UPTAKE OF METALLIC IONS BY THE FRESHWATER SNAIL AUSTRALORBIS GLABRATUS. Progress Report

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1963

OSTI ID:4020808

Yager, C M

Includes Appendices. The snail Australorbis glabratus is the intermediate host of Schistosoma masoni. Efforts to eradicate this snail from infected areas of the earth have included the use of molluscicides, some of which include one or more metallic ions. Laboratory studies of the effect of Cu and other metallic ions on the snails, indicate that very low concentrations of these ions in pure water have a toxic effect, causing distress and death. The cause of this toxic effect was investigated by means of tracer uptake studies involving Cu, Cd, and Zn. Autoradiographic techniques and histological procedures were developed for use in the studies. Findings indicate that the hepatic lobules of the snail apparently accumulate metallic ions until maximum concentrations are reached. Digestive cells, which are a part of the liver of the snail, seem to break down when this concentration reaches intolerable levels, leading to the distress syndrome, and ultimately to the death of the snails. (C.H.)

• Research Organization: North Georgia Coll., Dahlonega
• NSA Number: NSA-18-019489
• OSTI ID: 4020808
• Report Number(s): TID-20469
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMALS
CADMIUM
COPPER
ENVIRONMENT
GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
GROUND WATER
IONS
LIVER
PARASITES
PESTICIDES
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIOAUTOGRAPHY
SCHISTOSOMA
SNAILS
TISSUES
TOXICITY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
USES
ZINC