Furcocercus Cercariae and other Parasitic Infections in Freshwater Snails of Jakara Dam, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Freshwater Snails from different parts of Jakara dam, Kano state, Nigeria were examined for the presence of cercariae. The locations were Wasai, Bangare and Yadakunya in three local government areas. A total of 613 snails comprising the genus Bulinus, Lymnea, Bithynia were collected out of which 104 (17%) were infected with different types of cercariae, nematode larva, and annelids (Oligochaetes). There was no significant association between the locations sampled and the prevalence of infected snails. A prevalence of 17.24% of infected snails was observed in Bangare; this was not significantly different from the 19.20% observed in Wasai (PR: 0.89, χ2:0.11, P = 0.7370) and 16.14% observed in Yadakunya (PR:1.06, χ2:0.04, P = 0.8322). The prevalence observed in Wasai was also not significantly different from that of Yadakunya (PR:1.19, χ2:0.73, P = 0.3915). Lymnea and Bulinus species were the only snails infected with cercariae while Bithynia species were infected with nematodes larva. Five types of furcocercus cercariae were recovered from the Bulinus snails only during the cold harmattan season while Fasciola cercariae and other cercariae were recovered at the end of the harmattan season.