The diversity of fresh water snail fauna in Kiri dam, Adamawa State, North Eastern Nigeria

Freshwater Snails are crucial in assessing the ecological status of water bodies, besides their economic, public and veterinary health importance. Hence, the need to study the occurrence, and diversity of freshwater snails in Kiri dam where there is paucity of such information becomes imperative. Accordingly, this study was carried out between December, 2016 and July, 2018. Snails were searched for in the five contact sites identified using long handle metal scoop nets in accordance with standard procedure. Snails recovered were examined for natural infections. Eleven (11) different fresh water snail species were encountered including Bulinus globosus, Bulinus truncatus, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Lymnaea natalensis, Lanistes ovum, Lanistes varicus, Pila ovata, Melanoides maculata, Melanoides tuberculata, Bellamya unicolor and Gabiella tchadiensis of the eleven different snail species examined, only Bulinus globosus Bulinus truncatus and Biomphalaria pfeifferi shed schistosome cercariae. The other 8 species did not have any natural infections. The study revealed that Kiri Dam harbours diverse species of fresh water snails including those of public health importance. The presence of naturally infected snails indicates that the people engaging in various activities in the dam, are predisposed to infections harboured by these snails.