnificus is a significant hindrance to the production of farm‐raised catfish in the southeastern USA. Severe infections with Bolbophorus damnificus can result in death, but the real damage lies in mild to moderate infections, which can go unnoticed by producers. Research has shown even mild infections can inhibit production to the point of operating at a net loss. The ramshorn snail Planorbella trivolvis is the first intermediate host for Bolbophorus damnificus and is prevalent in most commercial catfish ponds in the Southeast. Management practices aimed at controlling Bolbophorus damnificus infections primarily focus on reducing snail populations in ponds. Other aquatic snail species are also commonly associated with commercial catfish ponds, although little is known about their contributions to trematode infections in catfish. In the summer of 2014, 804 snails Biomphalaria havanensis (synonym: Biomphalaria obstructa) were collected from a single commercial catfish pond and screened for trematode infections. Seven of these snails (0.81%) were actively releasing cercariae identified molecularly as Bolbophorus damnificus. These cercariae were subsequently used in infectivity trials with Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus fingerlings (5–8 cm). Seven days postchallenge, fish were examined histologically for the presence of metacercariae, which were present in 13 of 15 (86.67%) surviving fish. This is the first report of naturally occurring infections of Bolbophorus damnificus in another snail species.

The Potential Use of Ultrasound to Control the TrematodeBolbophorus confususby Eliminating the Ram's Horn SnailPlanorbella trivolvisin Commercial Aquaculture Settings

Abstract One method in the investigation of acoustics to improve aquaculture production is the use of ultrasound to control the trematode Bolbophorus confusus in commercial catfish Ictalurus spp. ponds. The trematode population can be controlled by eliminating the host, ram's horn snail Planorbella trivolvis, which is typically accomplished with chemical treatments. The work presented here investigates snail elimination via exposure to high amplitude ultrasound. Initial laboratory tests indicated that a commercially available sonicator (operating at 20 kHz) is capable of quickly killing individual snails in test tanks. More thorough testing indicated efficacy rates of at least 35% (potentially 65%) on batches of 10 snails in a reverberant environment. The experimental setup of these initial laboratory tests provided nearly 20 decibels of gain in sound levels compared to what is expected in ponds. This is due to reverberation from the air surrounding the tank walls, as opposed to absorption at the bottom a...

Biomphalaria havanensis Identified as a Potential Intermediate Host for the Digenetic Trematode Bolbophorus damnificus

AbstractThe digenetic trematode Bolbophorus damnificus has been associated with mortalities in commercial channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in the Mississippi Delta. In the life cycle of B. damnificus, the only confirmed first intermediate host is the ram's horn snail Planorbella trivolvis. Recently, the exotic snail Biomphalaria havanensis has been isolated in several channel catfish ponds in the Mississippi Delta. The aim of this study was to determine whether this invasive snail species could also serve as a first intermediate host in the B. damnificus life cycle. Bolbophorus damnificus ova were collected from an American white pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos that had been artificially infected with B. damnificus metacercariae; the ova were then introduced into an aquarium with parasite‐negative B. havanensis. Bolbophorus damnificus cercariae (confirmed by polymerase chain reaction) were detected in B. havanensis 45 d after exposure to B. damnificus ova. The snails continued to shed B. damnificus cercariae throughout the 80‐d postexposure examination period. Before this research, the only reported natural B. damnificus infection of snails involved P. trivolvis. This study indicates that the range of snail hosts is broader than previously suspected. A survey should be implemented to identify additional snail species that can serve as hosts for B. damnificus. Further research should determine whether B. havanensis is a natural host for B. damnificus, and if so the prevalence of B. havanensis in commercial channel catfish ponds should be assessed.

Uniform Application of Copper Sulfate as a Potential Treatment for Controlling Snail Populations in Channel Catfish Production Ponds

AbstractA digenetic trematode identified as Bolbophorus sp. has been implicated as a cause of severe mortality and reduced production in commercially raised channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in the southeastern United States. Currently, chemical control measures to limit the impact of this disease focus on pond shoreline treatments with hydrated lime or copper sulfate to kill the marsh ram's‐horn snail Planorbella trivolvis, an intermediate host that inhabits aquatic vegetation around the pond perimeter. Although effective, these treatments have little impact on snails that are not within close proximity to the pond bank. Tests were conducted to determine the feasibility of using elevated levels of copper sulfate pentahydrate (CSP; CuSO4·5H2O), uniformly applied to the surface of the pond water, to eradicate snails from the pond environment. Results demonstrated that uniform application to deliver between 2.5‐ and 5.0‐ppm CSP (0.64–1.27‐ppm Cu) was effective in killing snails around the margins of the pond and throughout the water column but may have negatively affected fish health at the high treatment dose. On average, pond treatments killed more than 96% of the test snails, while mortality of the control snails was less than 8.5%. Results of the commercial field trial were similar to those of tests conducted in experimental ponds, where application of CSP at 5.0 ppm was effective in killing snails at all sampling sites. The treatment was also shown to reduce the natural population of snails along the pond margin by 98.3%. These trials indicate that CSP, when uniformly applied to the water, can be used with caution as an effective treatment against the marsh ram's‐horn snail in commercial channel catfish production ponds that have chemical characteristics similar to those of tested waters (alkalinity and hardness >200 ppm as CaCO3).

Acute Toxicity of Chemicals to the Marsh Rams-Horn Snail Planorbella trivolvis

Acute Toxicity of Chemicals to the Marsh Rams-Horn Snail Planorbella trivolvis

Effect of Sublethal Exposure to the Trematode Bolbophorus spp. on the Severity of Enteric Septicemia of Catfish inChannel Catfish Fingerlings

The digenetic trematode Bolbophorus damnificus has been implicated as a cause of mortalities and reduced production in farmed channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in northwestern Mississippi. Field observations indicate that infection can exacerbate losses from common bacterial diseases, such as enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC), which is caused by Edwardsiella ictaluri. The interaction of concurrent infections with Bolbophorus spp. and E. ictaluri was investigated using three replicates of four experimental treatments. Trematode infections were established by placing fingerlings for 24 h in triplicate static tanks containing marsh rams-horn snails Planorbella trivolvis shedding Bolbophorus cercariae at a rate of 770 ± 82 (mean ± SE) per 24-h period. Unexposed fish were maintained in three tanks under similar conditions. From each tank, trematode-infected or noninfected fish were transferred to six aquaria (30 fish/aquarium). Three aquaria from each replicate treatment tank received 7.5 × 105 colony-forming units (CFU) of E. ictaluri/mL of water for 30 min (Bolbophorus–ESC and ESC-only groups). Fish in the remaining three aquaria were not exposed to E. ictaluri and served as Bolbophorus-only and negative control groups. No mortalities were observed in the Bolbophorus-only and negative control groups. Twenty-one days after exposure to E. ictaluri, the percent cumulative mortalities were 84.1 ±16.2% in the Bolbophorus–ESC treatment and 45.9 ± 3.2% in the ESC-only treatment. Mortalities were significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.0161). In a second study, fingerlings were challenged with E. ictaluri 28 d after trematode exposure; 21 d later, no differences in cumulative percent mortalities were observed between trematode-infected (21.5 ± 1.7%) and trematode-negative (17.8 ± 4.01%) fish. These studies show that sublethal Bolbophorus infection increases mortalities from E. ictaluri when exposure occurs simultaneously but not when ESC infection occurs 28 d after trematode exposure.

Morphologic, Pathologic, and Genetic Investigations of Bolbophorus Species Affecting Cultured Channel Catfish in the Mississippi Delta.

Trematodes belonging to the genus Bolbophorus have recently been reported as the cause of substantial morbidity and mortality in cultured channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in Mississippi and Louisiana. Previous investigators identified only a single species, B. confusus. In this investigation, genetic techniques were used to identify all stages of the parasite in all of its hosts. The 18s rRNA genes from specimens collected in Mississippi were sequenced and compared; this analysis revealed that there are two distinct species, B. damnificus (previously identified as B. confusus) and another, undescribed species. (Phylogenetic analysis indicated that a third species, B. levantinus, is also closely related to the Mississippi species.) Species-specific polymerase chain reaction assays capable of identifying and differentiating between these two parasites were developed. Both species were found to infect the first intermediate host (the ram's horn snail Planorbella trivolvis) in commercial channel catfish ponds, but only B. damnificus was recovered from the fish themselves. The new, unidentified Bolbophorus species was determined to be highly pathogenic to a number of fish species. The contribution of B. damnificus to disease in cultured channel catfish remains undetermined. Future investigations of these parasites must now take into account the presence of two distinct species.

A Copper Sulfate−Citric Acid Pond Shoreline Treatment to Control the Rams-Horn SnailPlanorbella trivolvis

Abstract The rams-horn snail Planorbella trivolvis carries at least two important digenetic trematodes that infect propagated fish species in the southeastern United States. These snails are found in fish production ponds, and there are no proven chemical methods for eliminating them that would not also kill the fish. Application of an aqueous solution of 589 g of copper sulfate and 58.9 g of citric acid per 10 linear meters in a 2-m-wide swath along the pond shoreline produced an effective treatment. This would give an instantaneous treatment rate of about 59 ppm if the water in the 2-m swath averaged 0.5 m deep. In two separate trials, there was a significant difference in snail survival in the treated and sham-treated ponds. Average survival was 2.2% and 0% in the treatment ponds and 63.3% and 77.8% in the sham treatment ponds.