Biomphalaria is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonates belonging to the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.[3][4]
Biomphalaria is the type genus of the tribe Biomphalariini. Both Planorbis and Taphius are synonyms for Biomphalaria.[3][5]
The shell of this species, like all planorbids is left coiling (sinistral), but is carried upside down and thus appears to be right coiling (dextral).
There are a suspected 35[6] extant species in the genus Biomphalaria in total (21 American species and 14 Old World species). However, the are a large number of invalid taxa within the Biomphalaria literature, which is likely the result of several (if not all) species of Biomphalaria being subject to various sources of intraspecific variation such as ecophenotypic variation and indeterminate shell growth.[7] This intraspecific variation can make two individuals of the same species appear as two taxonomically distinct entities when identified using only morphological identification methods.[8][9]
New World (South American) species include:
Old World (Africa, Madagascar and the Middle East) species include:
Confirmed species using molecular identification methods:[15][16]
There is one known hybrid Biomphalaria glabrata × Biomphalaria alexandrina from Egypt.[17]
Suspected species identified using morphological methods:
A cladogram created from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA showing the phylogenic relationships of both New World (16) and Old World (7) species:[15]
Biomphalaria African species Nilotic species complex Biomphalaria straminea complexBiomphalaria straminea
Biomphalaria sp.
Biomphalaria sp. (? Biomphalaria havanensis)
Biomphalaria sp. (? Biomphalaria havanensis)
The topology was consistent with the proposed Neotropical origins of the genus, with the oldest Biomphalaria fossils being dated from approximately 60 million years ago.[7] However, further analysis of the African Biomphalaria species found only B. camerunensis and B. pfeifferi were the only definitive African species, with the remain species being apart of (or a sister taxa to) the "Nilotic species complex":[16]
All of the African Biomphalaria species have low levels of genetic diversity,[19][20] which is likely the result of their relatively recent evolutionary history.
The origin of the genus Biomphalaria is American.[15] The ancestor of Biomphalaria glabrata colonized Africa 2.3–4.5[15] or 2-5[21] millions years ago and speciated into all the African Biomphalaria species.[15]
Natural populations of these snails are usually found in tropical standing water or freshwater in South America and Africa, but they also reach 30° latitude in subtropical areas. Many species of these red-blooded planorbid snails (Gastropoda: Basommatophora) are able to survive a long time when removed from their freshwater habitat. Of the 34 Biomphalaria species, 4 (Biomphalaria glabrata, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Biomphalaria straminea, and Biomphalaria tenagophila) have recently expanded their native ranges. They have been introduced to areas where other Biomphalaria species are endemic (e.g., Congo and Egypt) or to subtropical zones that have no frost period (Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Hong Kong).[6]
All species in the genus Biomphalaria except of native Biomphalaria obstructa has not yet become established in the US, but they are considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a pest, an invasive species which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore, it has been suggested that this species be given top national quarantine significance in the USA.[22]
This genus of snails is medically important, because the snails can carry a parasite of humans which represents a serious disease risk: the snails serve as an intermediate host (vector) for the human parasitic blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni, that infects about 83 million people.[23]
The human disease schistosomiasis (aka snail fever) caused by all Schistosoma species (transmitted also by other snails) infects 200 million people.[24] The fluke, which is found primarily in tropical areas, infects mammals (including humans) via contact with water that contains schistosome larvae (cercariae) which have previously been released from the snail. Infection occurs via penetration of cercariae through the skin.[25]
Eighteen species of Biomphalaria are intermediate hosts for Schistosoma mansoni; seven species of the genus have not been tested for this susceptibility and nine species are resistant.[26] Altogether about 30 species of parasites from Africa and at least 20 species from the Neotropics are known to parasitize Biomphalaria.[26]
This article incorporates public domain text from the Majoros et al. reference.[2]
Biomphalaria is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonates belonging to the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.
Biomphalaria is the type genus of the tribe Biomphalariini. Both Planorbis and Taphius are synonyms for Biomphalaria.
The shell of this species, like all planorbids is left coiling (sinistral), but is carried upside down and thus appears to be right coiling (dextral).
Apical, apertural and umbilical view of the shell of Biomphalaria tenagophila. Scale bar is 3 mm.
Biomphalaria es un género de caracoles de la familia Planorbidae. Tiene importancia médica porque las especies de este género pueden ser huéspedes intermediarias (vectores) de Schistosoma mansoni, el parásito causante de la esquistosomiasis.
Entre los principales huéspedes naturales de Schistosoma mansoni están: B. tenagophila, B. glabrata y B. straminea.
Los géneros Taphius de Adams y Adams,Tropicorbis de Brown & Pilsbry, Platylaphius de Pilsbry y Australorbis de Pilsbry, se encontraban entre los de dudosa posición sistemática hasta que en 1958 los estudios anatómicos de Paraense demostraron que no había diferencias genéricas entre ellos y que pertenecían a una misma entidad.[1] Aunque el nombre más antiguo era Taphius, el Comité Internacional de Nomenclatura Zoológica impuso en 1965 el nombre único Biomphalaria.[2]
Este cladograma muestra la filogenia del género Biomphalaria:[3]
Biomphalaria Nilotic species complex Biomphalaria straminea complexBiomphalaria straminea
Biomphalaria sp.
Biomphalaria andecola
Biomphalaria sp. (? Biomphalaria havanensis)
Biomphalaria sp. (? Biomphalaria havanensis)
El estudio genético ha permitido establecer que un antepasado de Biomphalaria glabrata colonizó África hace unos 3 millones de años y de él descienden todas las especies africanas.[3]
Biomphalaria es un género de caracoles de la familia Planorbidae. Tiene importancia médica porque las especies de este género pueden ser huéspedes intermediarias (vectores) de Schistosoma mansoni, el parásito causante de la esquistosomiasis.
Entre los principales huéspedes naturales de Schistosoma mansoni están: B. tenagophila, B. glabrata y B. straminea.
Biomphalaria é uma gênero de caramujo da família Planorbidae. Possui importância médica pelas espécies deste gênero serem hospedeiras intermediárias (vetores) do parasita causador da esquistossomose.
São criadas no Brasil por aquariofilistas, alguns os consideram praga (por sua alta reprodução, mas não comendo plantas ou afetando peixes), e outros os utilizam, por ser um caramujo comedor de algas. sendo encontradas na natureza marrons ou pretas, variando para marrom leve com manchas negras, e em cativeiro foi selecionada geneticamente, sendo produzida a variedade ornamental albina, com um tom vermelho, graças á presença de hemoglobina no sangue.
No Brasil, os principais hospedeiros naturais do Schistosoma mansoni são: B. glabrata, B. tenagophila e B. straminea, com outras espécies possíveis hospedeiras, e várias não hospedeiras.
Biomphalaria é uma gênero de caramujo da família Planorbidae. Possui importância médica pelas espécies deste gênero serem hospedeiras intermediárias (vetores) do parasita causador da esquistossomose.
São criadas no Brasil por aquariofilistas, alguns os consideram praga (por sua alta reprodução, mas não comendo plantas ou afetando peixes), e outros os utilizam, por ser um caramujo comedor de algas. sendo encontradas na natureza marrons ou pretas, variando para marrom leve com manchas negras, e em cativeiro foi selecionada geneticamente, sendo produzida a variedade ornamental albina, com um tom vermelho, graças á presença de hemoglobina no sangue.
No Brasil, os principais hospedeiros naturais do Schistosoma mansoni são: B. glabrata, B. tenagophila e B. straminea, com outras espécies possíveis hospedeiras, e várias não hospedeiras.
