In:
Revista de Biología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, Vol. 63, No. 2 ( 2015-07-01), p. 479-
Abstract:
〈 p 〉 Snails of the family Lymnaeidae, as 〈 em 〉 Pseudosuccinea columella 〈 /em 〉 , are the intermediate hosts of 〈 em 〉 Fasciola hepatica 〈 /em 〉 , the causative agent of fasciolosis in human and livestock all over the world. A thorough knowledge of snail biology is essential for describing the transmission dynamics and for controlling this disease. Since food quality has had a significant effect on snail growth, fecundity and fertility, in this study we evaluated the use of spirulina ( 〈 em 〉 Arthrospira platensis 〈 /em 〉 ) as a food resource for the artificial breeding of 〈 em 〉 P. columella 〈 /em 〉 , an invasive snail and the main intermediate host of 〈 em 〉 F. hepatica 〈 /em 〉 in Northeastern Argentina. The main purpose was to measure the effect of spirulina on fitness parameters such as survival rate, growth rate, size at first reproduction, lifetime fecundity and viable offspring. A total of 20 676 newly-laid F 〈 sub 〉 2 〈 /sub 〉 eggs were used; half of them were fed with lettuce (treatment L) and the other half with lettuce plus spirulina (treatment L+S). In comparison with 〈 em 〉 P. columella 〈 /em 〉 snails fed only with lettuce, we found that 〈 em 〉 P. columella 〈 /em 〉 fed with lettuce plus spirulina: 〈 strong 〉 1) 〈 /strong 〉 showed higher survival rates, 〈 strong 〉 2) 〈 /strong 〉 grew faster and showed higher growth increments, 〈 strong 〉 3) 〈 /strong 〉 attained sexual maturity earlier in time (L+S:60 days vs. L:120 days) and at a smaller size (L+S:4.8mm vs. L:8.2mm), 〈 strong 〉 4) 〈 /strong 〉 had a longer reproductive period (L+S:150 days vs. L:90 days), 〈 strong 〉 5) 〈 /strong 〉 produced a higher number of eggs/snail (L+S:29.6 vs. L:13.3), and 〈 strong 〉 6) 〈 /strong 〉 showed a higher offspring hatching rate (L+S:70% vs. L:40%). The supplementation of 〈 em 〉 P. columella 〈 /em 〉 diet with commercial spirulina enhances it fitness and improved the artificial breeding of this species. Spirulina may have a direct positive effect on 〈 em 〉 P. columella 〈 /em 〉 development by consuming it, along with an indirect positive effect by improving the water quality. This rearing technique provided large number of reproducing adults and a continuous production of offspring, which are essential for developing future experimental studies in order to improve our knowledge on 〈 em 〉 P. columella 〈 /em 〉 biology. 〈 /p 〉
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2215-2075
,
0034-7744
DOI:
10.15517/rbt.v63i2.15375
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
Universidad de Costa Rica
Publication Date:
2015
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2020929-0
SSG:
7,36
SSG:
12
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