Dear colleagues!
This time I have an urgent call for help by myself.
Since some weeks, we have serious problems with our snail population. Our
snails are kept under relatively constant conditions for years now, but many
snails die suddenly. The shell of the snails is not covered by large lesions and
seems unaffected. Under the microscope, we cannot detect ostrocods or rotifers
and the water in the tanks is not contaminated with bacteria. The remaining
snails do not propagate well, far less than they did some months ago. The few
progeny snails which are produced die early, before they reach 3 mm diameter.
We maintain our S. mansoni strain by cycling through Biomphalaria glabrata.
We keep the snails in 10 to 50 liter glass tanks at 24C with aeration by small
air pumps. To clean the water, carbon-filters are used. The water quality seems
to be good since Daphnia as cohabitants survive. Snails are feeded by lettuce,
which is carefully washed before use.
Has anyone experience with such a problem and could give advice?
We are planing to build up a new snail population, but the few snails which
are still present may not be enough to establish a good population. Therefore,
we would be very grateful for any Biomphalaria glabrata which could be provided
to us. We would be happy to take over the costs for sending.
Thank you for any kind of help in advance,
yours sincerely
Christoph Grevelding
Dr.Christoph G.Grevelding Tel.:(49)-211-81-13070
Genetic Parasitology Fax :(49)-211-81-12333
Institute of Genetics (49)-211-81-12279
Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet
Universitaetsstrasse 1
40225 Duesseldorf
e-mail: Christoph.Grevelding at uni-duesseldorf.dehttp://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/WWW/MathNat/
Parasitologie/gen_para.htm
Dr.Christoph G.Grevelding Tel.:(49)-211-81-13070
Genetic Parasitology Fax :(49)-211-81-12333
Institute of Genetics (49)-211-81-12279
Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet
Universitaetsstrasse 1
40225 Duesseldorf
e-mail: Christoph.Grevelding at uni-duesseldorf.dehttp://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/WWW/MathNat/
Parasitologie/gen_para.htm
