Abstract

SANTANA, José Valfrido de; MAGALHAES, Luiz Augusto  and  RANGEL, Humberto de Araújo. Selection of strains of Biomphalaria tenagophila and Biomphalaria glabrata to improve susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni. Rev. Saúde Pública [online]. 1978, vol.12, n.1, pp. 67-77. ISSN 0034-8910.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101978000100008.

Populations of B. tenagophila and B. glabrata highly susceptible to strains S. mansoni from the Valley of the Paraíba do Sul River (State of S. Paulo) and from Belo Horizonte (State of Minas Gerais), were obtained after four generations using a schedule of individual selections in self-fertilized populations. The rapid genetic gains in susceptibility show that molluscan susceptibility to schistosomiasis infection is highly inheritable, and is apparently conditioned by few genes.

Keywords : Biomphalaria tenagophila; Biomphalaria glabrata; Schistosoma mansoni.