Infestation rate of African giant snails (Achatina fulica and Archachatina marginata) by parasites during the rainy season in three localities of Cameroon - Abstract
This study was designed during the rainy season in order to identify the parasites likely to infest edible snails. 360 Achatina fulica and Archachatina marginata was sampled in the Littoral, Center and West regions of Cameroon. After macroscopic observation of snails, the hepatopancreas, digestive tract, sex organs, slime and haemolymph were isolated. These samples were examined using the flotation techniques and direct rubbing. Of the 360 snails sampled, 213 (59.3%) were infested, that is 147 (82.1%) for A. marginata and 66 (36.7%) for A. fulica respectively. The highest infestation rate was recorded on protozoans (41.4%) followed by nematode (24.7%). The most represented parasites were Trichodina achatinae (23.9%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (16.1%); while the least represented were cyst of Balantidium coli (8.1%), Enteromonas sp. (8.1%), cyst of Isospora sp. (7.8%), larva of Protostrongylus sp. (7.5%), cyst of Cryptosporidium sp. (6.4%), mesocercariae of Alaria sp. (6.4%), larva of Enterobius vermicularis (4.2%), larva of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (2.5%), egg of Hyostrongylus rubidus (1.9%), egg of Globocephallus urosubulatus (1.4), non-identified mite (1.1%), egg of Fasciola sp. (0.3%), egg of Oesophagostomum sp. (0.3%) and egg of Paragonimus westermani (0.3%). Snails from Santchou were more infested (70.6%) followed by those from Wouri (58.3%) and then from Lekie (49.2%).