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Heavy metal concentrations in the freshwater snail Biomphalaria alexandrina uninfected or infected with cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni and/or Echinostoma liei in Egypt: the potential use of this snail as a bioindicator of pollution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2013

O.M.S. Mostafa ,
A.-T.H. Mossa  and
H.M.A. El Einin
O.M.S. Mostafa
Affiliation:
Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khaled University, PO Box 9004, Abha, Saudi Arabia Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia 11566, Cairo, Egypt
A.-T.H. Mossa*
Affiliation:
Environmental Toxicology Research Unit (ETRU), Pesticide Chemistry Department, National Research Centre, Tahrir Street, PO Box 12311, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
H.M.A. El Einin
Affiliation:
Medical Malacology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, PO Box 30, Imbaba, Giza, Egypt
*
*Fax: (202)-33370931 E-mail: abdeltawab.mossa@yahoo.com
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Abstract

In spite of using aquatic snails as bioindicators for water pollution, little attention has been paid to the effect of parasitism upon the concentration of heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) in these organisms. The present study therefore aimed to compare the concentrations of heavy metals in trematode-infected Biomphalaria alexandrina collected from Kafer Alsheikh and Menofia provinces, Egypt, with uninfected snails from the same sites, in order to assess the effect of parasitism on the use of these snails as bioindicators. The concentrations of heavy metals in the soft parts and shells of snails were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that the heavy metal profile in snails infected with Echinostoma liei was very different from that in snails infected with Schistosoma mansoni. The total concentration of heavy metals in E. liei-infected snails collected from Kafer Alsheikh or Menofia province was greater than in uninfected snails. In contrast, the total concentration of heavy metals in S. mansoni-infected snails was reduced compared with uninfected snails. In conclusion, the status of snails with respect to parasitic infection must be taken into consideration when these snails are used as bioindicators.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 88 , Issue 4 , December 2014 , pp. 411 - 416
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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