Biota Neotropica 18(3): e20170503, 2018 www.scielo.br/bn ISSN 1676-0611 (online edition) Article Diagnosis, presence of endoparasites, and local knowledge on the infestation of the exotic giant African snail (gastropoda: pulmonata: achatinidae), in the urban zone of Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil Marcos Silva de Lima1* & Edson Guilherme2 1Universidade Federal do Acre, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Natureza, Curso de Licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas, BR 364, Km 04, Distrito industrial, CEP: 69.920-900, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil 2Universidade Federal do Acre, Laboratório de Ornitologia, BR 364, Km 04, Distrito industrial, CEP: 69.920-900, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil *Corresponding author: Marcos Silva de Lima, e-mail: [email protected] LIMA, M.S., GUILHERME, E. Diagnosis, presence of endoparasites, and local knowledge on the infestation of the exotic giant African snail (gastropoda: pulmonata: achatinidae), in the urban zone of Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. Biota Neotropica. 18(3): e20170503. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-BN-2017-0503 Abstract: The giant African land snail, Lissachatina fulica is considered to be one of the world’s worst invader species. This snail can provoke major economic and public health problems in urban areas, in particular as a potential vector of nematodes that infect both humans and animals. In this context, the present study investigated the extent of the infestation of this exotic snail in the urban neighborhoods of the city of Rio Branco, verified the presence of endoparasites in these snails, and evaluated the knowledge of local residents with regard to the presence of this invader species. For this, daytime surveys were conducted between August 2015 and June 2016. For the analysis of endoparasites, 44 live specimens were sent to the National Reference Laboratory for Schistosomiasis-Malacology (LRNEM) of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (FIOCRUZ). The knowledge of local residents in the infested neighborhoods was investigated using questionnaires with direct, closed questions. The exotic invader species (L. fulica) was detected in 24 of the 36 neighborhoods visited. A total of 858 L. fulica specimens were collected, of which, 329 were alive and 527 were dead. The total length of the shell ranged from 0.7 to 14.2 cm, with a mean±standard deviation of 4.8±2.21 cm. The density of snails in the areas surveyed varied from 0.34 individuals/m2 to 3.54 individuals/m2, while the mean density within the whole study area was estimated to be 0.54 individuals/m2. Mature eggs were found in only 9 (2.7%) of the 329 specimens dissected. The endoparasitological analysis revealed the presence of rhabditiform larvae in 84% of the specimens examined, as well as the nematodes Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (22.7% of the specimens) and Strongyluris sp. (2.2%). A total of 39 local residents were interviewed, and while all were conscious of the presence of the mollusk, none knew its origin or the most adequate way of dealing with it. The results of the study indicate an ample infestation of the city of Rio Branco by L. fulica, and confirmed a complete lack of intervention on the part of the local authorities for the implementation of measures foe the control and management of this pest within the urban zone of Rio Branco. Keywords: Aelurostrongylus abstrusus; Lissachatina fulica; Strongyluris sp.; Southwest Amazon. Diagnóstico, presença de endoparasitas e conhecimento local sobre a infestação do caracol gigante exótico africano (gastropoda: pulmonata: achatinidae), na zona urbana de Rio Branco, Acre, Brasil Resumo: Conhecido como caracol gigante africano a espécie Lissachatina fulica é considerada uma das piores espécies invasoras do mundo. Em áreas urbanas pode causar grandes problemas econômicos e para a saúde pública por ser um potencial vetor de nematódeos de interesse médico e veterinário. Desta forma, o presente trabalho teve como objetivos averiguar a extensão da infestação do caracol exótico nos bairros da zona urbana da cidade de Rio Branco; verificar a presença de endoparasitos, bem como avaliar o conhecimento da população local em relação a presença desta espécie invasora. Para isso, foram realizadas coletas diurnas no período de agosto de 2015 a junho de 2016. Para verificar a presença de endoparasitos foram enviados 44 indivíduos vivos ao Laboratório de http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-BN-2017-0503 http://www.scielo.br/bn 2 Biota Neotrop., 18(3): e20170503, 2018 Lima, M.S. & Guilherme, E. Referência Nacional para Esquistossomose-Malacologia (LRNEM) da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ). A avaliação do grau de conhecimento dos moradores dos bairros infestados deu-se pela utilização de questionários com perguntas fechadas e diretas. A espécie exótica e invasora (L. fulica) foi detectada em 24 dos 36 bairros visitados. Dos 858 indivíduos coletados, 329 estavam vivos e 527 mortos. O comprimento total das conchas variou de 0,7 a 14,2 cm com uma média±desvio padrão de 4,8±2,21 cm. A densidade de indivíduos nas áreas amostradas variou do mínimo de 0,34 ao máximo de 3,54 indivíduos/m2 enquanto que a densidade média de espécimes tendo como base a área total amostrada foi de 0,54 indivíduos/m2. Somente em 2,7% (9) dos 329 espécimes dissecados foram encontrados ovos maduros. A busca por endoparasitos revelou a presença larvas rabditiformes em 84% dos espécimes investigados além dos nematódeos Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (22,7%) e Strongyluris sp. (2,2%). Ao todo foram entrevistados 39 moradores, onde verificou-se que eles têm consciência da presença do molusco mas desconhecem sua origem e a forma de manejá-lo adequadamente. Nossos resultados apontam para uma ampla infestação da espécie L. fulica na cidade de Rio Branco e constata a total ausência do poder público no que diz respeito a implementação de medidas de controle e manejo desta praga nos limites da cidade. Palavras-chave: Aelurostrongylus abstrusus; Lissachatina fulica; Strongyluris sp.; Sudoeste da Amazônia. Introduction Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the United States (Lai et al. 1982, The giant African land snail, Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich 1822), Andersen et al. 1986, Raccurt et al. 2003, Hochberg et al. 2007). In is considered to be one of the world’s 100 most important invader Brazil, eosinophilic meningitis spread by the nematode Angiostrongylus species (Sridhar et al. 2014, Gisd 2018). Native to eastern Africa, this cantonensis (Chen 1935) was first reported in the state of Espírito Santo, snail was introduced to Mauritius in the 1800s, from where it spread in 2007 (Caldeira et al. 2007), and more recently in Pernambuco (Lima rapidly throughout the islands of the Indian and Pacific oceans (Sankaran et al. 2009) and São Paulo (Espírito-Santo et al. 2013). In all three 2004, Tatayah et al. 2007). The species is now found in many countries cases, the presence of L. fulica was confirmed in the areas adjacent to throughout the world, including India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Australia, the residences of the individuals diagnosed with the parasite. Given Japan, the United States, and almost all of South America, including its ample spectrum of neurological symptoms, eosinophilic meningitis Brazil (Fontanilla et al. 2014, Sridhar et al. 2014). In Brazil, L. fulica has been commonly referred to as neural Angiostrongyliasis (Hung & was introduced into the southern state of Paraná in the mid-1980s Chen 1988). The incidental presence of the nematode Angiostrongylus (Thiengo et al. 2007), with the aim of producing a commercially viable costaricensis Morera and Céspedes 1971 has also been confirmed in a alternative to the smaller, edible European garden snail (Helix aspersa child in Espirito Santo, Brazil (Pena et al. 1995). It is important to note Müller, 1774), known as the “escargot”, which is reared on a large scale that a number of rat species are the definitive vectors of the nematodesA. for human consumption in many countries (Murphy 2001). Producers costaricensis and A. costaricensis, which cause eosinophilic meningitis initially aimed to export the snail to Europe and, eventually, supply and abdominal angiostrongyliasis, respectively, in humans (Morera & the Brazilian market, but while this operation was successful for a Céspedes 1971, Morassutti et al. 2014). However, these nematodes while, exportation eventually became unprofitable, and the producers are much less specific in relation to their intermediate hosts, and were unable to establish a viable domestic market, given the lack of may parasitize a diversity of mollusks, including both terrestrial and a culinary tradition in Brazil (Colley & Fischer 2009). The producers freshwater species (Wallace & Rosen 1969 (b), Mota & Lenzi 1995, then released the remaining snails into the wild. Thiengo et al. 2013 (b)). In humans, infection may occur through The capacity of the giant african land snail to adapt to a diversity of the ingestion of fruit, leaves or other foods which have come into habitats, the absence of natural predators, and its generalist habits and contact with the mucous of the intermediate host, typically a terrestrial high reproductive rates, have all contributed to its dispersal throughout gastropod, and have been washed inadequately (Moreira et al. 2013). the warm and humid regions of the globe, including the whole of Brazil In many studies of the exotic giant African land snail in the (Fischer & Colley 2004, Coelho 2005, Fischer & Colley 2005, Thiengo Americas, the species has been classified as Achatina (Lissachatina) et al. 2007, Fontanilla et al. 2014, Sridhar et al. 2014). As an invader fulica (e.g., Thiengo et al. 2007). However, in a molecular study, species, L. fulica is a potential competitor of native mollusk species Fontanilla (2010) found significant differences between the populations (Sankaran 2004). The giant african land snail is basically herbivorous, of East Africa, assigned to the subgenus Lissachatina, and those from with no particular preference for any given plant species, which makes Central and West Africa, classified asAchatina .