Habitats of Bulinus truncatus and Planorbarius metidjensis, the intermediate hosts of urinary schistosomosis, under a semiarid or an arid climate

Abstract

Since Bulinus truncatus and Planorbarius metidjensis are the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma haematobium in southwestern Morocco, five rivers were investigated to identify sites colonized by either of both species and determine the characteristics of their habitats via the study of 12 physicochemical parameters in running water. P. metidjensis was observed in the upper valleys of three rivers, whereas B. truncatus was found in sites of lower altitude. A component analysis demonstrated that altitude (from 4 to 1,380 m), water pH (from 5.9 to 9.2), and electric conductivity (from 120 to 6,020 μS/cm) were the main descriptors of environment. A multiple correspondence analysis showed that P. metidjensis was associated to Ancylus fluviatilis, high altitude, and possibly low electric conductivity. B. truncatus was associated to Melanoides tuberculata and was found in lower altitude sites with medium electric conductivity in water. Using logistic regressions, the main characteristics were altitude and dissolved oxygen for B. truncatus, and chlorides and CaCO₃ for P. metidjensis. As the habitats of both S. haematobium intermediate hosts differed from each other by altitude and the frequency of snails, which cohabited with them, these findings may be used to detect the presence of either of both intermediate hosts in numerous spring heads which are present on the western slope of the Anti Atlas mountains and the corresponding valleys.