Geo-spatial distribution of freshwater snail intermediate host and molluscicidal efficacy of Jatropha tanjorensis for the control of Bulinus truncatus in Minna.

Abstract

This study was carried out in Bosso and Chanchga Local Government Area of Niger State between November, 2021 to March, 2022 to evaluate the geo-spatial Distribution of Freshwater Snail Intermediate Host And Molluscicidal Efficacy of Jatropha tanjorensis (Hospital too far) for the Control of Bulinus truncatus in Minna. Each sampling site was visited between 8:0 am and 12:00 noon in order to avoid coming in contact with the cercaria which are usually shed from infected snails during the day when the temperature rises slightly above 280 c. Snail collection was been made for 45 minutes at each of the site, using scooping net (diameter: 18 cm) supported by a frame mounted on a 2-metre long handle. out of different species of freshwater snail collected from three different water bodies selected (Bosso Dam, Gulubi river and Tagwai Dam) only two species was recorded to be an intermediate host of schistosomiasis.These species are; Bulinus spp and Biomphalaria spp. Bulinus. Fresh leaves of Jatropha tanjorensis was collected from settlements in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria.The plant was identify with the help of a senior Botanist at the Department of Plant Biology, Federal University of Technology, with reference to the standard flora.Voucher specimens were deposited at the department for future reference. The knowledge of their spatial distributions can be used to map the extent and risk of the disease in edemic areas. Hence, the need to search for better and ecofriendly alternative molluscicide, as a result of high cost of synthetic molluscicide, their environmental toxicity to non target organism and their lethal effect in the environments, propelled this study to elucidate the molluscicidal efficacy of n- hexane, ethyl acetate, aqueous and methanolic extracts of jatropha tanjorensis. The phytochemical constituents of the plant extract were determined using standard procedure. The molluscicidal bioassay against Bulinus spp using graded concentrations of the extract ranging from 100 to 500 mg/l was performed following standard protocol. Mortality was recorded after 24, 48, and 72 hrs exposure period. The effect of the plants on the snail architecture was determined histopathologically. The lethal concentration was estimated using probit linear regression analysis. The result indicated that the plants possess bioactive secondary metabolite including flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenol and saponins. Molluscicidal activities increases with increase in extract concentrations and exposure period. Amongst the extracts, n-hexane and ethyl acetate showed the highest molluscicidal activities with LC50 of 3.125 mg/L and 2.967347mg/L, after 48 and 72hrs exposure period. The histopathological results showed that the extract caused mild atrophy, increase in lacuna space, tissue was interspersed by lacunae, reduced cellular presentation and the calcium cells are drastically reduced which is more pronounced in n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts. Findings from this research suggest the application of n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts as an alternative agents in the control of snail intermediate host of schistosomiasis.