Genetic variability, molecular characterization and distribution of species in the genus bulinus (gastropoda: planorbidae) from the Albertine Rift, East AfricaGenetic variability, molecular characterization and distribution of species in the genus bulinus (gastropoda: planorbidae) from the Albertine Rift, East Africa

Abstract

In the interest of snail biodiversity and epidemiological predictions of the two diseases; urinary and bovine schistosomiases, in the Albertine Rift; species identity and distribution of freshwater snails in the genus Bulinus were investigated in this study. Bulinus snails are potential intermediate hosts for schistosomes (blood flukes) of both medical and veterinary importance in humans, and in the wild and domestic animals respectively. The Albertine Rift is the western arm of the Great Rift Valley and it is occupied for more than half of its length by water. It has been declared a biodiversity hotspot and as such it is recognized as an area of global importance for conservation. Different methods including morphological identification using the shell character, chromosomal counts, use of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA variation were incorporated in this study to achieve different objectives. A variety of water bodies including the great Lakes Albert, Edward, George, Kivu and Tanganyika, numerous temporally and permanent ponds, swamps, streams as well as a series of the Ugandan crater lakes were sampled for the freshwater Bulinus snails. Findings of this study show that there are three Bulinus species complexes in the Albertine Rift: Bulinus truncatus/tropicus complex, Bulinus forskalii group and Bulinus africanus group. Further investigations using the Bulinus mtCOI gene and chromosome counts confirmed the presence of five Bulinus species in the Albertine Rift water bodies; B. truncatus, B. tropicus, B. forskalii, B. globosus and another Bulinus sp. found in Maramagambo forest yet to be identified. The results of this study were interpreted in light of self-fertilization or