Preliminary screening of <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i> and <i>Azadiarachta indica</i> on <i>Bulinus globosus, Biomphalaria pfeifferi</i> and <i>Lymneae natalensis</i> in Yola, Nigeria

Abstract

Three species of snail were collected from farm and irrigation canals of Savannah Sugar Company Numan, Estate. The snails were exposed to extracts of dry leaf and bark of Balanites aegyptiaca and Azadiarachta indica under laboratory conditions and ambient temperature between 25⁰C -27⁰C. Replicates of each experiment were then exposed to 60 minutes daily sunlight for five days. Leaf extracts showed lower molluscicidal activity than bark extracts. Mortality recorded for Biomphalaria pfeifferi was 50%, Bulinus globosus 10% and Lymneae natalensis 80% when treated with Azadiarachta indica dry leaf at 500mg L^-1 concentration. Azadiarachta indica dry bark treatment resulted in 60% mortality of Biomphalaria pfeifferi and 100% mortality of Lymneae natalensis . None of the snails in the control group died .60% mortality was recorded for snails under laboratory conditions and 55% for those exposed to sunlight. Analysis of variance showed significant variation between the treatments (F – ratio=5.8803.19 P2 showed association in molluscicidal property between Azadiarachta indica and Balanites aegyptiacaat 5% significance level, P <0.05. It is recommended that the plants may be used in the control of some parasitic diseases.

Keywords: Mortality, Azadiarachta indica, Balanites aegyptiaca, Bulinus globosus, Lymneae natalensis

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 33 [1] March 2012, pp. 45-48