Susceptibility and compatibility of Bulinus globosus from different snails’ population in north eastern Nigeria to Schistosoma haematobium obtained in Bauchi and its implication for control of Urinary Schistosomiasis

Abstract

This study investigated the compatibility of Bulinus globosus populations from six states 
in northeastern Nigeria with local strains of Schistosoma haematobium under laboratory 
conditions. A total of 10 F₁ generation snails, bred in the laboratory from each state 
population, were individually exposed to 10 miracidia obtained from schistosome eggs 
collected in Piro village, Bauchi State. Following a prepatent period of 24 to 28 days, both 
sympatric (same geographical origin) and allopatric (different geographical origin) host
parasite combinations began shedding cercariae. The average cercarial output per snail 
per day was relatively low, ranging from 34 to 47 cercariae. However, the total cercarial 
output per 100 snails was high, ranging between 480,060 and 872,550 cercariae. The 
infection period per snail was short, lasting between 35 and 49 days. Infected snails 
exhibited a relatively low mortality rate (6.25–25%), suggesting a degree of tolerance to 
the parasitic infection. Notably, there were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) 
among the states in both daily cercarial production and average infection duration. The 
combination of a short prepatent period, low mortality, and high total cercarial production 
indicates a strong compatibility between the local S. haematobium strain and B. globosus 
populations across northeastern Nigeria. These findings imply a high potential for the 
establishment and transmission of schistosomiasis in the region. Given this high 
compatibility, coupled with the extensive movement of people and livestock 
(transhumance) across the area, there is a significant risk for the spread and outbreak 
of human urogenital schistosomiasis. This underscores the need for region-wide 
surveillance and control strategies to mitigate transmission.