Invasion of the Nile Valley in Egypt by a hybrid of Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria alexandrina, snail vectors of Schistosoma mansoni

Two years (1996-1997) of systematic survey showed that a hybrid of Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria alexandrina has invaded the irrigation and drainage systems in the Nile Delta and the Valley nor the of El-Menya. However, the infestation of water courses by and the population density of this snail were variable in various localities. The infestation rate ranged between 7.1% in El-Fayoum Governorate and 52.6% in El-Dakahliya Governorate and the snail density from 2 snails/site to 69.7 snails/site in the same governorates, respectively. Comparing the survey results of the two study years in the sampling sites indicated that the hybrid snail has relatively increased in population density than B. alexandrina. The hybrid snail of B. glabrata and B. alexandrina was found alone in some sites, but was mostly associated with B. alexandrina. The results showed also that both Biomphalaria have almost the same major physicochemical requirements. However, the hybrid snails and B. alexandrina were found differently associated with aquatic snails and plants. The hybrid snail was found naturally infected with S. mansoni thus giving indication that it is presently participating in schistosomiasis mansoni transmission in Egypt.