摘要
Objective:To investigate the predation efficacy of the freshwater leech,Limnatis nilotica(L.nilotica)as a potential biological control agent against different stages of the Bulinus truncatus(B.truncatus),the intermediate host of human Schistosoma haematobium,under laboratory conditions.Methods:The leech L.nilotica and the snail B.truncatus were collected from El Kiryab Agriculture Scheme,Sudan.Thereafter,the predatory activity of the leech was evaluated against eggs,neonates and adults of the snail in a series of different experiments under laboratory conditions.Results:The findings showed that the L.nilotica leech was a voracious predator towards the eggs and neonates of B.truncatus snails with a shell length of up to 3 mm,as well as of adult snails with an shell length greater than 3 mm.Conclusions:The results showed that L.nilotica had a significant impact on B.truncatus populations.However,long term studies under natural field conditions are needed to support these results.
