The influence of abiotic factors on the distribution of Biomphalaria pfeifferi (Krauss, 1848) (Planorbidae: Mollusca) and its lifecycle in South-Eastern Africa
- Authors: Appleton, Christopher Charles
- Date: 1976
- Subjects: Schistosomiasis , Mollusks as carriers of disease
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5835 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009495 , Schistosomiasis , Mollusks as carriers of disease
- Description: Previous studies on the influence of abiotic factors on the distribution of bilharzia intermediate host snails of the family Planorbidae are reviewed. Much of this work is basically descriptive and relatively few attempts have been made to examine the effects of these factors on snails in their natural habitats - to identify the factors precisely and to measure their critical levels. An account is given of recent studies on Eiomphalaria pfeifferi (Krauss) in two climatically different regions of southeastern Africa, at 6S5m altitude on the eastern Transvaal escarpment and 19m on the coastal peneplain of northern Zululand. These have shown the species to undergo a similar annual life-cycle of three overlapping generations in both areas. Further, in these areas where the snail has a discontinuous distribution, two abiotic factors, stream geology and water temperature, were found to be important in limiting its distribution. The longitudinal distribution of B. pfeifferi and another host snail Bulinus (Physopsis) globosus (Morelat), extended upstream in a perennial watercourse, the Gladdespruit, on the escarpment only as far as permanently lentic habitats were available. These habitats, usually detached from the channel, characterized the stream's lowest physical zone with its substratum of exposed granite, as opposed to the sandy-bottomed lotic zones upstream. The limit of the snails' occurrence lay close to the junction of these two substratum types. Granite is resistant to erosion but contains soft inclusions which erode more quickly than the hard matrix causing uneven weathering. This results in the formation of depressions in the stream bed (i.e. pools, potholes and backwaters) which provide the permanently lentic conditions necessary for the snails' survival. Temperature recordings made on this plain, upstream of the snails' limit, suggest that the water temperature here exceeded the critical lower levels required for a positive intrinsic rate of natural increase sufficiently often to permit the species to survive here, though not optimally. Above this point however, current velocities are continually in excess of the maximum tolerated (0.3 m/sec.) so that in this situation at least, current velocity is a dominant factor. A contrasting situation exists on the coastal peneplain of northern Zululand where B. pfeifferi occurs in some lentic habitats and not in others. This discontinuous distribution is shown to be related to the prolonged duration of temperatures above the level for optimal increase. The apparently suitable habitats from which B. pfeifferi was absent were found to be both very shallow and to experience these prolonged high temperatures during spring and early summer. This corresponds to the maturation period of the B. pfeifferi 1st generation as defined by Appleton (1974) and causes reduced fecundity probably through impaired gonad development. The density of its filial (2nd) generation is correspondingly reduced. A statistically significant partial-correlation (at a 1% level) was found between the fecundity of the 1st generation and increasing periods of temperatures above the species' optimal limit in the habitats involved during its maturation period (spring). It is interesting to nate here that B. (Ph.) globosus, which is known to be better adapted to high temperatures than B. pfeifferi (Shiff & Husting, 1966) occurred in all the waterbodies concerned. Both these factors therefore play important roles in determining the country-wide distribution pattern of the host snails. This distribution is closely correlated with the availability of permanently lentic habitats. In river systems, which form the main environment for these snails, such stable habitats occur almost entirely in low-gradient reaches over hard bed-rock which is resistant to erosion. Current velocities above 0.3 m/sec. render steeper reaches and those over soft, non-resistant rock and sand (unstable substrata) unsuitable and therefore constitute a most important limiting factor. Temperature however becomes a dominant factor in permanently lentic waterbodies. Biomphalaria pfeifferi is adversely affected by high temperature regimes and where such regimes occur in waterbodies which are too shallow to permit temperature gradient to develop, the species cannot survive whereas B. (Ph.) globosus can do so. This intolerance of high temperature regimes on the part of B. pfeifferi accounts for the species' adoption of a discontinuous distribution over the coastal plain of south-eastern Africa. A comparable pattern has been reported for the species over this plain northwards to approximately 16°S latitude in Mozambique and is probably due to a similar high-temperature effect. Further northwards in equatorial latitudes B. pfeifferi is restricted to the more elevated and cooler areas above an altitude of 500 - 600 m, probably because the very high temperature regimes prevailing in the lowlands there exclude the species altogether.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1976
The relationship between acquired resistance and transmission of Schistosoma Weinland, 1858, in man and its influences on the prevalence of S Capense (Harley, 1864) and S Mansoni Sambon, 1907, in Southern Rhodesia
- Authors: Clarke, H V de V
- Date: 1965
- Subjects: Platyhelminthes , Schistosoma , Schistosomiasis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010500 , Platyhelminthes , Schistosoma , Schistosomiasis
- Description: Bilharziasis ranks with Tuberculosis and Malaria as the three most important endemic diseases of man in Rhodesia. The prominence given to bilharziasis in the endemic diseases pattern arises from its high prevalence, particularly in the African population. It is probable that bilharziasis was endemic in the country even prior to the arrival in the conntry of the European settlers in 1890, but it was not until Orpen (1915) described the results of a small survey that local infections were proven. He reported 182 (31 percent) urinary infections in 592 African prisoners examined in the Salisbury gaol. In the ensuing 15 years there was only scanty evidence of the prevalence of the disease. However, in the decade 1931 to 1940 the Annual Public Health Reports of Southern Rhodesia indicated increasing prevalence, and this stimulated interest in the problem and led to the establishment in 1939 of a specialised laboratory to study the parasites causing the disease. The unpublished records of this laboratory indicate that in more recent years the disease has increased not only in prevalence but also in its intensity in infected individuals. Surveys show that the urinary form of the disease is more widespread than the intestinal form. Both forms are becoming more prevalent but the rapid increase of the latter, considered by most authorities to be the more severe, indicates that a greater importance must be accorded to it in the future. Introduction, p. 1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1965
The influence of temperature in the ecology of the intermediate host snails of Schistosoma and Fasciola (Trematoda) in southern Rhodesia
- Authors: Shiff, Clive Julian
- Date: 1963
- Subjects: Schistosoma , Schistosomiasis , Fasciola , Snails -- Zimbabwe , Trematoda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5881 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013208
- Description: The influence of temperature on the bionomics of Bulinus (Physopsis) globosus, Biomphalaria pfeifferi and Lymnaea natalensis has been studied both in the laboratory under controlled conditions and in the field under normal seasonal influences. Field studies were carried out in two different localities, one a semi-permanent pond and the other a temporary waterbody. For this purpose a sampling implement was developed. The results show the seasonal progression of these populations both with respect to estimated numbers and the size distribution of the snails. The rate of actual increase at different seasons was calculated for the three species where the data were sufficient. In the laboratory the snails were maintained at various temperatures, other conditions being kept standard. Daily records of mortality and fecundity of various cohorts reared from the egg stage enabled the compilation of life tables fof the speciesand from these data were calcualted the intrinsic rate of natural increase and other parameters. Effects of crowding in aquaria were studied. From the data obtained in the laboratory it was possible to predict the distribution and population potential for each species for snail of various environmental conditions. These predictions were, in fact, confirmed by field observation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1963