Distribution and habitats of Bulinus depressus and possible role as intermediate host of economically important helminth parasites in South Africa

Abstract

This article documents the large-scale spatial distribution and ecological descriptors of associated habitats of Bulinus depres sus by analysis of samples taken from 552 collection sites on record in the database of the National Freshwater Snail Collection (NFSC) at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. This snail species is experimentally susceptible to Schistosoma margrebowiei , a helminth parasite of game animals and cattle and can possibly also exploit humans as definitive hosts. The 125 different loci ( 1/16 degree squares) on record reflect a geographical distribution that is largely limited to the central and western part of the Limpopo Province and westwards down the basins of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. Details of each habitat as described by collectors during surveys, as well as altitude and mean annual air temperature and rainfall for each locality, were processed and chi-square and effect size values calculated.

Authors

Categories