Biomphalaria Snails and Larval Trematodes
This book on “Biomphalaria Snails and Larval Trematodes” presents up to date information on the interactions of these snails and their trematode parasites, particularly on Schistosoma spp. larvae. Snails of the genus Biomphalaria are of significant medica
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Rafael Toledo • Bernard Fried Editors
Biomphalaria Snails and Larval Trematodes
Editors Rafael Toledo Departamento de Biología Celular y Parasitología Facultad de Farmacia Universidad de Valencia Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n 46100 Burjassot-Valencia Spain [email protected]
Bernard Fried Department of Biology Lafayette College Easton, PA 18042, USA [email protected]
ISBN 978-1-4419-7027-5 e-ISBN 978-1-4419-7028-2 DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-7028-2 Springer New York Dordrecht Heidelberg London Library of Congress Control Number: 2010936302 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011 All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Preface
The history of research on the relationships between Biomphalaria spp. and larval trematodes, particularly Schistosoma mansoni, is long, active, and ongoing today. Snails of the genus Biomphalaria are of significant medical importance with many species living in freshwater habitats associated with human settlements; many of these snail species are obligate intermediate hosts of the human blood fluke S. mansoni, the causative agent of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. This parasitic disease continues to disrupt the lives of about 200 million people in over 70 countries and prevents these individuals from otherwise reasonable expectations of healthy and productive lives. Furthermore, it is estimated that within the developing world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, more than 700 million people are at risk of becoming infected, despite the efforts to control transmission in human and snail populations by mass chemotherapy and the use of molluscicides. Several factors, such as the absence of a schistosome vaccine, the recent appearance of resistance to antischistosome drugs, and human activities that expand snail habitats, have increased the need for a better understanding of schistosome-snail interactions. In recent years, the application of new technologies has contributed to the accumulation of considerable new information on this topic that may be of great use to biomedical scientists. In addition to the impact of Biomphalaria spp. on public health, these snails are also interesting models for the study of other topics such as population biology, including genetics and demography, proteomics, inverteb
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