Susceptibility of Argentinean Biomphalaria tenagophila and Biomphalaria straminea to infection by Schistosoma mansoni and the possibility of geographic expansion of mansoni schistosomiasis

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Luciana Franceschi Simoes, Eliana Anunciato Franco Camargo, Leticia Duart Bastos, Maria Francisca Neves, Jose Ferreira de Carvalho, Luiz Augusto Magalhaes, Eliana Maria Zanotti-Magalhaes
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2013
• Subjects: Schistosomiasis; Biomphalaria; Susceptibility; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Argentina; Uruguay; Lucía; Atalaya
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0131-2013; https://doaj.org/article/0b36ed1876484558bdc137b284596d2f

Introduction Human migration and the presence of natural vectors (mollusks) of Schistosoma mansoni are the primary causes of the expansion of mansoni schistosomiasis into southern areas of South America. Water conditions are favorable for the expansion of this disease because of the extensive hydrographic network, which includes the basins of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers and favors mollusk reproduction. These rivers also aid agriculture and tourism in the area. Despite these favorable conditions, natural infection by S. mansoni has not yet been reported in Argentina, Uruguay, or Paraguay. Methods Two species of planorbid from Argentina, Biomphalaria straminea and B. tenagophila, were exposed to the miracidia of five Brazilian strains of S. mansoni. Results Biomphalaria tenagophila (Atalaya, Buenos Aires province) was infected with the SJS strain (infection rate 3.3%), confirming the experimental susceptibility of this Argentinian species. Biomphalaria straminea (Rio Santa Lucía, Corrientes province) was susceptible to two Brazilian strains: SJS (infection rate 6.7%) and Sergipe (infection rate 6.7%). Conclusions These results demonstrate that species from Argentina have the potential to be natural hosts of S. mansoni and that the appearance of foci of mansoni schistosomiasis in Argentina is possible.