THE VARIED ROLES OF SNAILS - National Universities Commission

In few location of the world, snails have been successfully
eradicated e.g. U.S.A. and Queensland (Australia). In these
areas the control costs can range from US$60,000 for a 7month
procedure to over US$700,000 for the eradication
for a long period. Hand collection plays a major role in
eradication; this is usually followed subsequent destruction.
The most pragmatic approach to control of land snails is
the use of pesticides (mo,lluscicides) such as metaldehyde,
methiocarb (mesurol), iron phosphate, coconut oil soap,
copper sulphate slurry, Bordeaux mixture, metallic copper
strips or foil.
In freshwater snail control, chemical or physical measures
have been found to be effective in reducing or eliminating
snail populations, thus affecting parasite transmission and
so snail control has been found to play a significant role in
morbidity control programmes. Blanket mollusciciding has
been suggested to be cost effective in irrigation schemes. In
such diseases like schistosomiasis whose transmission is
focal & seasonal, focal mollusciciding at easily identified
transmission sites is the method of choice.
Environmental snail control measure include filling or
draining of the marginal areas, concrete living of all the
integration of chemical control and removal of vegetation
are advocated. Bayluscide is the current molluscicide of
choice.
7 CONCLUSION
I have in this lecture, tried to give an overview of the
intricate relationships between man and snails. I started
with the systematics and biology of the snails to the various
snail products that man has learnt to use to his benefits. I
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