The burrowing behaviour of Bulinus nyassanus, intermediate host of Schistosoma haematobium, in Lake Malaŵi

Abstract

There is evidence that transmission of Schistosoma haematobium has increased in some areas in the southern part of Lake Malaŵi, where transmission occurs both along open shorelines and at inland sites. Transmission along open shores in the lake is via Bulinus nyassanus as intermediate host. Although the snail is rarely seen on top of the sediment, it seems to be an efficient path for transmission. Bulinus nyassanus does descend into the sediment, but it is restricted to the top 2 cm of the sediment.

Keywords:

• anti-predator behaviour
• diurnal behaviour
• fish predation
• sediment