Studies on Australian buliniform planorbids : their potential role as schistosome hosts

Abstract

The potential role of Australian buliniform planorbids in the transmission of Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni has been assessedby experimental exposures to infection in the laboratory. No Australian snail became infected with trematode and these results are discussed in relation to previous reports of the transmission of Schistosoma haematobium in Australia.

The fact that these planorbids appear to lack susceptibility to human schistosomes has significance for the frequent use of as a generic name for Australian snails in particular, for the synonymising of Isidorella Tate with Bulinus Muller by Hubendick.

The genera of Australian buliniform planorbids recognised by Iredale have been examined anatomically and their classification reviewed. The major conclusions reached are:

1/. Isidorella is not congeneric with Bulinus and is an endemic Australian genus. 2/. Iredale's genera Lenameria, Tasmadora and Mutalena are synonyms of Physastra Tapparone Canefri which, in turn, is a synonym of Glyptophysa Crosse. In this classification Physastra is recognised as a subgenus of Glyptophysa, 3/. Glyptamode Iredale is a synonym of Glyptophysea. 4/. Oppletora Iredale and Whitley, synonymised with Bulinus by Hubendick, is actually related to Glyptophysa and is placed in a separate subgenus. 5/. Ancylastrum Bourguignat has been examined and the results confirm Hubendick's opinion that this limpet-like genus is related to Glyptophysa. Two species can be separated by simple anatomical characters. 6/. The genus Bayardella Burch includes two species. B. johni and B. cosmeta, once considered to be a species of Glyptophysa. 7/. Ameriella Cotton is recognised as a subgenus within Amerianna Strand and includes species with a lateral penis pore. The nominate subgenus includes species with a terminal penis pore.