Potential of Biomphalaria tenagophila from Pampulha lake, Belo Horizonte, MG, as a host of Schistosoma mansoni

Biomphalaria tenagophila snails, from a population originally obtained from "Pampulha" lake, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, were exposed to miracidia from four strains of Schistosoma mansoni: "LE" and "HK" from Belo Horizonte, "AL" from Alagoas and "SJ" from S?o José dos Campos, S?o Paulo. The "LE", "AL" and "SJ" strains are maintained in the laboratory and the "HK" strain was obtained from feces of a patient residing near to "Pampulha" lake. Infection rates were of 4% ("LE" strain), 6% ("HK" strain), 30% ("SJ" strain) and 40% ("AL" strain). These infection rates were similar to those obtained by others authors for B. tenagophila from Minas Gerais. Experimentally infected snails when compared to B. glabrata of the control group and B. tenagophila naturally infected in "Pampulha" lake shed similar number of cercariae (2000 cercariae/snail). The high density of B. tenagophila in the "Pampulha" lake, the number of cercariae shed by naturally infected snails, the great number of persons who use the water for fishing and swimming, and the water contamination with human feces, are favourable factors for growing the Schistosomiasis focus in the lake.