A Survey of the Distribution and Abundance of Snail Vectors in Selected Areas of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Freshwater snails have been reported to act as vectors of parasitic infections, causing hardship to infected persons. Surveying the distribution and abundance of snail vectors of parasites in selected areas of Rivers State, Nigeria was assessed in three study sites; Odau, Mbiama and Akinima respectively. Field work was conducted once a month for three consecutive months from June to August 2024. A scoop net and handpicking method was used for snail collection and water samples were collected also for physico-chemical parameter analysis. Physico-chemical parameters analyzed were; temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), biological oxygen demand (BOD, conductivity and water salinity using standard methods. A total of 539(78.34%), 109(15.84%) and 40(5.81%) snails were gotten from Odau, Mbiama and Akinima respectively. Thus a total of 688 freshwater and land snails made up of Pila ovata, Bulinus forskali, Archachatina marginata and Limicolaria spp. comprising 514 (74.71%), 135(19.62%), 27(3.92 %) and 12(1.74%) were collected respectively during the study in the three locations. The data analyzed showed that water physico-chemical parameters recorded skewed impact on the abundance of snails. The study areas had a high abundance of freshwater snails, and may be at risk of an outbreak of snail-borne parasitic diseases. Odau had the highest in terms of abundance and species diversity than other locations. The physico-chemical parameters indicated different relationships with snail abundance.