Hemolymph Of Snails Research Articles

How should we sample snail microbiomes?

The microbiome is increasingly recognized to shape many aspects of its host biology and is a key determinant of health and disease. The microbiome may influence transmission of pathogens by their vectors, such as mosquitoes or aquatic snails. We previously sequenced the bacterial 16S V4 ribosomal DNA of the hemolymph (blood) of Biomphalaria spp. snails, one of the vectors of the human blood fluke schistosome. We showed that snail hemolymph harbored an abundant and diverse microbiome. This microbiome is distinct from the water environment and can discriminate snail species and populations. As hemolymph bathes snail organs, we then investigated the heterogeneity of the microbiome in these organs. We dissected ten snails for each of two different species (B. alexandrina and B. glabrata) and collected their organs (ovotestis, hepatopancreas, gut, and stomach). We also ground in liquid nitrogen four whole snails of each species. We sampled the water in which the snails were living (environmental controls). Sequencing the 16S V4 rDNA revealed organ-specific microbiomes. These microbiomes harbored a lower diversity than the hemolymph microbiome, and the whole-snail microbiome. The organ microbiomes tend to cluster by physiological function. In addition, we showed that the whole-snail microbiome is more similar to hemolymph microbiome. These results are critical for future work on snail microbiomes and show the necessity of sampling individual organ microbiomes to provide a complete description of snail microbiomes.

Alterations in the metabolism of Pseudosuccinea columella (Mollusca: Gastropoda) caused by Heterorhabditis bacteriophora HP88 (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae)

The gastropod Pseudosuccinea columella participates in the dissemination of Fasciola hepatica in the environment, acting as the main intermediate host of this parasite in Brazil. The present study sought to elucidate the possible pathogenic effects of the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Heterorhabditis bacteriophora on P. columella, by evaluating the influence of infection on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as the concentrations of total protein, uric acid, and urea in the snail's hemolymph. For this, the snails were exposed to EPNs for 24 and 48 h, and for each exposure time, 20 snails were dissected after 7, 14 and 21 days for hemolymph collection. The primary findings suggest a significant proteolysis alongside elevated levels of uric acid and urea in P. columella infected individuals. These findings reveal that H. bacteriophora HP88 infection induced serious changes in the snail's metabolism, triggering important deleterious effects.

Substrate specificity of phenoloxidase-like activity in an ecoimmunological model speciesLymnaea stagnalis

ABSTRACTEcoimmunological research on molluscs and other invertebrates frequently quantifies phenoloxidase (PO) activity to estimate the strength of the immune function. PO enzymes form different families whose relative roles in oxidative reactions are typically unknown. Understanding this could allow enzyme-specific assays with higher accuracy than in commonly used nonspecific assays. We tested the contribution of different PO enzyme families to haemolymph PO-like activity in Lymnaea stagnalis snails using substrates specific to enzymes detected in L. stagnalis transcriptome data (p-phenylenediamine, specific to laccases; L-tyrosine, specific to tyrosinases) and compared the reactions to those with a nonspecific substrate (L-dopa). We found laccase-like but no tyrosinase-like activity. However, reactions with L-dopa were the strongest, possibly due to other oxidative enzymes in snail haemolymph. Laccase-like activity is common in molluscs, and we propose the use of enzyme-specific assays in future ecoimmunological studies of this taxon. The lack of tyrosinase-like activity in L. stagnalis contradicts earlier transcriptome data, which calls for investigating the expression of PO enzymes in L. stagnalis at the proteome level.

Actions of Cellulase Isolated from the Hemolymph of Giant African Snail (Archachatina marginata) on Solid Wastes

Solid wastes generation is a ginormous and ever-expanding problem affecting the world, majorly developing countries. This is because the world populace produces million tonnes of municipal solid wastes each day and this number has been projected to triple in the next few years. Drastic increase in wastes especially solid wastes could be directly proportional to increase in pollution and this could pose deleterious effect to mankind in general. Cellulose which is a chief constituent of solid wastes could be degraded by cellulase, a hydrolytic enzyme presents in the genetic make-up of giant African snail. In this study, cellulase was isolated from the hemolymph of Archachatina marginata and partially purified by draining the hemolymph into a sterilized beaker. The drained hemolymph was centrifuged at 4000g for 20 min to obtain a crude fraction of the enzyme. The actions of isolated cellulase on different agricultural and industrial wastes were examined using standard procedure. The enzyme had a specific activity of 1.39U/mg. Biodegradation study showed that the enzyme has highest activities on agricultural and industrial wastes such as; Leaves (approximately 125.32-426.40%), Plastics (2.95-91.14%), Wrappers (21.29-72.65%), Kitchen wastes (3.89-65.71%), Woods (12.34-40.77%) and the lowest activity was recorded on Nylons (3.26-9.64%). The degree of biodegradation of solid wastes signifies that the enzyme could play a key role in efficient, reliable and non-hazardous means of waste management and material recycling.

Ecological determinants of variation in phenotypic selection on quantitative immune defence traits

Immune defence is an important determinant of organismal fitness. While theoretical models based on tradeoffs in resource allocation predict quantitative immune traits to be subject to stabilizing selection due to associated energetic costs and self‐harm, empirical studies report mainly positive directional selection. This discrepancy may arise from multiple ecological factors that vary in nature and could influence selection. We examined if selection on immune activity varies depending on immune challenge/infection risk, between immune traits and among populations in the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis. We assessed selection on the phenoloxidase‐like and antibacterial activity of snail haemolymph while manipulating the level of immune challenge imposed by environmental microbes. We did this using snails from multiple populations and also quantified within‐population family‐level variation (i.e. evolutionary potential) in the snails' immune activity. We found that the strength of immune challenge and the examined immune trait determined selection on the snails' immune function. Thus, variation in infection risk can be an important factor in maintaining genetic variation in defence traits. Additionally, immune traits showed low among‐population differentiation but high within‐population genetic variation. This pattern could arise if natural snail populations are exposed to higher temporal than spatial variation in infection risk.

Molluscicidal and antioxidant activities of silver nanoparticles on the multi-species of snail intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis.

BackgroundSchistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is the second important parasitic disease after malaria. The present study aimed to evaluate the molluscicidal effects of silver nanoparticles on Biomphalaria alexandrina, B. glabrata, Oncomelania hupensis, snail intermediate hosts of intestinal schistosomes (i.e. Schistosoma mansoni and S. japonicum), along with the changes their antioxidant enzymes.MethodsSilver (Ag) nano powder (Ag-NPs) was selected to test the molluscicidal effects on three species of freshwater snails. Exposure to Ag-NPs induced snail mortality and the LC50 and LC90 values of Ag-NPs for each snail species were calculated by probit analysis. Control snails were maintained under the same experimental conditions in dechlorinated water. Snail hemolymph was collected to measure the levels of antioxidant enzymes, such as total antioxidants capacity (TCA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and nitric oxide (NO). In addition, the non-target organism, Daphnia magna, was exposed to a series of Ag-NPs concentration, similar to the group of experimental snails, in order to evaluate the LC50 and LC90 and compare these values to those obtained for the targeted snails.ResultsThe results indicated that Ag-NPs had a molluscicidal effect on tested snails with the variation in lethal concentration. The LC50 values of Ag-NPs for B. alexandrina snails exposed for 24, 48, 72 hrs and 7 days were 7.91, 5.69, 3.83 and 1.91 parts per million (ppm), respectively. The LC50 values for B. glabrata snails exposed for 24, 48, 72 hrs and 7 days were 16.55, 10.44, 6.91 and 4.13 ppm, respectively, while the LC50 values for O. hupensis snails exposed for 24, 48, 72 hrs and 7 days were 46.5, 29.85, 24.49 and 9.62 ppm, respectively. Moreover, there is no mortality detected on D. magna when exposed to more than double and half concentration (50 ppm) of Ag-NPs during a continuous period of 3 hrs, whereas the LC90 value for B. alexandrina snails was 18 ppm. The molluscicidal effect of the synthesized Ag-NPs seems to be linked to a potential reduction of the antioxidant activity in the snail’s hemolymph.ConclusionsSynthesized Ag-NPs have a clear molluscicidal effect against various snail intermediate hosts of intestinal schistosome parasites and could potentially serve as next generation molluscicides.

Condition‐dependent immune function in a freshwater snail revealed by stable isotopes

Abstract The immune system is costly to maintain and use because it requires a lot of energy. This can make parasite resistance dependent on host nutritional state. The dependence of immune function on host condition can have broad ecological (e.g., disease dynamics) and evolutionary (e.g., expression of trade‐offs related to parasite resistance) consequences. Research on the dependence of immune function on host condition is typically conducted in laboratory experiments that manipulate either the quantity or composition of available resources. Such studies are essential in establishing conceptual frameworks, but their results are difficult to generalise to natural populations because the experimental treatments may deviate from natural variation in host resource level and use. We examined the condition dependence of immune function in a generalist freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis by relating the activity of two immune parameters of snail haemolymph, phenoloxidase (PO)‐like and antibacterial activity, to snail resource level and use using field‐collected individuals. We measured several variables that reflect the snails’ quality based on their recent (i.e., within the past few days; amount and stable isotope composition [δ15N and δ13C] of produced faeces) and longer‐term (i.e., weeks to months; stable isotope composition of tissues) resource use. The PO‐like activity of the snails’ haemolymph was condition‐dependent. Snails that had recently consumed food from higher trophic levels, presumably including more animal protein (high δ15N values of faeces), had a stronger defence. Additionally, snails with low energy (i.e., lipid) reserves in their tissues (high δ13C values of tissues) showed higher PO‐like activity. The antibacterial activity of the snails’ haemolymph was not condition dependent. The finding of the importance of the composition of recently consumed food on immune function (namely PO‐like activity) suggests that the parasite resistance of snails may change rapidly depending on the type of resources available in their environment. Thus, environmental variation may influence the outcome of host–parasite interactions on fine spatial and temporal scales. Furthermore, the negative relationship between the snails’ energy reserves and PO‐like activity suggests substantial energetic costs of immune activity in L. stagnalis.

Effect of replacing maize with plantain peels on the performance traits and haematological characteristics of African giant land snail

The study was carried out at the Niger Delta University, Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm, Bayelsa State. A total of Ninety six (96) growing snails (Archachatina marginata). Using Plantain peel as an additive, four diets were formulated at the levels of 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% to form the treatment diets. The experiment lasted for eight (8) weeks during which the weight gain, feed intake, shell width, shell length, shell thickness and hematological parameters were obtained. The weight gain, shell width, shell length and shell thickness are not significantly different (p<0.05) whereas, the feed intake differed significantly (p<0.05) for all the treatment diets in the experiment. From the results, it was concluded that concentrate with 0% inclusion of Plantain peel meal was suitable for snail diets as it gave the best performance. The hematological parameters measured in the African giant land snails are White blood cell, Neutrophile and Lymphocyte differed significantly (p<0.05). Plantain peel can serve as source of potassium for other animals, as the highest percentage of potassium was found in the hemolymph of snails fed with 9% inclusion of plantain peel. It is recommended that; there should be no inclusion of plantain peels in the diet of the African giant land snails in order to achieve higher weight gain and feed intake.

An Arsenic-76 radiotracer to study the routes of assimilation, hemolymph distribution, and tissue inventories in the bioindicator organism Pomacea canaliculata

The aim of this work was to study the absorption, distribution through the hemolymph, and bioaccumulation of arsenic by the freshwater Pomacea canaliculata using a short-lived tracer (76As, t1/2: 1.07 d) with high specific activity. Arsenic travels mainly dissolved in the plasma of the snail's hemolymph. This element is transferred from the hemolymph to the tissues (87%) 4 h after the inoculation of 50 μL of a 0.04 g/L of 76As radiotracer solution, being the digestive gland, kidney, and head-foot the main places of arsenical inventories. Snails exhibited a rapid arsenic accumulation response in a wide range of concentrations (from 1 to 1000 μg/L) of the metalloid dissolved in water and in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, snails incorporated As from the digestive system when they received a single safe dose of ~2 μg of 76As inoculated in a fish food pellet. The (semi) physiologically based toxicokinetic model developed in this study is based on anatomical and physiological parameters (blood flow, irrigation, tissue volume and other). Together, these findings make P. canaliculata an excellent sentinel organism to evaluate freshwater bodies naturally contaminated with As.

Determination of selected biochemical parameters of the haemolymph of free-living Cepaea nemoralis (L.) snails. Preliminary study

The study objective was to determine reference values of selected biochemical parameters of the haemolymph of Cepaea nemoralis snails (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Helicidae). The study determined the activity of aminotransferases (AST and ALT), which was 11.22 ± 10.92 [u/l] and 6.72 ± 3.18 [u/l], respectively, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at a level of 3.92 ± 2.08 [u/l]. The level of amylase (AMY) in the haemolymph was 2.32 ± 0.74 [u/l], while lipase (LIP) was 0.74 ± 0.79 [u/l]. The concentration of urea (UREA) was established at 2.28 ± 0.48 [mg/dl], creatinine (CREA) at 2.28 ± 0.09 [mg/dl], uric acid (UA) at 0.22 ± 0.16 [mg/dl], calcium (Ca) at 21.24 ± 2.4 [mg/dl], and total protein (TP) at 1.38 ± 0.34 [g/l]. The specific gravity of the haemolymph was 1.0 ± 0.002. The haemolymph was obtained from 211 individuals in the active phase collected from their natural habitat. The biochemical parameters of the haemolymph were determined with a BS 180 apparatus (Mindray), and the specific gravity with a refractometer. The article also desrcibes an intravital technique of collecting haemolymph from C. nemoralis. The results obtained may constitute an aid and a guideline for scientists dealing with the physiology of land molluscs.

Evaluation of some heavy metals bio-accumulation in meat and haemolymph of african landsnail (Archachatina Marginata Swainson)

The impact of captive rearing of snails (Archachatina marginata) on the bio-accumulation of some heavy metals (HMs) (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Co, Ni, Cd and Cr) in the meat and haemolymph was evaluated in a two treatment trial (snails from the wild, (SW) and captive reared snails, (SC), each comprised of sixty snails of three replicates. Alldata collected (using standard analytical procedures) were subjected to ANOVA and significant means separated by Duncan Multiple Range Test. The trial revealed that the meat of SC had outstanding (P>0.05) Fe (22.30mg/kg) and Mn(4.79mg/kg), with no significant variation for DM, while the haemolymph recorded non-significant (P< 0.05) concentration for (Mn, Pb, Co, Ni, Cd and Cr). Its levels of Fe (3.50mg/kg) and Cu (2.06mg/kg) were however significantly (P>0.05) impacted by captive rearing. Generally the level of Cr in the meat and haemolymph were higher than 0.05mg/kg recommendation by WHO, hence snail meat and haemolymph must be consumed with caution and guidance.

Effect of captive rearing on meat and haemolymph nutritional characteristics of snail (Archachatina marginata swainson)

An experiment was conducted to investigate and compare the impact of treatment, which is the source of snail (wild and captive reared) on the proximate and mineral composition (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe and Mn) of the meat and haemolymph of African land snails (Archachatina marginata). Ninety (90) adult snails (250.00 + 0.5g) were randomly distributed into two (2) treatments, each of three replicates, (15 snails per replicate), in a Complete Randomized Design. Samples of meat and haemolymph collected using standard procedures were subsequently analyzed for their nutritional qualities, using standard chemical analytical procedures. All data collected were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, while significant variation were separated with Duncan Multiple Range Test of the same package. The proximate composition of the meat revealed higher (P>0.05) DM (26.00%), Ether extract (2.17%) and NFE (3.57%) in SC, while there was a non-significant variation (P<0.05) in most proximate factors for haemolymph, except NFE (4.27%), which was higher (P>0.05) in SW. The mineral profiling of the meat revealed elevated (PP>0.05) levels of Fee (22.30mg/kg) and Mn (4.79mg/kg) of SC, the haemolymph recorded improved levels (P>0.05) for all mineral elements in SC. In conclusion, the captive rearing of snail had improved impact on thenutritional qualities of SC.

Alterations in Lipids and Minerals in Relation To Larval Trematode Infections of Nerita Polita Marine Snails.

SummaryMarine snails provide an important source of vitamins, proteins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, and their mucus has a therapeutic significance. Parasitic infection of larval trematodes in these snails affects their nutritional value. The present study aimed to screen Nerita polita marine snails for the prevalence of cercarial infections and to evaluate the changes in lipids and some minerals in the infected as well as non-infected ones. Snails were collected randomly from February 2018 to January 2019 from the Red Sea Obhor bay, Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. The amount of triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids in the Digestive Gland Gonad Complex (DGG), hemolymph, and Snail Conditioned Water (SCW) of non-infected and infected Nerita polita snail was estimated using a spectrophotometer. Minerals content such as Ca, Zn, Pb, Na, Mn, Mg, K, Fe, Cu, and Cd, in the DGG and shell in the infected and non-infected snails were analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Two types of cercariae were detected, ocellate furcocercus cercaria (Trichobilharzia regent) and xiphidiocercaria (Litorina saxatilis VII). The study showed that there is a fl uctuation in the concentration of lipids and minerals between increase and decrease in DGG, hemolymph, shell, and SCW in infected snails. The nutritive value of the snails is affected with infection through the decrease of some lipids and minerals in infected snails. Further qualitative studies are needed.

Morphological Characteristics and Chemical Composition of Flesh and Haemolymph of Snails Fed Compounded Diet using Quail Droppings Meal as Protein Source

This study investigated the morphological characteristics, and chemical composition of Archachatina marginata (African Giant Land Snail) reared on Quail droppings meal (QDM.) substituted for protein sources in snail feed. Five trial snail feeds (Diet I-V) were fed to fifty snails (average weight 157.3 g) for 12 weeks. The morphological characteristics of the snail and its flesh and haemolymph chemical composition were determined using standard methods. There was an appreciable increase in the growth parameters (weight, shell width and shell length) across the treatment groups. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) ranges from 2.74 to 3.75, and snails served Diet I gave the highest FCR. The result of the proximate analysis revealed that snail flesh possessed a higher amount of protein, fat, ash, fibre and energy except carbohydrate than hemolymph. Increasing QDM in the diets increased the proximate contents of the snail's flesh and hemolymph, except fat and fibre. The minerals found in all the treatments are not toxic, and snails fed diet V possessed the highest mineral contents (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus). The result showed that diet V resulted in the best morphological parameters and feed utilisation of A. marginata snail. Substituting protein sources with QDM in snail feed improved the nutritional quality of snails, reducing the cost of the compounded ration.

Antioxidant activity of fractions isolated from hemolymph of garden snail Helix lucorum

Context: The snail hemolymph is a multi-component mixture comprising various substances with pharmacological activity. Aims: To evaluate the antioxidant activity of hemocyanin and fractions isolated of hemolymph from garden snail Helix lucorum. Methods: The antioxidant activity was tested in chemical systems generating superoxide radicals (O2•–) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and was presented as percent inhibition. The fractions’ composition was analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Results: At concentration of 90 µg/mL the hemolymph fraction with compounds with molecular weight (MW) <100kDa demonstrated the strongest O2•–– scavenger effect (82%), followed by the hemocyanin (58%), and hemolymph fraction with compounds with MW<1kDa (15%). The most powerful •OH scavenger effect at concentration of 90 µg/mL showed hemocyanin (43%) followed by MW<100kDa fraction (26%). No •OH scavenger effect was observed by the MW<1kDa fraction. The highest chelation properties (55%) were demonstrated by the MW<100kDa fraction at concentration of 130 µg/mL; both the hemocyanin and MW<1kDa hemolymph fraction showed 33% inhibitory effect at the same concentration. The analysis of the composition of the tested fractions revealed high content of hydrophobic surfaces in MW<1kDa fraction and presence of antioxidant enzymes-catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in MW<100kDa fraction that contribute to the overall antioxidant effect of H. lucorum hemolymph. Conclusions: The complex antioxidant effect of hemolymph from H. lucorum is thought to be related to the presence of low molecular weight peptides in the MW<1 kDa fraction including glutathione and mainly to the antioxidant enzymes in the MW<100 kDa fraction.

In vivo and in vitro antitumor effects of Helix desertorum hemolymph by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Background: Natural products, those extracted from invertebrate animals have medical importance as therapeutic agents especially for cancer treatment. Aim of the Work: The current study was conducted to evaluate the antitumor effect of the hemolymph of the desert snail, Helix desertorum (HD-H) on tumor Ehrlich ascetic carcinoma cells (EAC) cell line in vitro and in vivo. Materials and Methods: Helix desertorum (HD-H) was collected from their suitable habitats, identified, and then their hemolymph was collected, to evaluate their antitumor effect. 40 female albino mice were divided into five groups (n=8) as the following: group 1 (Gp1) control mice were inoculated intraperitoneal (i.p) with 1x106 EAC cells/mouseat day 0, Gp2 (EAC/Cis): Mice were injected with EAC-cells as in Gp1 and at day 2 were injected with cisplatin (40 mg/Kg), Gp3 was inoculated with EAC and then treated with splenocytes activated with HD-H, Gp4was inoculated with EAC and then treated with splenocytes activated with IL-2/Con A, and Gp5 was inoculated with EAC and then treated with splenocytes without activation. All groups were sacrificed to evaluate the tumor profile, hematological and biochemical. Results: The results showed that treatment with HD-H led to decrease tumor volume, their cell counts, increase the percentage of the apoptotic cells and arresting the cancer cell cycle. Moreover, treatment with HD-H improved the hematological and biochemical parameters on tumor-bearing mice. Conclusion: In conclusion, HD-H has potential in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects against EAC-cells. Further study is recommended to evaluate the potential efficacy of HD-H as a potential anticancer

Listeria monocytogenes induced dysbiosis in snails and rebiosis achieved by administration of the gut commensal Lactobacillus plantarum Sgs14 strain

Listeria monocytogenes strains were isolated from Cornu aspersum maxima snails from farm units experiencing high mortalities and were characterized by phenotypic, molecular and biochemical criteria. A high heterogeneity was observed in the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pulsotypes as well as in the virulence (13–100% mortality) among the fifteen L. monocytogenes strains. One strain was characterized as non-virulent while three strains exhibited hypervirulent phenotype. Hypervirulence activity was associated with cell surface properties such as hydrophobicity, autoaggregation and biofilm formation, with increased tolerance to snail's gut barriers such as pedal mucus, gastric mucus, gastric juices, and acidic pH as well as with increased capacity to resist the antibacterial activity of snail haemolymph and modulate immune cell populations and functions such as chemotaxis and phagocytoses. L. monocytogenes dysbiosis was characterized by a clinicopathological phenotype including immobilization of snails' headfoot outside the shell, increased mucus-secreting cells in the intestinal epithelium and feces, alteration of intestinal ridges morphology and excessive increase of haemolymph immune cells and cell death. Rebiosis in L. monocytogenes SN3 strain infected snails was achieved by dietary supplementation of the snail-gut commensal probiotic L. plantarum Sgs14 strain by exhibiting anti-Listeria activity, reducing mortality and clinicopathological manifestations as well as exhibiting immunomodulatory activity.

Comparative Haemolymph Biochemical Properties of Giant African Land Snail (Archachatina marginata) from Nigeria

The Giant African Land Snails (GALS) is a very important micro livestock that is consumed widely within several regions in sub-Saharan Africa which differ in their vegetation types and climatic factors. Studies have shown that diet and stocking density influence properties of the snail haemolymph. This study examines the haemolymph biochemical properties of the land snail, ( Archachatina marginata ) from south-west (Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo). Organic (protein, lipids, glucose) and inorganic (Na, K, Ca, Cl, PO 4 ) composition of snails’ haemolymph were determined by standard methods. Results showed that GALS from Oyo state had the highest lipids and glucose concentrations in the haemolymph while Ondo and Ekiti states recorded the least. Protein was the most abundant (33.83g/l-49.37g) organic substance while lipids were the least (23.93mg/dl-33-93mg/dl). There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the concentrations of inorganic substances in the haemolymph across the six states. Snails from Oyo state recorded significant higher (p<0.05) concentrations of Na + , Ca 2+ and Cl - than those of other states. Also, Na+ and Cl- were the most common anions in snails’ haemolymph from the six states. This current study concluded that snails from Oyo state had better haemolymph biochemical properties than other south west states of Nigeria. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-12-02 Publication date: June 30 th 2020

Electrochemical method for isolation of chitinous 3D scaffolds from cultivated Aplysina aerophoba marine demosponge and its biomimetic application

Three-dimensional (3D) biopolymer-based scaffolds including chitinous matrices have been widely used for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and other modern interdisciplinary fields including extreme biomimetics. In this study, we introduce a novel, electrochemically assisted method for 3D chitin scaffolds isolation from the cultivated marine demosponge Aplysina aerophoba which consists of three main steps: (1) decellularization, (2) decalcification and (3) main deproteinization along with desilicification and depigmentation. For the first time, the obtained electrochemically isolated 3D chitinous scaffolds have been further biomineralized ex vivo using hemolymph of Cornu aspersum edible snail aimed to generate calcium carbonates-based layered biomimetic scaffolds. The analysis of prior to, during and post-electrochemical isolation samples as well as samples treated with molluscan hemolymph was conducted employing analytical techniques such as SEM, XRD, ATR–FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Finally, the use of described method for chitin isolation combined with biomineralization ex vivo resulted in the formation of crystalline (calcite) calcium carbonate-based deposits on the surface of chitinous scaffolds, which could serve as promising biomaterials for the wide range of biomedical, environmental and biomimetic applications.

Urinary Schistosomosis in Patients of Rural Medical Health Centers in Kwale County, Kenya.

SummaryUrinary schistosomosis is a serious public health problem prevalent in low-income rural regions of sub-Saharan Africa, including coastal part of Kenya. Praziquantel administration to school-aged children is the prevailing tool of schistosomosis control in these regions. The aim of our study was to find out if this control strategy can lead to interruption of parasite trasmission and disease elimination. During February and March 2018, the occurrence of urinary schistosomosis in volunteers of primary health care facilities in Kwale County, Kenya was examined and the occurrence of infected intermediate hosts Bulinus globosus in local water resources was monitored. Participants completed a questionnaire concerning source of water for household purposes, type of housing and health status and were asked to provide urine samples. Diagnosis of urinary schistosomosis was established by detection of Schistosoma haematobium eggs in urine specimens microscopically, using filtration method. Infected B. globosus snails were detected using cercaria shedding tests. From the hemolymph of snails, prepatent period of infection was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of urinary schistosomosis was detected in 15.07 % (69 out of 451) of study participants. Cercaria shedding test was positive in 2 particular sites of river Pengo and Tsanganyiko. Genetic material (haemolymph) of 68 B. globosus snails tested by DraI PCR revealed 7 Schistosoma spp. positive samples. Six of seven DraI positive snails were infected by S. haematobium, as it was detected by Sh110/SmS1 PCR. The study revealed, that the disease was still present in the region studied and the transmission was not interrupted. The rate of infection was significantly influenced by the water supplies used for household purposes and the type of housing.