Abstract

Field investigation to establish the density of fresh water snail intermediate host in four water bodies of Yenagoa metropolis were carried out during January to March, 2016.  Snails were collected in each water body using scooping and handpicking methods. The identification of snails and the determination of physico-chemical parameter of the water body followed standard procedures. Three snail species were identified. They are Lymnaea natelensis (91.89%), Bulinus globosus (2.25%), and Oncomelania species (5.86%). The differences in the snail abundances were not significant (F=1.8911; p>0.05). The snails’ abundance by location was Etegwe (44.54%), Okutukutu (48.05%), Azikoro (6.76%), Kpansia (4.05%), and Okaka (3.60%). Differences between snail abundance and locations were significant (F=2.244; p<0.05). B. globosus was exclusive in Azikoro and Etegwe, while Oncomelania was exclusive in Azikoro and Okaka. L. nataensis were widely distributed in all locations. Snail species vary across microhabitat. The difference of snail abundance across microhabitat was significant (F=6.045; p<0.05). Sympatric association exists between B. globosus and L. natalensis at Etegwe. The physico-chemical parameters analyzed were temperature, pH, biochemical-oxygen demand, turbidity, and conductivity. The effect of physico-chemical parameter on the snail population across locations was not significant (F=1.9022; p>0.05). The public health implication of this study has call for timely control intervention.

Key words: Fresh water snail, intermediate host, spatial distribution, physico-chemical parameter, Yenagoa.