MORPHOLOGY AND GENETIC IDENTIFICATION OF SNAIL SPECIESIN SCHITOSOMA ENDEMIC COMMUNITY OF OSUN STATE,NIGERIA(STUDY SITE: ODO-OTIN RIVER,OYAN)

Human Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic dixcase caused by the genus Schistasoma spp. It is endemie in sub-Sahara Affica where it cause urinary and intestinal schistosomiastsFresh water snails mainly of the genus Bulinas and Biomphaleria are the intermediate host for.S hematobiumand1S Mansoni respectively, the two most important Schistosoma spp in Affica The aim of this study is therefore to demonstrate the abundance seasonal transmission andcercariae shedding rate of the fresh water snail host in a Schistosoma endemic region of Osun State.Thestudysite was Odo-Otin river,Oyan,Osun Central region of the Odo-Otin Local Govemment Area, Osun State. A total of 552 freshwater snails were collected from the sampling points at the site during seven month period. Two freshwater snail general,observed in the study area were Soapitia dageti 229 (41.49%) and Bulinus transcatus 323(58.51%).Bulinus transcatus monthly collection abundance ranged from 4.35% to 23.19% while Soapitia dageti collection ranged from 1.27% to 19.75%. Snail populations varied in different months due to seasonal changes in their habitat. 290 Bulinus transcatus and 200 Soapitia dageti snails were observed to shed cercaria, where only 10 Bulinus transcatus snails were infecteted with cercaria.Conclusively,there is high abundance of Bulinus trancatus in the wet season attributed to water in-situ parameters and seasonal inflyence This research work showed that nearly 6% of freshwater snails in Erinle Dam were infected by S. haematobium. Policymakers should give better attention about integration of snail control strategies to the ongoing treatment-based prevention of schistosomiasis in Osun State. Further studies using molecular tools will be necessary to decipher if these snails are playing any role in Schistosomiasis transmission in this community.