Susceptibility of Biomphalaria pfeifferi from Amibara irrigation scheme to Schistosoma mansoni parasites from Adua and Gursume, Ethiopia.

A laboratory based susceptibility study was carried out on the snail Biomphalaria pfeifferi from canal habitats of the Amibara Irrigation Scheme (Awash Valley) to Schistosoma mansoni parasites from Adua (northern) and Gursume (eastern) Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to investigate the potential role of the snail in the transmission of S. mansoni in the irrigation network of Amibara. Thirty seven (74%) of the 50 snails and 55 (73.3%) of the 75 snails exposed to Adua and Gursume parasites respectively survived the prepatent period. Among the survivors, 94.6% and 96.4% infection rates were observed in those exposed to Auda and Gursume parasites respectively. Cercariae obtained from the snails were used to infect laboratory mice and the characteristic human Schistosoma mansoni eggs and adult worms were recovered. The implications of this study are discussed and future areas of research indicated.