Contamination of Vector Snails with the Larval Stages of  Trematodes in Selected Areas in Northern Iran

Mojgan  Aryaeipour; Allah Bedasht  Mansoorian; Mohammad Bagher  Molai Rad; Soheila  Rouhani; Majid  Pirestani; Ahmad Ali Hanafi-Bojd; Ahmad Daryani; Tina  Asadi; Mohammad  Bagher Rokni; Shahabeddin  Sarvi

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i6.9697

Mojgan Aryaeipour Student of Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Allah Bedasht Mansoorian Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Bagher Molai Rad Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Soheila Rouhani Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Majid Pirestani Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Ahmad Ali Hanafi-Bojd Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ahmad Daryani Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Tina Asadi School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Bagher Rokni Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shahabeddin Sarvi Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i6.9697

Keywords: Vector snails; Trematode; Parasitology; Iran

Abstract

Background: Identification of freshwater snails and possible trematodes transmission sites are essential to continue monitoring the potential for disease outbreaks in areas with a history of parasitic infections. We aimed to search some areas in the margin of the Caspian Sea, northern Iran to identify the snail fauna of this area and verify the contamination of vector snails.

Methods: More than 5,308 snails from 51 diverse and permanent habitats were studied from April 2019 to October 2021. Snails were collected randomly and identified using shell morphology. Trematode infection in snails was investigated by the release of cercariae and dissection methods.

Results: Five families of freshwater snails including Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae, Bithyniidae, and Viviparidae were investigated in the Caspian Sae Litoral of Iran. Physidae were found as the most prevalent snails (55.1%) followed by Lymnaeidae (29.4%). The parasitize rate was observed as 20% using releasing cercaria technique. Echinostomatoidea (31%), Schistosomatoidea (8%), and Diplostomoidea (21%), and Plagiorchioidea (40%) were seen as detected parasites. Meanwhile, 60% of the studied snails illustrated the other stages of trematodes.

Conclusion: The rate of infection of snails with different cercaria in northern Iran is significant. It needs further deep studies to clarify the situation of zoonoses transmitted by snails in the region. Policy makers should pay attention more to this area in terms of monitoring the snail-transmitted diseases.