Abstract

BAILEY, James B.; MICHELSON, Edward H.  and  PARAENSE, W. Lobato. Differentiation of the sibling species Biomphalaria occidentalis and Biomphalaria tenagophila by the electrophoretic patterns of their hemoglobin. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz [online]. 1986, vol.81, n.3, pp. 319-322. ISSN 0074-0276.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02761986000300008.

A simple and rapid method for differentialing the sibling species Biomphalaria tenagophila and Biomphalaria occidentalis by agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) is described. Snail hemolymph is used as the test sample and the red colaration of the hemoglobin fraction permits visualization of the migration patterns without resorting to specific stains. Moreover, hemolymph samples may be obtained without killing the snail, thus permitting its use for other studies for breeding.

Keywords : Biomphalaria occidentalis; Biomphalaria tenagophila; sibling species; hemoglobin; electrophoresis; biochemical taxonomy.