Ibrahim_2024_Pestic.Biochem.Physiol_201_105855

Biomphalaria spp. snails are freshwater gastropods that responsible for Schistosoma mansoni transmission. Schistosomiasis is a chronic illness that occurred in underdeveloped regions with poor sanitation. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the molluscicidal activity of benzylamine against B. alexandrina snails and it larvicidal effects on the free larval stages of S. mansoni. Results showed that benzylamine has molluscicidal activity against adult B. alexandrina snails after 24 h of exposure with median lethal concentration (LC(50)) 85.7 mg/L. The present results indicated the exposure of B. alexandrina snails to LC(10) or LC(25) of benzylamine resulted in significant decreases in the survival, fecundity (eggs/snail/week) and reproductive rates, acetylcholinesterase, albumin, protein, uric acid and creatinine concentrations, levels of Testosterone (T) and 17beta Estradiol (E), while alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly increased in comparison with control ones. The present results showed that the sub lethal concentration LC(50) (85.7 mg/L) of benzylamine has miracidial and cercaricidal activities, where the Lethal Time (LT(50)) for miracidiae was 17.08 min while for cercariae was 30.6 min. Also, results showed that were decreased significantly after exposure to sub lethal concentrations compared with control. The present results showed that the expression level of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) genes and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) in B. alexandrina snails exposed to LC(10) or LC(25) concentrations benzylamine were significantly decreased compared to the control groups. Therefore, benzylamine could be used as effective molluscicide to control schistosomiasis.