Limnic gastropods and trematodes of public health concern in Barreirinhas, Maranhão State, Brazil

A survey of limnic gastropods in Barreirinhas, Maranhão State, Brazil, identified 1273 specimens of three species: Biomphalaria straminea (61%), Melanoides tuberculata (27.3%), and Pomacea sp. (11.7%). The study revealed that B. straminea, a vector for Schistosoma mansoni, was predominant, while Pomacea sp. hosted trematode larvae from the Microphallidae and Gymnophallidae families. Conducted between October 2021 and August 2022, this research highlights the potential public health risks posed by these gastropods in a region experiencing significant tourist influx within the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (LMNP). The findings underscore the need for further investigation into zoonotic diseases in this ecologically and culturally significant area.

Marques, A. M., Costa, B. N., Brito, K. L. R., Cantanhede, A. S., Sousa, E. P., Veloso, B. L., Braga, N. B. C., Cantanhede, S. P. D., Tchaicka, L., & Rebêlo, J. M. M. (2024). Limnic gastropods and trematodes of public health concern in Barreirinhas, Maranhão State, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 84. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.286766