Umwelt- und analytische Toxikologie

Evaluation of Some Pollution at Manzala Lagoon: Special Reference to Medical Importance of Mollusca in Egypt

Abstract

Orabi H Orabi and Mahmoud F Osman

The value of environmental health and the functioning of ecosystems are widely recognized at the Manzala Lagoon for the first time and are becoming more familiar to illuminated public opinions. The freshwater molluscs play significant roles in the public and veterinary health in the Manzala Lagoon region. The abundance of freshwater gastropods species Biomphalaria alexandrina, B. glabrata, Bellamya unicolor, Viviparous contectus, Bulinus (Bulinus) truncatus, Lymnaea columella, L.(Galba) truncatula, Melanoides maculate, M. tuberculata, Planorbis planorbis, Succinea (Amphibina) cleopatra, Theodoxus (Neritaea) niloticus and T. (N.) anatolicus was negatively correlated with salinity. These gastropods are of considerable importance because they are hosts for Cercaria pusilla, Fasciola hepatica, Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium disease vectors. The latter two can cause Schistosomiasis transmission (Bilharzia). People living along the banks of the drains which are located in southern and western sectors of the Manzala Lagoon are exposed to chemical pollutants. The drains wastewater pollutants affected the human health because they use the drain waters in their life needs.