Molluscicidal Assessment of Aqueous Extract of Moringa oleifera Lam Seed on Bulinus Snail for the Control of Schistosomiasis

Aims: This research is essentially on the Molluscicidal assessment of Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam seed on Bulinus Snail for the control of Schistosomiasis.

Study Design: This is a controlled study where a total of 810 Bulinus snails were collected from three different streams with each stream representing a community from each of the three senatorial zones of Anambra state where schistosomiasis was endemic. Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera (Lam) seed at different concentrations were used on the Bulinus snails to determine their molluscidal properties.

Place and Duration of Study: Two hundred and Seventy (270) Bulinus snails were collected from streams representing each of the three senatorial zones of Anambra state viz; Obutu Lake, Omogho town, Orumba North Local Government Area (Anambra South), Agulu Lake, Agulu town, Aniocha Local Government Area (Anambra Central) and Omambra River, Omor town, Ayamelum Local Government Area (Anambra North) This research was carried out between November 2018 to April 2019.

Methodology: Aqueous dilutions of the grinded Moringa oleifera (Lam) seed were exposed to the Bulinus snails from the various streams for 24 hours, after which the snails were removed from the experimental test solution and washed thoroughly with dechlorinated tap water and transferred to containers with fresh dechlorinated tap water for another 24 hours of recovery. The snails were incubated at 28 ± 5°C and fed with lettuce leaves.

Results: Aqueous Moringa oleifera Lam seed extract was toxic to Bulinus adult snails in a dose dependent manner and the total Lethal Concentration (LC50 and LC90) values determined after 24 hours exposure from the whole streams were 468 ppm and 813 ppm respectively.

Conclusion: Aqueous seed extract of Moringa oleifera Lam was toxic to Bulinus snail even at low concentrations.