Until recently, this species was known as Lymnaea truncatula.
Galba truncatula is the vector mainly involved in fascioliasis transmission to humans.[4]
Distribution
Galba truncatula is believed to be native to Europe, but it has been introduced in other parts of the world.[5] Currently, Galba truncatula is commonly distributed in all European countries, including most Mediterranean islands such as Corsica, Malta, the Azores, Madeira, the Faroe Islands, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands.[1] Despite the fact that Galba truncatula has spread worldwide, exact distribution maps of the species are not available. In addition, most reports are based on morphological determination of the snail. Molecular evidences on the presence of Galba truncatula from non-European areas are limited. Galba truncatula has also been found in North and South America, several parts of Africa, and Asia.[5]
In Asia, the snail occurs in Russia[5] but other Asian countries were reported very rarely. Galba truncatula was found in Iran,[13]Pakistan[14] and in Kashmir, a region disputed by India and Pakistan.[1][15]
Description
The height of the shell is 5–10 mm and the width of the shell is 2.5–6 mm.
Tentacles are wider and with a wide base.[4] Eyes are small.[4]Mantle roof shows larger unpigmented whitish spots giving a pale appearance to the shell of living specimens by transparency.[4]
The first bilateral teeth is tricuspid in radula.[4] The praeputium/penis sheath length ratio is 2.50–5.90 mm (mean 3.44 mm).[4]
Two species that have a similar morphology: Galba neotropica and Galba schirazensis.[4] Although several phenotypic characteristics may a priori be helpful for a preliminary specimen classification, a definitive classification of a specimen can only be obtained by the sequencing of at least one of the molecular markers used: ITS-2, ITS-1, 16S and cox1.[4] Moreover, mixed populations of Galba truncatula and Galba schirazensis have already been described in the field.[4]
Ecology
Habitat
Galba truncatula can occupy both temporary and permanent freshwater ecosystems.[16][17] The species occurs commonly in shallow well aerated water, in marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, water ditches.[16][18] In France, the populations of Galba truncatula are declining because its habitat is threatened by modern agricultural practices.[19] In case of larger water bodies, the snail occurs mostly on the edge between water and land, sometimes outside water layer on mud.[16]Galba truncatula can be very abundant, with high population densities and it has an evident anthropophily including usual presence in human neighbourhood.[4]
Galba truncatula is amphibious organism and can survive long dry periods. This is caused by its high ability to aestivate during drought conditions. It is known that Galba truncatula can survive 6 weeks to 4.5 months of dry periods in aestivated stage in mud. In the laboratory cultures, Kendall (1949) observed survival over 1 year in Petri dishes without water.[16]
Galba truncatula can live at a very high altitude such as in the Northern Bolivian Altiplano (an area located between 3800 and 4100 m high altitude).[4]
Feeding habits
Galba truncatula feed on algae and fresh or decomposed parts of plants.[21]
Life cycle
In Europe, it has usually 2 generations per year and snails can live up to 2 years.[22] During very wet years, the species can produce occasionally 3 generations per year.[23]
They are hatching from eggs. The shape of egg cluster is rounded to oval shape even when containing more eggs.[4] There are usually 2–15 eggs in cluster.[4]
Parasites
Galba truncatula is an intermediate host for these known trematodes and nematodes:
^Müller, O. F. 1774. Vermivm terrestrium et fluviatilium, seu animalium infusoriorum, helminthicorum, et testaceorum, non marinorum, succincta historia. Volumen alterum. – pp. I-XXVI [= 1–36], 1–214, [1–10]. Havniae & Lipsiae. (Heineck & Faber).
^ abcdMas-Coma S, Bargues MD, Valero MA (October 2005). "Fascioliasis and other plant-borne trematode zoonoses". Int. J. Parasitol. 35 (11–12): 1255–78. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.07.010. PMID16150452.
^Khallaayoune K, Stromberg BE, Dakkak A, Malone JB (June 1991). "Seasonal dynamics of Fasciola hepatica burdens in grazing Timahdit sheep in Morocco". Int. J. Parasitol. 21 (3): 307–14. doi:10.1016/0020-7519(91)90032-3. PMID1894428.
^Mekroud A, Benakhla A, Vignoles P, Rondelaud D, Dreyfuss G (April 2004). "Preliminary studies on the prevalences of natural fasciolosis in cattle, sheep, and the host snail (Galba truncatula) in north-eastern Algeria". Parasitol. Res. 92 (6): 502–5. doi:10.1007/s00436-004-1072-1. PMID14999466. S2CID7264647.
^Hammami H, Ayadi A (2000). "[Natural infestation of Lymnaea truncatula Muller by Fasciola hepatica in the Tozeur oasis in southwest Tunisia]". Med Trop (Mars) (in French). 60 (2): 159–62. PMID11100443.
^Dar Y, Rondelaud D, Dreyfuss G (February 2003). "Cercarial shedding from Galba truncatula infected with Fasciola gigantica of distinct geographic origins". Parasitol. Res. 89 (3): 185–7. doi:10.1007/s00436-002-0732-2. PMID12541059. S2CID1091140.
^Goll PH, Scott JM (1978). "The interrelationship of Lymnaea truncatula and ovine fascioliasis in the Ethiopian Central Highlands". Br. Vet. J. 134 (6): 551–5. doi:10.1016/S0007-1935(17)33336-5. PMID719517.
^Walker SM, Makundi AE, Namuba FV, et al. (April 2008). "The distribution of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica within southern Tanzania--constraints associated with the intermediate host". Parasitology. 135 (4): 495–503. doi:10.1017/S0031182007004076. PMID18205983. S2CID26106652.
^Rao, N.V. Subba (1989). Handbook: Freshwater Molluscs of India. Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India. p. 133. Retrieved 11 November 2024 – via Internet Archive.
^ abcdKendall SB (1949). "Bionomics of Limnaea truncatula and the parthenite of Fasciola hepatica under drought conditions". J. Helminthol. 23 (1–2): 57–68. doi:10.1017/s0022149x00032375.
^(in Swedish) Nilsson C., Ericsson U., Medin M., Sundberg I. (1998). Sötvattenssnäckor i södra Sverige – en jämförelse med 1940-talet. Naturvårdsverket Rapport 4903.
^(in Czech) Beran L. (1998) Vodní měkkýši ČR. Metodika ČSOP 17, ČSOP Vlašim, 113 pp.
^(in Polish) Jackiewicz M. (2000). Blotniarky Europy (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Lymnaeidae). Wydawnictwo Kontekst, Poznań. 115 pp.
^Dar Y, Vignoles P, Rondelaud D, Dreyfuss G (September 2004). "Larval productivity of Fasciola gigantica in two lymnaeid snails". J. Helminthol. 78 (3): 215–8. doi:10.1079/joh2003224. PMID15469623.
^Vignoles P, Novobilský A, Rondelaud D, et al. (April 2006). "Cercarial production of Fascioloides magna in the snail Galba truncatula (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae)". Parasitol. Res. 98 (5): 462–7. doi:10.1007/s00436-005-0077-8. PMID16416118. S2CID25366745.
^Vignoles P, Rondelaud D, Dreyfuss G (May 2007). "The populations of Galba truncatula, known for their natural infections with Haplometra cylindracea (Digenea, Plagiorchioidea), are better intermediate hosts for metacercarial production of Fasciola hepatica". Parasitol. Res. 100 (6): 1371–3. doi:10.1007/s00436-006-0387-5. PMID17149602. S2CID19256745.
^Dreyfuss G, Vignoles P, Rondelaud D (July 2008). "Paramphistomum daubneyi: the number of sporocysts developing in experimentally and naturally infected Galba truncatula". Parasitol. Res. 103 (2): 345–9. doi:10.1007/s00436-008-0978-4. PMID18470698. S2CID27105934.
^Hourdin P, Rondelaud D, Cabaret J (April 1993). "The development of Fasciola hepatica parthenitae in Lymnaea truncatula by modification of Muellerius capillaris infection". Int. J. Parasitol. 23 (2): 235–43. doi:10.1016/0020-7519(93)90146-p. PMID8496006.