The objective of this work was to study the molluscicidal activity of aqueous extract of Mikania glomerata on the land snail Subulina octona and to assess the changes caused on the snail's fecundity, growth, hatchability and the offspring produced after exposure. Eggs, newly hatched and 30 day old snails were exposed to the sublethal concentration of M. glomerata extract for 24 and 48 h and the observations were made for 120 days. The presence of tannins, flavonoids and saponins were shown by phytochemical tests. The extract reduced significantly the hatchability and the survival of the offspring hatched from the exposed eggs. The eggs exposed for 48 h presented lower hatchability rates. There was a reduction on survival and growth of newly hatched and 30-days old snails exposed to the extract. These results indicated that the aqueous extract of M. glomerata could be applied as an alternative molluscicide for the control of this snail species efficiently.

Subulina octona é um molusco terrestre que atua como hospedeiro intermediário de parasitos. Também atua como praga agrícola. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, durante 120 dias, o efeito da cafeína e do timol a 2,5g/L e a 5g/L, sobre a eclodibilidade, a sobrevivência após a eclosão, crescimento e a reprodução de S. octona em condições de laboratório. Foram testados 240 ovos, 240 jovens com 10 e 30 dias de vida. Os resultados dos testes mostraram que o timol (5g/L e 2,5g/L) e a cafeína a 5g/L atuaram como ovicida. Nos jovens com 10 dias de vida a cafeína à 5g/L provocou uma mortalidade de 25% e a 2,5 g/L 30%. O timol a 2,5g/L e 5g/L provocou 20 e 22,5% de mortalidade, respectivamente. Nos jovens com 30 dias de vida a cafeína a 5g/L causou 47,5% de mortalidade. Esses resultados sugerem novos estudos no campo.

Subulina octona is a terrestrial snail which serves as an intermediate host for the parasites. It is also an agricultural pest. The aim of this work was to assess, during 120 days, the effects of caffeine and thymol at 2.5 g/L and 5 g/L on the hatchability, survival after hatching, growth and reproduction of S. octona under the laboratory conditions. A total of 240 eggs, 240 juveniles aged 10-day-old, and 240 aged 30-day-old were tested. The results showed that thymol (at 2.5 g/L and 5 g/L) and caffeine (at 5 g/L) acted as ovicides. In the 10-day-old juveniles, caffeine at 5 g/L caused 25% mortality and at 2.5 g/L it caused 30% mortality. Thymol at 2.5 and 5 g/L caused 20 and 22.5% mortality, respectively. In the 30-day-old juveniles, caffeine at 5 g/L caused 47.5% mortality.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a influência da umidade do substrato sobre a resistência à dessecação em indivíduos da espécie S. octona, submetidos a uma exposição contínua, por 48 horas, à temperatura de 35 ºC. Foram utilizados 40 indivíduos, acondicionados em dois potes plásticos, um pote contendo terra vegetal® umedecida com 40ml de água e outro contendo terra vegetal seca, mantidos em câmara climatizada a 35±1 ºC. Foram verificados, a retração da massa cefalopodal no interior da concha e o número de indivíduos mortos. Os moluscos do pote com substrato seco e do pote com substrato úmido apresentaram retração da massa cefalopodal de 9,9cm±2,88 e 2,78cm±3,17 respectivamente, após 12 horas de exposição; 8,55cm±1,3 e 6,33cm±2,91, após 24 horas; 11,7cm±4,19 e 7,27cm±2,7, após 36 horas e 9,12cm±2,15 e 6,47cm±2,11, após 48 horas. Todos os indivíduos do pote com substrato seco morreram, enquanto todos os indivíduos do pote com substrato úmido sobreviveram. Esses resultados demonstram que a umidade do substrato é um fator que influencia a resistência à dessecação em S. octona.

The aim of this study was to verify the influence of substrate humidity on desiccation resistance of Subulina octona, continuously exposed, for 48 h, to the temperature of 35 °C. Forty individuals conditioned in 2 plastic boxes, one box containing black earth humidified with 40 ml water and the other one containing dry black earth were used. The retraction of cephalopodal mass inside the shell and the number of dead individuals was evaluated. Snails from dry and humid substrate boxes showed cephalopodal mass retraction of 9.9 cm±2.88 and 2.78 cm±3.17, respectively, after 12 h of exposure; 8.55 cm±1.3 and 6.33 cm±2.91, after 24 h; 11.07 cm±4.19 and 7.27 cm±2.7, after 36 h, 9.12 cm±2.15 and 6.47 cm±2.11, after 48 h. Every individual of dry substrate box died whereas every individual of humid substrate box survived. These results showed that substrate humidity was an influent factor regarding desiccation resistance in S. octona.

This study focuses on the geographic distribution of the snail of the genus Biomphalaria and evaluates its infectivity by Schistosoma mansoni in 5264 specimens collected in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Of the 31 locations studied, 6 were reservoirs, 11 rudimentary holding ponds, 7 irrigation ditches, 5 lakes, 1 ornamental pond, and 1 waterfall. Intermediate hosts were found only in the rudimentary ponds and ditches, which were 100% positive. Using morphological and molecular analysis techniques, B. tenagophila, B. peregrina, and B. straminea were identified. This is the first report of B. stramínea in the municipality, and evaluation of its infective potential revealed susceptibility of 25.4%. Although we did not find specimens of Biomphalaria infected by S. mansoni, the data obtained indicate the presence of intermediate hosts, especially in the irrigation ditches in Juiz de Fora, and their proximity to contaminated areas.

Os moluscos pulmonados selecionam substratos adequados a sua sobrevivência, exibindo preferência por determinadas características químicas, físicas e estruturais. Esse fator ambiental afeta a reprodução e a sobrevivência desses animais. Todavia, ainda permanece obscuro que aspectos do ciclo de vida e comportamento são influenciados. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar se o substrato influencia o crescimento de indivíduos da espécie Subulina octona (Brugüière, 1789), mantidos em areia, argila e terra vegetal. Indivíduos mantidos em caixa com terra vegetal, apresentaram menor comprimento de concha aos 15 e 30 dias de vida, no primeiro, segundo e terceiro evento reprodutivo, quando comparados a indivíduos criados em caixas com areia e argila. Foi observada uma tendência para a desaceleração do crescimento dos indivíduos submetidos aos três tratamentos, mostrando que o crescimento indeterminado, com o declínio progressivo do crescimento após a maturidade, é a estratégia exibida por S. octona. No presente estudo, foi observado que S. octona ingeria substrato regularmente e que os indivíduos criados em terra vegetal consumiam menos ração. É provável que a terra vegetal forneça condições semelhantes ao habitat preferencial dos moluscos em ambiente natural e seja mais propícia à utilização como recurso alimentar. Dessa forma, os moluscos criados em terra vegetal tenderam a consumir mais substrato e menos ração do que aqueles criados em areia e argila, obtendo quantidade menor de nutrientes, o que pode ter influenciado seu crescimento.

The influence of substrate on growth of Subulina octona (Brugüière, 1789), reared in sand, clay and humus, was investigated under laboratorial conditions. The individuals reared in humus, showed smaller shell lengths at the ages of 15 days and 30 days, and at the first, second and third reproductive events. There was a progressive decline in growth rate of shell length with time. This fact was observed for the individuals kept in the three kinds of substrate, demonstrating that the indeterminate growth, with a progressive decline in growth after maturity, is the strategy exhibited by S. octona. In this study was also observed that S. octona of different developmental stages fed on substrate and the molluscs reared in humus consumed less food. This is probably due to the fact that humus is more likely to be take as food resource. So that, the snails reared in humus tend to consume more substrate and less ration, obtaining less proteins, carbohydrates and calcium than those snails reared in sand and clay. This low intake of ration might have negative effects over the growth of the snails.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar se o substrato influencia a reprodução de indivíduos da espécie Subulina octona (Brugüière, 1789), mantidos em três diferentes substratos: areia, argila e terra vegetal. Foram analisados os seguintes parâmetros: número de ovos produzidos a cada evento reprodutivo, tempo para o alcance da maturidade sexual, idade dos indivíduos a cada evento reprodutivo, intervalo entre eventos reprodutivos, número total de ovos por indivíduo, número total de eventos reprodutivos por indivíduo e aumento do número de ovos de um evento para o subseqüente. O substrato influenciou o tempo necessário para o alcance da maturidade sexual, bem como o tempo para a realização dos eventos reprodutivos subseqüentes ao primeiro, a produção de ovos, o número total de ovos produzidos e de eventos reprodutivos de S. octona. Indivíduos mantidos em caixa com terra vegetal levaram mais tempo para realizar o primeiro, segundo, terceiro e quarto evento reprodutivo, produziram menos ovos, no segundo, terceiro e quarto evento e apresentaram um intervalo maior entre o primeiro e segundo evento.

The influence of substrate on reproduction of Subulina octona (Brugüière, 1789), reared in sand, clay and humus, was investigated under laboratorial conditions. There were significant differences in onset of sexual maturity, egg production, shell length and aging in each reproductive event, total number of eggs produced and total number of reproductive events. The individuals reared in humus spent more time to reach sexual maturity, as well as to accomplish the subsequent reproductive events. Moreover, produced fewer eggs in the second, third and fourth ovipositions and exhibited a longer interval between the first and second reproductive events. After 120 days of experiment such individuals had produced fewer eggs, and performed fewer reproductive events, when compared with those kept in sand and clay. There was a progressive decline in egg number increase with time. In this study was also observed that S. octona of different developmental stages fed on substrate and the molluscs reared in humus consumed less food. This is probably due to the fact that humus is more likely to be take as food resource. So that, the snails reared in humus tend to consume more substrate and less ration, obtaining less proteins, carbohydrates and calcium than those snails reared in sand and clay. This low intake of ration might have negative effects over reproduction of the snails.

Biological aspects of Leptinaria unlamellata (d'Orbigny, 1835) were studied, such as: onset of sexual maturity, occurrence of self-fertilization and shell length measurement at different stages of development. In isolated specimens of L. unilamellata, sexual maturity was reached at 74 days (minimum time) and 104 days (maximum time). For the grouped specimens, the minimum time was 71 days. The occurrence of self-fertilization was observed in both species, 100% of specimens. The total numberof young per birth varied from one to 22 (average: 7,35 ± 5,78), the total number of offsprings per mollusc varied from two to eight (average: 4,1 ± 1,41) and total number of young per mollusc varied from five to 46 (average: 30,21 ± 8,08). As to the shell length in different growth stages, it was observed that in L. unilamellata, growth rhythm was similar until 15 days for age. After this period grouped specimens showed a high growth rhythm until 105 days after which the growth rhythm of grouped specimens became constant and the growth rhythm isolated specimens became greater. Grouped and isolated specimens reached a maximum size of 18,7 mm and 20,6 mm respectively. In the moment of the sexual maturity, the length of the shell in the individuals that were kept grouped was smaller than the isolated ones for L. unilamellata. In this specie individuals that were kept isolated reach larger length of shell.

Biological aspects of Bradybaena similaris (Férussac, 1821) were studied, such as: onset of sexual maturity, occurrence of self-fertilization, oviposition, incubation period, eclosion rate and shell length measurement at different stages of development. It was noted that in isolated B. similaris the minimum and maximum time for reaching sexual maturity were 109 and 180 days, respectively. When kept in groups, the minimum time was 78 days. The occurrence of self-fertilization was observed in 18.4% of specimens. The total number of eggs per oviposition varied from one to 38 (average: 3,5 ± 7,15), the total number of eggs per mollusc varied from one to 39 (average: 7,0 ± 10,21) and the total number of oviposition per mollusc varied form one to six (averege: 2,0 ± 1,27). Thirty ovipositions (894 eggs) were followed and the minimum eclosion time of the young was 14 days, the maximum eclosion time was 35 days and the average 23,69 days. The eclosion average percent was 81,22. As to the shell length in different growth stages, it was observed that in B. similaris the length of the shell was similar until 30 days for age. After this period isolated specimens acquired a greater growth rhythm when compared to that of grouped specimens. The maximum shell length of isolated specimens was 17,4 mm whereas grouped specimens reached 14,5 mm. In this specie, individuals that were kept grouped became sexually mature earlier than isolated ones. Individuals kept isolated reach larger length of shell. In the moment of the sexual maturity, the length of the shell in the individuals tha were kept isolated was smaller than the grouped.

With the purpose of investigating the biological aspects of Angiostrongylus vasorum (Baillet, 1866) Kamensky, 1905 in Subulina octona Bruguiere, 1789 experimental infections were carried out with the exposure of 90 adult molluscs to 155 L1 of the parasite/mollusc during 24 hours. The intramollus-can larval development was checked out daily through the chemical digestion of four infected molluscs and one molluscs from the control group during 21 days after infection. Until the 6th day post-infection, only Li of the parasite has been observed. On the 7th day; the presence of L2 was detected and from the 13th day on, L3 of A. vasorum also appeared. By means of larval morphometry, it has been observed that, Li had na average size of 335 x 14,5 um whereas L2 had an average size of 440,7 x 33,9 um on the 7th day ofter infection, reaching a, aximal diameter of 41,8 um on the 12th day after infections. The L3 had an average size of 472,4 x 38,7 um on the 13th day day and on the 21st' day after infection the measure was 551,3 x 27,6 um. In order to verify the infectivity of L3, from 5. octona to the definitive host, infection of a dog was undertaken by means of ingestion of tritured molluscs. On the 49th day post-infection, Li was found in the feaces of the dog and at necropsy on the 84th day post-infection adults worms were found in the lungs.