Culture of the Snail Biomphalaria Glabrata on a Simplified Medium

Ioni A. SennaDepartmento de Bioquimica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 340, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil

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Enio Cardillo VieiraDepartmento de Bioquimica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 340, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil

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To promote growth and reproduction of axenic Biomphalaria glabrata, we have devised a simplified and purified nutrient medium. This diet differed from a previously described casein-lettuce medium in that powdered lettuce was omitted and cellulose, pectin, starch, glucose, ascorbic acid, and cysteine were added. The liquid portion was the same as in the casein-lettuce medium. Thirty-eight axenic snails were fed on each medium; after 5 months there were 14 snails on the casein-lettuce medium, 18 on the simplified medium. The snails did not differ in size on either medium, but snails eating the simplified medium laid fewer eggs than those eating the casein-lettuce medium. Age of snails at onset of oviposition was the same for each medium.

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Pesquisador chefe from Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas.

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