[Molluscicidal effect of 25% wettable powder of pyriclobenzuron sulphate in hilly schistosomiasis-endemic regions]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the molluscicidal effect of 25% wettable powder of pyriclobenzuron sulphate (WPPS) against Oncomelania snails in hilly schistosomiasis-endemic regions and test its toxicity to fish.

METHODS

In October 2020, a snail-infested setting which had been cleared was selected in Nanjian County, Yunnan Province and divided into several blocks, and the natural snail mortality was estimated. 25% WPPS was prepared into solutions at concentrations of 1 and 2 g/L, and 25% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (WPNES) was prepared into solutions at a concentration of 2 g/L. The different concentrations of drugs were sprayed evenly, and the same amount of water was used as blank control. Snails were surveyed using the systematic sampling method 1, 3 and 7 days post-treatment, and snail survival was observed. A fish pond was selected in Nanjian County, and 2 kg 25% WPPS was evenly sprayed on the water surface to allow the effective concentration of 20 g/L. Fish mortality was estimated 8, 24, 48 and 72 h post-treatment.

RESULTS

One-day treatment with 1 and 2 g/L WPPS and 2 g/L WPNES resulted in 97.99%, 97.99% and 94.11% adjusted snail mortality rates (χ² = 3.509 and 3.509, both P values > 0.05), and the adjusted snail mortality was all 100% 3 d post-treatment with 1 and 2 g/L WPPS and 2 g/L WPNES, while 7-day treatment with 1 and 2 g/L WPPS and 2 g/L WPNES resulted in 91.75%, 86.57% and 57.76% adjusted snail mortality rates (χ² = 14.893 and 42.284, both P values < 0.05). Treatment with 2 g/L WPPS for 72 h resulted in a 0.67% cumulative mortality rate of fish.

CONCLUSIONS

25% WPPS is effective for snail control and highly safe for fish, which is feasible for use in hilly schistosomiasis-endemic regions.

[Strengthening the research on novel molluscicides to accelerate the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis]

Oncomelania hupensis is the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, and control of Oncomelania snails is an important measure to control and interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis. Therefore, snail control plays a very critical role in the national schistosomiasis control programmes of China. Pyriclobenzuron, which was recently developed by National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is the latest great advance in the research on molluscicides and is expected to solve the problem of toxicity to fish, which is worthy of expanding experiments.

[Molluscicidal activity of 25% wettable powder of pyriclobenzuron sulphate against Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the molluscicidal activity of a novel molluscicide pyriclobenzuron against Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni in the mountain regions of Yunan Province, and test its toxicity to fish, so as to provide scientific evidence for the extensive application of this molluscicide in schistosomiasis-endemic foci of Yunan Province.

METHODS

In the laboratory and snail-breeding field of Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, the molluscicidal activity of 5% wettable powder of pyriclobenzuron sulphate (25% PBU) against O. hupensis robertsoni was assessed by using the immersion and spraying method, and the acute toxicity of 25% PBU to carp fries was tested, while 25% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (50% WPNES) served as a control.

RESULTS

The 1-, 2- and 3-day 25% PBU LC50 and LC90 values were 0.47, 0.25 and 0.23 mg/L, and 1.54, 0.61 and 0.49 mg / L for O. h. robertsoni by using the immersion method in laboratory, and immersion with 25% PBU at 1.0 mg / L for 1 day achieved a comparable molluscicidal efficacy in relative to 50% WPNES at 1.0 mg/L. Spraying with 25% PBU at 4.0 g/m² achieved 1-, 3- and 7-day snail mortalities of 64.23%, 96.67% and 100.00% in laboratory, respectively, which were not significantly different from those caused by treatment with 50% WPNES at 1.0 g/m² (all P values > 0.05). One-day field immersion with 25% PBU at doses of 1, 2 and 4 g/m³ resulted in snail mortalities of 90.00%, 93.33% and 100.00%, respectively, which were not significantly different from those caused by treatment with 50% WPNES at 1.0 g/m³ (all P values > 0.05), and 3-day field spraying with 25% PBU at doses of 2.0 and 4.0 g/m² caused snail mortalities of 86.36% and 87.72%, respectively, which were not significantly different from those caused by 50% WPNES treatment (both P values > 0.05). The 24-, 48- and 72-hour LC50 values of 25% PBU to carp fries were 29.38, 24.62 and 23.38 mg/L, respectively, and no fish death was observed within 72 hours of exposure to 25% PBU at a concentration of 17.5 mg/L and lower.

CONCLUSIONS

25% PBU is a novel, highly potent and environment-friendly molluscicide that is feasible in fish ponds, and the recommended dose is 1 g/m³ for field immersion and 2 g/m² for field spraying in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province.