Comparative Haemolymph Biochemical Properties of Giant African Land Snail (Archachatina marginata) from Nigeria

The Giant African Land Snails (GALS) is a very important micro livestock that is consumed widely within several regions in sub-Saharan Africa which differ in their vegetation types and climatic factors. Studies have shown that diet and stocking density influence properties of the snail haemolymph. This study examines the haemolymph biochemical properties of the land snail, (Archachatina marginata) from south-west (Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo). Organic (protein, lipids, glucose) and inorganic (Na, K, Ca, Cl, PO4) composition of snails’ haemolymph were determined by standard methods. Results showed that GALS from Oyo state had the highest lipids and glucose concentrations in the haemolymph while Ondo and Ekiti states recorded the least. Protein was the most abundant (33.83g/l-49.37g) organic substance while lipids were the least (23.93mg/dl-33-93mg/dl). There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the concentrations of inorganic substances in the haemolymph across the six states. Snails from Oyo state recorded significant higher (p<0.05) concentrations of Na+, Ca2+ and Cl- than those of other states. Also, Na+ and Cl- were the most common anions in snails’ haemolymph from the six states. This current study concluded that snails from Oyo state had better haemolymph biochemical properties than other south west states of Nigeria. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-12-02 Publication date:June 30th 202

Contribution of pawpaw plant (Carica papaya) to the performance of giant African land snail

Procurement of cheap and affordable feeds has been a problem to intensive management of microlivestocks like snails in Nigeria. This study examines the impact of Carica papaya (pawpaw) leaves and fruits on the growth and reproductive performance of giant African land snail, Archachatina marginata. A total of sixty individual snails (115.2 ± 0.01g) were randomly allotted to five treatments of twelve snails each (each treatment has three replicates of four snails each). The treatments are chicken mash (control), fresh pawpaw leaves, old pawpaw leaves, unripe pawpaw fruit and ripe pawpaw fruits. The snails were fed with these diets ad libitum for 12 weeks. Results showed that snails fed ripe pawpaw fruits recorded the highest weight gain (31.6 g) followed by snails fed with chicken mash, while those fed old pawpaw leaves had the least weight gain (10.4 g). Also, snails fed ripe pawpaw fruit laid the highest number of egg (45), while snails fed with chicken mash and old pawpaw leaves laid no egg. It can thus be concluded that ripe pawpaw fruit contributes better to the growth and reproductive performance of A. marginata than other parts of the plant.La adquisición de alimentos baratos y asequibles ha sido un problema de manejo intensi- vo de microganados como los caracoles en Nigeria. Este estudio examina el impacto de las hojas y frutos de Carica papaya (papaya) en el desempeño de crecimiento y reproducción de caracol de tierra africano gigante, Archachatina marginata. Un total de sesenta caracoles (115,2 ± 0,01 g) fueron asignados al azar a cinco tratamientos en grupos de doce (cada tratamiento tiene tres repeticiones de cuatro caracoles). Los tratamientos fueron con mezcla para pollos (control), hojas de papaya frescas, hojas viejas de papaya, fruta de papaya inmadura y frutos maduros de papaya. Los caracoles se alimentaron con estas dietas ad libitum durante 12 semanas. Los resultados mostraron que los caracoles alimentados con frutos de papaya madura presentaban la ganancia de peso más alta (31,6 g) seguida de los caracoles alimentados con mezcla para pollos, mientras que aquellos que se alimentan con papaya madura y hojas tenían la menor ganancia de peso (10,4 g). Además, los caracoles alimentados con fruta de papaya madura pusieron mayor número de huevos (45), mientras los alimentados con mezcla para pollos y papaya madura no realizaron puesta. Por lo tanto se puede concluir que la fruta de papaya madura contribuye mejor al desempeño de crecimiento y reproducción de A. marginata

Composition, Enzymes Analysis and Retraction Time of Columellar Muscles of Giant African Land Snail (Archachatina marginata) in Response to External Stimuli

With the aid of columellar muscle, snails retract the soft part into the shell when disturbed. The response time of three Giant African Land Snail (GALS) species: Archachatina marginata, Achatina achatina and Achatina fulica to touch and sodium chloride (NaCl) solution was examined. Chemical composition (protein, glucose, lipids, K+, Na+ ) and enzyme activities (amylase, cellulase, á glucosidase and lipase) in the columellar muscle of the three snail species were also investigated. Flame photometry was used to analyze the ions while spectrophomerty methods were employed for enzymes assay. A.achatina responded significantly faster (6.00 seconds) than other two snail species when stimulated by touch. The columellar muscle of A. achatina had the highest concentration of glucose and lipids(8.3mg/dl and 46.9mg/dl respectively) while A. marginata had the least. Na+ and K+ concentrations of A. achatina columellar muscle were lower than those of other two species. The four enzymes assayed were detected in the columellar muscles of the three snails at varying levels. A. achatina recorded higher á glucosidase (0.71 Abs /min) and cellulase (1.28 Abs/min ) activities than other two species. It can be concluded that the quicker response of A.achatina to environmental factors lies in its columellar properties.Keywords: giant African Land Snails; enzyme activities; sensory physiolog

Mineral composition of giant African land snail’s (Archachatina marginata) shells from six south West States, Nigeria

The giant African land snails (GALS) have protective shell, which supports and prevents dehydration of the animal. These functions are affected by the chemical composition of the shell. This study examined the chemical composition of shells of giant African land snail, Archachatina marginata, collected from six south western states of Nigeria. Snails were collected from three locations in each state, making a total of eighteen locations across the states. Magnesium, calcium, iron sodium, potassium, chloride and phosphorus concentrations were determined in the shells by standard analytical methods and data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Calcium was the most abundant mineral element in snail shell (1618.89 mg/100g) while chloride was the least (6.37 mg/100g). Ondo state recorded the highest total mineral concentration in the shell (780.0 mg/100g) (though not significantly different from Ekiti state) and Lagos state had the least concentration (745.6 mg/100g). The relationship between these results and environmental factors are discussed.Keywords: Shell, snails, mineral elements, Archachatina marginata, southwest, Nigeri

Prevalence of Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV) on Rice Plants Grown in Selected Farms in Ogun State: Preliminary Results

Incidence of Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) on rice plants (ofada) grown in two local government areas (LGAs) of Ogun State had been evaluated during a two year field survey. Six month old rice plants were observed for symptom expression and leaf samples collected for serological indexing. Of the 60 leaf samples collected for both years, 96.7 % were presented with symptoms and severity ranged from 1 to 5 in 2012. Symptoms of brown blotches, chlorosis, leaf yellowing and necrosis were observed on rice plants from which samples were collected at Ewekoro LGA. Similar symptoms were also seen on rice plants at Obafemi Owode. Disease incidence due to RYMV was 7.7 % at Ewekoro in 2012 while it was 13.3 % for plants surveyed at Obafemi owode in the same year. In 2013, incidence varied from 30.0 to 90.0 % and the higher incidence was observed on samples at Obafemi owode. Serodiagnosis of Grasshopper (Zonocerus variegatus) and Locust (Locusta migratoides) trapped at the rice fields during the survey revealed that they were not implicated in virus transmission as their absorbance values at spectrophotometric wavelength of 405 nm were not up to one and half times the values of the healthy controls.Keywords: rice, ELISA, incidence, virus symptom, surve

Egg laying and albumen gland composition of archachatina marginata during growth phases

The egg laying pattern and albumen gland composition in three growth phases of Archacha- tina marginata: snailet, juvenile and adult were investigated in this study. The juvenile stage laid the highest number of snails (9.3) followed by the adult stage (4.7), while no egg was laid by the snailet phase. However, the eggs laid by the adult phase were significantly (p<0.05) heavier than those laid by the juvenile stage. The adult stage had the biggest albumen gland (7.30±0.1cm) and the highest lipase, proteinase, α-glucosidase, amylase and cellulase activities followed by the juvenile stage, while the snailet had the least values. However, results of organic composition of the albumen gland show that juvenile phase has a statistically higher protein, glucose and lipid composition than the other two growth phases. Correlation analysis showed a strong positive relationship between egg number and albumen gland glucose, protein and lipid composition It can thus be inferred that juvenile stage of A. marginata has the best reproductive capability and potential.Se analizó el modelo de puesta y la composi- ción de las glándulas del albumen de Archachatina marginata en tres fases de crecimiento: cría, juvenil y adulto. La puesta fue mayor en la etapa juvenil (9,3) seguida de la adulta (4,7), no hubo puesta de huevos en las crías. Los huevos de la etapa adulta fueron más pesados (p<0,05) que los de la juvenil. Los adultos tuvieron las glándulas de albumen más grandes (7,30 cm) y las mayores actividades lipasa, proteinasa, α−glucosidasa, amilasa y cellulasa, seguidas en orden decrecien- te por juveniles y crías. En la fase juvenil hay mayor concentración de proteína, glucosa y lípidos en la glándula del albumen. Se registraron fuertes rela- ciones positivas entre número de huevos, y glu- cosa, proteína y lípidos de la glándula del albumen. Puede inferirse que en la etapa juvenil de A. marginata, son mayores el potencial y la capaci- dad reproductiva

Circadian variation in locomotor and feeding periods of two land snail species

Fueron investigadas la actividades diarias de locomoción, alimentación y periodos activos de dos especies de caracoles Archachatina margi- nata y Achatina achatina, en un hábitat artificial. Se realizaron análisis químicos de la hemolinfa durante un periodo de 24 horas. Se encontraron diferencias (p<0,05) entre las actividades de las dos especies. La distancia media recorrida por A. marginata osciló entre 1,9 y 32,6 cm, mientras que para A. achatina fue entre 1,0 y 18,9 cm. El máximo de la actividad alimenticia se registró a las 24:00 horas para ambas especies mientras que la acti- vidad mínima se registró entre las 4:00 y las 20:00 horas. Las dos especies, estuvieron más activas entre las 22:00 y las 24:00 horas y la actividad fue mínima entre las 11:00 y las 17:00 horas. Hubo diferencias (p<0,05) en la concentración de Cl - y lípidos de la hemolinfa durante las 24 horas