Attraction of Umbelliferone in Snail Attractant Pellets (SAP) against the Snail Lymnaea acuminata: An Intermediate Host of Fasciola gigantica

Abstract

Snail control method is one of the best ways to management of the fasciolosis. Snail attractant pellets (bait) containing attractant and molluscicide is the good alternative method for control of the Lymnaea acuminata, which is a known intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica. The result of the present study is to find the attraction of molluscicide umbelliferone in snail attractant pellets (SAP) against the Lymnaea acuminata, a vector of snail in different months of the year. Data shows that active molluscicidal component (umbelliferone) showed more attraction at lower concentration. On the contrary, at higher concentration, attraction of snail decreases significantly throughout the year. The attraction of snails declined significantly (P < 0.01) as the concentrations of molluscicide incorporated inside the pellets were increased and water temperature is low (i.e., in winter season). SAP containing 0.5% umbelliferone + starch attract maximum snails (46.0%) and 0.5% umbelliferone + proline, attract maximum snails (42.33%), in the month of June, whereas minimum attraction was observed in the month of January to March when SAP containing 7.0% umbelliferone + starch (6.23-8.1%) and when SAP containing 3.0 % umbelliferone + proline (7.33-9.45%).