[Survey on Schistosomes of man and livestock in Senegal using specific identification given by chetotaxy of cercaria. I. New arguments for the validation of S. curassoni Brumpt, 1931, parasite of man and domestic Bovidae]

Abstract

Study of Senegal cercariae emitted by naturally infected snails or by snails experimentally infected using eggs from human urine or from sheep liver, and study of the corresponding eggs. The relative position of the dorsal sensillae of cercariae is described by an "AD index" and the ratio length/width of eggs by an "L/l index." At the present time, we have not finished the epidemiological studies, certain experiments are imperfect and the isoenzyme analysis of the corresponding adults is incomplete. Nevertheless information given by the indices AD and L/l agree and lead us to admit the existence of a Schistosome different to mattheei, haematobium and bovis and which, following Brumpt and Gretillat we refer to as Schistosoma curassoni. If one relies on the indices, the study indicates that: a) S. mattheei has not been found in Senegal, b) S. bovis is quite rare, c) S. haematobium apparently exists in pure infections in Casamance and in mixed infections with S. curassoni in man in the north and in the east, d) S. curassoni is apparently the dominant species in domestic ruminants and in man in the north and in the east, e) Bulinus umbilicatus is the principal vector of S. curassoni and S. haematobium.