Behavior of Biomphalaria glabrata, the intermediate host snail of Schistosoma mansoni, at different depths in water in laboratory conditions

Using three columns of different depths (1.10m, 8.40m and 10.40m), we investigated the possibility of Biomphalaria glabrata moving towards deep regions. In the 1.10m column, we noted that locomotion can occur in two manners: 1) when the foot is in contact with the substrate: a) sliding descent; b) s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 1987-06, Vol.82 (2), p.197-208
Main Authors: JURBERG, P, SCHALL, V. T, BARBOSA, J. V, GATTI, M. J, SOARES, M. S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Behavior, Animal - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Biomphalaria - physiology
Biomphalaria glabrata
Feeding Behavior
Food Deprivation
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Immersion
Infectious diseases
Locomotion
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Parasitic diseases
PARASITOLOGY
Protozoa. Invertebrata
TROPICAL MEDICINE
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Summary:Using three columns of different depths (1.10m, 8.40m and 10.40m), we investigated the possibility of Biomphalaria glabrata moving towards deep regions. In the 1.10m column, we noted that locomotion can occur in two manners: 1) when the foot is in contact with the substrate: a) sliding descent; b) sliding ascent; c) creeping descent; d) creeping ascent, 2) when the foot is not in contact with the substrate: a) sudden descent without emission of air bules; b) sudden descent with emission of air bules; c) sudden ascent. In the 8.40m column containing food on the bottom (experimental group), the snails remained longer at this depth when compared to those of the group which received no food (control). The sliding behavior was characteristic of locomotion occurring at 0 to 1m both in upward and downward directions. Creeping behavior was typical for the ascent of the snails that reached deeper levels. When the snails were creeping, the shell remained hanging as if it were heavier, a fact that may have been due to water entering the pulmonary chamber. In the 10.40m column, the snails slid downward to a depth of 4m or descended suddenly all the way to the bottom. Ascent occurred by creeping from the bottom to the surface. In the 8.40m and 10.40m columns, copulation, feeding and oviposition occurred at the deepest levels.
ISSN:0074-0276
1678-8060
1678-8060
0074-0276
DOI:10.1590/S0074-02761987000200008