Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Population Control in Snails by Natural Inhibitors

Abstract

IN many areas of the world diseases such as schistosomiasis caused by trematodes, still cause misery to millions of people and much damage to livestock. Because a specific mollusc, often a snail, is necessary for the completion of the trematode life cycle, the elimination of that host would eradicate the disease. According to Southgate1 none of the molluscicides currently available is ideal. Among their disadvantages are toxicity to organisms such as fish and the relatively high concentrations required for their effect. Here we describe a naturally occurring population inhibitor from snail cultures which because of its specificity and potency suggests another approach to mollusc control. The data presented below indicate that such substance is produced in cultures of at least two species of snails. Discovery of this inhibitor came about through an investigation into the chemical and physiological basis for the inhibition of population growth which occurs in crowded snail cultures.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Southgate, B. A., J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 73, 235 (1970).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Rose, S. M., Ecology, 41, 188 (1960).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Chernin, E., and Michelson, E. H., Amer. J. Hyg., 65, 57 (1957).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Chernin, E., and Michelson, E. H., Amer. J. Hyg., 65, 71 (1957).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Berrie, A. D., Ann. Trop. Med. Hyg., 62, 45 (1968).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Isseroff, H., and Read, C. P., Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 30, 1153 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rose, S. M., and Rose, F. C., in Mechanisms in Biological Competition, Symp. Soc. Exper. Biol., 15, 207 (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1961).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

LEVY, M., TUNIS, M. & ISSEROFF, H. Population Control in Snails by Natural Inhibitors. Nature 241, 65–66 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/241065a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/241065a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing