Environmental Parameters and Biomphalaria Snail Distribution along River Kochi, West Nile Region, Uganda
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Date
2014Author
Ejotre, Imran
Makanga, Boniface
Nachuha, Sarah
Mpezamihigo, Mouhamed
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Show full item recordAbstract
Aims: To explore the abundance and distribution of the common fresh water mollusks in River
Kochi, with a special focus on Biomphalaria species, a vector responsible for transmitting
Schistosoma mansoni to humans.
Study Design: Across sectional study design was used.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted between October 2007 and March 2008
along Kochi River in Koboko, Yumbe and Moyo in the West Nile region of Uganda.
Methodology: Five sites along the river approximately 20 km apart, were selected and data on
snail abundance and various environmental variables thought to be influencing the distribution of
snails along this river were collected. These variables included: altitude, season of the year, water
flow velocity, water pH, water temperature and concentrations of total dissolved solids in the water.
Results: Findings indicate that numbers of Biomphalaria species of snails increased with
decreasing altitude (mean numbers 0, 15.33, 19, 50 & 73.33 from highest to lowest altitude points)
and no snails of this species were recorded during the wet season. The abundance of Biomphalaria
showed a positive relationship with pH (r=0.614) but negative with water velocity (r=-0.749).
Conclusion: Altitude influences the distribution Biomphalaria snails and hence potential prevalence
of schistosomiasis. Water users of Kochi River should therefore try to minimize contact with water in
this river especially during the dry season. Local leaders should lobby to government for alternative
sources of water during the dry season.
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- Research papers [11]