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Identifying Liver Fluke Snails

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Identifying Liver Fluke Snails JUNE 2007 PRIMEFACT 476 (REPLACES AGFACT A0.9.61) Identifying liver fluke snails Dr Joan Lloyd bogs), and is only rarely found in dams, water troughs or large creeks. It can, however, be found Former Veterinary Research Officer in dam overflows after heavy rain, or within Dr Joe Boray spring-fed dam inflows and outflows. Former Principal Research Scientist Lymnaea columella is found in deeper creeks and dams, and can also survive in stagnant bodies of Dr Noel Campbell water. Senior Research Scientist, Research and Lymnaea viridis is a versatile snail, and is found Development Division, Department of Primary in slightly deeper creeks and channels, as well as Industries Victoria in areas preferred by Lymnaea tomentosa. In NSW, about 20 million sheep and 2 million Another lymnaeid snail, Lymnaea lessoni, is often cattle graze pastures where liver fluke (Fasciola found on plants and floating on the surface of hepatica) commonly occurs. Liver fluke is deeper water, such as stagnant pools and widespread across eastern NSW, where average irrigation ditches. This snail does not transmit rainfall is about 600 mm or more a year; liver fluke. specifically, it occurs on the tablelands and To examine snails, pick them up with your fingers nearby slopes, and the north and south coasts. It or scoop them up in a kitchen strainer. Most of is also found in irrigation areas further west, the snails look alike to an untrained observer. where the annual rainfall is only 400 mm, but is Use the following guide to identify which type it is. supplemented by regular irrigation. During its life cycle, liver fluke must develop in a Identifying freshwater snails particular type of small freshwater snail. In Australia, the most important of these host snails The characteristics used to identify snails are as is an indigenous freshwater snail, Lymnaea follows: tomentosa. The introduced snails, Lymnaea columella (from North America), and Lymnaea Adult size viridis (from the Pacific area), can also act as The shell of mature freshwater snails varies from intermediate hosts. These snails are found in about 5 mm long for the small types to about coastal NSW. 25 mm for the largest. Liver fluke infection only occurs where these snails are found. Direction of the spiral Most freshwater snails have a cone-shaped spiral Finding liver fluke snails shell, and the direction of the spiral is a useful Liver fluke snails live in the mud or on plants in identification feature. To determine the direction shallow water at the edge of springs, small of the spiral (or twist) of the shell, place the snail creeks, dam inflows and outflows, irrigation on the palm of your hand with its opening channels, poorly drained drainage channels or in downwards and the point of the shell towards water troughs. They are small and sometimes you. Looking at the pointed end, the direction of difficult to find. the spiral is determined by going around the shell from the point (or apex) to the large end. The The kind of habitat in which the snail is found shells of snails transmitting liver fluke twist in a often gives clues to which type it is. For example, clockwise direction, while the most common Lymnaea tomentosa prefers trickling creeks freshwater snails (buliniform type – Physa, flowing from hillside springs and soaks (black Physastra, Isidorella, and Glyptophysa) have Lymnaea columella anti-clockwise spiralled shells. This snail is also similar to Lymnaea tomentosa, but has a longer shell with grid-like striations. It is Opening of the snail a North American snail that has been introduced Lay the snail down with the opening facing you into Australia and New Zealand through the trade and the apex away from you. The opening of in aquarium plants. It is found in coastal NSW fluke snails is on the right-hand side, while the and some tablelands areas. It can also transmit opening of buliniform type snails is on the left. liver fluke, and could alter the pattern of liver fluke disease if it spreads to grazing areas. Tentacles Lymnaea lessoni All snails have tentacles on the front of the head- foot. The head-foot is that part of the snail Lymnaea lessoni is similar to the fluke snails, but exposed out of the shell. When the snail is has a large, round shell up to 25 mm long. It is moving, you can see the tentacles on the front of often found on plants and floating on the surface the head-foot. In most freshwater snails, these of deeper water, such as stagnant pools and are long and similar to those of the common irrigation ditches. These snails do not transmit garden snail. However, the two tentacles of fluke liver fluke. snails are flat, triangular, ear-like structures. You can see the tentacles most easily in sunlight Succinea when the snail is underwater on the mud, or This is a land snail normally found in moist areas, placed in water on a white tray. but sometimes present in freshwater habitats. Its shell is superficially similar to those of the fluke Operculum snails, but the body differs in that it has thin In some snails (so-called operculate snails) a tentacles like a garden snail. These snails do not bony, trapdoor-like structure covers the opening transmit liver fluke. of the shell when the head-foot is withdrawn inside. Liver fluke snails do not have an Gabbia operculum. Gabbia is a common freshwater snail with an operculum. It has long, thin tentacles and is found Colour in the outer Sydney area and some tablelands Although the colour of the snail and its shell is a areas. These snails do not transmit liver fluke. useful feature, it can vary for the same type of snail from different localities. Liver fluke snail Physa, Physastra bodies are light grey or black, whereas the Also known as buliniform type snails, Physa and buliniform types are usually reddish or grey. Physastra are most often found in large numbers in small creeks, dams, water troughs, etc, in all About different snail types areas. These species do not transmit liver fluke. Lymnaea tomentosa (the liver fluke snail) Planorbin (Planorbinae) This is the common intermediate host snail for the liver fluke in Australia and New Zealand. The Planorbins are small, flat, coiled snails, shell has three or four whorls. In NSW, it is found commonly attached to waterweeds in dams, in springs and small creeks on the tablelands, lagoons, small creeks, and in temporary habitats western slopes and coast, as well as in irrigation in small depressions (melon holes). They transmit areas. It has limited distribution in other eastern stomach fluke, a small, conical fluke found in states of Australia. sheep and cattle. Stomach fluke is less important than liver fluke, and rarely causes serious Lymnaea viridis disease in NSW, except in the irrigation districts and on the north and south coasts. This snail is similar to Lymnaea tomentosa, but the shell is longer and has four to five whorls. An introduced species from the Pacific Islands, it is If I identify liver fluke snails, what can I do the intermediate host of liver fluke in Papua New about them? Guinea, and now also in Australia. The first thing to do is to make sure that liver fluke is present by using WormTest (faecal worm egg count test; ask for the fluke egg count option) or the liver fluke ELISA (blood test for liver fluke antibodies). PRIMEFACT 476, IDENTIFYING LIVER FLUKE SNAILS 2 Once you do this you can treat the disease. Regional Veterinary Laboratory Dosing sheep and cattle with suitable Forest Rd, ORANGE NSW 2800 anthelmintics is the main method of treating liver fluke disease; however, this treatment should be Further information combined with improved drainage, to limit the number of fluke snails and reduce grazing of For more information on liver fluke snails or liver ‘flukey’ areas. A strategic drenching program is fluke disease, contact your Rural Lands essential for effective control (see Primefact 446 Protection Board veterinarian, private Liver fluke disease in sheep and cattle). veterinarian, or local NSW Department of Primary Industries office. Further information may also be Controlling fluke snails is usually difficult, obtained from the Primefacts listed below. because of their high reproductive rate and ability to burrow into the mud and survive dry weather. However, with planned property management, Acknowledgement reducing the size of the wet areas suitable for This Primefact is largely based on the article by snail growth and limiting the grazing of snail Dr Noel Campbell published in the Agricultural infected areas can be profitable. Ways to do this Gazette of NSW, Vol. 88, No. 4, August, 1977. include draining swampy areas and building dams in or below springs, to reduce the area of The assistance of Stephen Love in preparing this shallow water favoured by the fluke snail. Primefact is gratefully acknowledged. On many properties, only small parts of paddocks have habitats suitable for snails, and sheep and Related Primefacts cattle tend to graze these swampy areas during Primefact 446 Liver fluke disease in sheep and droughts. For good control in these situations, cattle fence off the swampy area and pipe water to water troughs. Most flukes are picked up on the Primefact 452 Stomach fluke (paramphistomes) pasture eaten by sheep and cattle in autumn and in ruminants early winter (about February to June), so limit Note: Fluke control should be integrated with the grazing ‘flukey’ areas at this time of the year if control of other internal parasites. See Primefact you can. 446 and various Primefacts on internal parasite control. Freshwater aquariums © State of New South Wales through NSW Department of Many of the snails described in this Primefact are Primary Industries 2007.
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