Abstract The Japanese invasive jumping snail Ovachlamys fulgens is a pest of ornamental plants and an intermediate host of a nematode that causes eosinophilic meningitis. We expand its distribution to eight municipalities from Rio de Janeiro State, and one locality from the Paraná State, and generated for the first time partial sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene for Brazilian populations. External morphology, reproductive system, shell, radula, and jaw were also analyzed and described. Twenty-one lots were collected from Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Magé, Miguel Pereira, Petrópolis, Teresópolis, Nova Friburgo, Bom Jardim and Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro State, and from Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná State. External morphology, shell and reproductive system were typical of O. fulgens, with some peculiarities found in the shell and radula. A single haplotype was found, which was 100% similar to sequences of COI available in GenBank for specimens from Japan and Argentina. The species seems to be adapted to many habitats and be rapidly expanding its distribution in Southeastern and Southern Brazil, and other South America countries. We highlight the importance of monitoring O. fulgens, considering its potential to compete with native mollusks, attack several plants, and be a transmitter of diseases.

Abstract Our main objective was to perform a preliminary survey of the non-marine gastropods at the Estação Biológica Fiocruz Mata Atlântica (EFMA) and its adjacent urban areas, also considering samples from other localities of the Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca received as donation, in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Infection by larval helminths of medical and veterinary importance was also investigated in 348 specimens of five freshwater species and two specimens of the terrestrial species Achatina fulica. In all, 584 samples of molluscs from 34 collection sites were obtained. They represented 31 species classified in 16 families. Fifteen species were exclusive to the EFMA area. In the urban area mainly exotic and/or synanthropic species were found. Some of them were found in the forest border as well. The freshwater Biomphalaria tenagophila, an intermediate host of the trematode that causes schistosomiasis mansoni, was found parasitized by Xiphidiocercarie cercariae and the Afro-asiatic Melanoides tuberculata by Pleurolophocercus cercaria. The finding of endemic and exotic species, including transmitters of parasites, demonstrate the importance of fast surveys such as the present study. However, considering the great diversity of endemic molluscs found in a relatively small part of the EFMA, we highlight the necessity of further additional studies.

The aim of this study was to analyse the infection dynamics ofAngiostrongylus cantonensisin its possible intermediate hosts over two years in an urban area in the state of Rio de Janeiro where the presence ofA. cantonensis had been previously recorded in molluscs. Four of the seven mollusc species found in the study were exotic.Bradybaena similariswas the most abundant, followed byAchatina fulica, Streptaxissp., Subulina octona, Bulimulus tenuissimus, Sarasinula linguaeformisand Leptinaria unilamellata. Only A. fulicaand B. similariswere parasitised by A. cantonensis and both presented co-infection with other helminths. The prevalence of A. cantonensisin A. fulicawas more than 50% throughout the study. There was an inverse correlation between the population size ofA. fulicaand the prevalence of A. cantonensisand abundance of the latter was negatively related to rainfall. The overall prevalence of A. cantonensisin B. similariswas 24.6%. A. fulicawas the most important intermediary host of A. cantonensisin the studied area andB. similariswas secondary in importance for A. cantonensistransmission dynamics.

In this paper, the last of a series dealing with the survey of freshwater gastropods of the state of Rio de Janeiro, the results of collections carried out in the Noroeste Fluminense Mesoregion from 2002 to 2005 are presented and revealed the occurrence of 20 species: Antillorbis nordestensis; Biomphalaria glabrata; B. straminea; B. tenagophila; Drepanotrema anatinum; D. cimex; D. depressissimum; D. lucidum; Ferrissia sp.; Gundlachia ticaga; Gundlachia sp.; Heleobia sp.; Idiopyrgus sp.; Lymnaea columella; Melanoides tuberculatus; Physa acuta; P. marmorata; Plesiophysa guadeloupensis; Pomacea lineata; and Pomacea sp. Concerning the snail hosts of schistosomiasis the three natural vectors were identified and, although no specimens were found harbouring larval forms of Schistosoma mansoni, different kinds of cercariae had been observed.

O presente trabalho trata do primeiro registro de Plesiophysa guadeloupensis (" Fischer" Mazé, 1883) no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, no município de Itaocara. Os exemplares foram coletados em uma área alagada situada no distrito de Jaguarembé em abril/maio de 2003 e março de 2005. São mencionadas as espécies encontradas em simpatria com P. guadeloupensis, assim como algumas características físicas e químicas da água (pH, oxigênio dissolvido e temperatura), além da atual distribuição geográfica do gênero Plesiophysa no Brasil.

This paper deals with the first report of Plesiophysa guadeloupensis (" Fischer" Mazé, 1883) from Rio de Janeiro State, in the municipality of Itaocara. The gastropods were collected at a swamp situated in the district of Jaguarembé in April-May 2003 and March 2005. Other species found together with P. guadeloupensis are mentioned, as well as some physical and chemical characteristics of the water (pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature), and the geographical distribution of the genus Plesiophysa in Brazil.

A esquistossomose é uma importante doença endêmica associada a mudanças ambientais causadas por grandes projetos econômicos, tais como a construção de usinas hidrelétricas. A dificuldade de se prever o surgimento de focos de esquistossomose associados com estes empreendimentos e a existência de condições peculiares em cada tipo de projeto requerem estudos em cada uma dessas áreas, de forma a serem implementadas medidas preventivas adequadas. O número crescente de barragens no país é preocupante pois, além de criarem condições propícias ao desenvolvimento dos moluscos vetores, aumentam a população local e o turismo. Nessas áreas, a Organização Mundial de Saúde e a Fundação Nacional de Saúde recomendam ações preventivas contra a instalação de focos de esquistossomose, dentre elas, o monitoramento das populações de moluscos. Neste trabalho são apresentados dados obtidos por nossa equipe na área da Usina Hidrelétrica de Serra da Mesa (UHSM), Goiás, onde levantamentos qualitativos e quantitativos da malacofauna límnica foram realizados de 1997 a 2004, com o principal objetivo de investigar a ocorrência e a distribuição das espécies de interesse médico e veterinário. Vinte e oito espécies, pertencentes a nove diferentes famílias foram encontradas. Além de documentar novas ocorrências no Estado, é também apresentada a distribuição de duas espécies de importância médica, Biomphalaria straminea (Dunker, 1848) e Lymnaea columella Say, 1817, bem como de duas espécies exóticas, Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) e Melanoides tuberculatus (Müller, 1774).

Schistosomiasis is an important endemic disease associated with environmental change caused by major economic development projects such as the construction of hydroelectric power facilities (dams and the lakes created by them). The difficulty of predicting emerging outbreaks of schistosomiasis associated with these kinds of projects, and the existence of conditions unique to particular projects, necessitate studies in each particular locality in order that appropriate preventive measures can be implemented. The increasing number of dams being built throughout Brazil is a problematic issue because these dams not only create conditions suitable for the establishment of the vector molluscs but also lead to increased permanent human settlement and tourism. The World Health Organization, as well as the Brazilian National Health Foundation, recommend a number of actions to prevent the establishment of schistosomiasis foci, including monitoring mollusc populations. This paper focuses on our work at Serra da Mesa dam, Goiás, where qualitative and quantitative surveys of the freshwater mollusc fauna have been undertaken during the period of 1997 to 2004, aiming mainly to investigate the occurrence and distribution of species of medical importance. Twenty-eight species, belonging to nine families, were found. In addition to documenting new records in the state this paper gives details of the distribution of the two species of medical importance, Biomphalaria straminea (Dunker, 1848) and Lymnaea columella Say, 1817, as well as the invasive freshwater species Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) and Melanoides tuberculatus (Müller, 1774).

In this paper, the fifth of a series dealing with the survey of freshwater gastropods of the state of Rio de Janeiro, the results of collections carried out in the Norte Fluminense Mesoregion from 2002 to 2003 are presented and revealed the occurrence of 19 species: Antillorbis nordestensis; Burnupia sp.; Biomphalaria tenagophila; Drepanotrema anatinum; Drepanotrema cimex; Drepanotrema depressissimum; Drepanotrema lucidum; Ferrissia sp.; Gundlachia ticaga; Gundlachia sp.; Heleobia sp.; Hebetancylus moricandi; Idiopyrgus sp.; Lymnaea columella; Melanoides tuberculatus; Physa acuta; Physa marmorata; Pomacea sordida, and Pomacea sp. Concerning the snail hosts of Schistosoma mansoni only B. tenagophila was found, in contrast with other previuosly studied mesoregions.No specimens were found harbouring larval forms of S. mansoni although different kinds of cercariae had been observed.An account about the current schistosomiasis transmission sites in this Mesoregion is presented as well.

In this paper, the forth of a series dealing with the survey of freshwater gastropods of the state of Rio de Janeiro, the results of collections carried out in the Sul Fluminense Mesoregion from 2000 to 2002 are presented and revealed the occurrence of 18 species: Antillorbis nordestensis; Biomphalaria glabrata; Biomphalaria peregrina; Biomphalaria straminea; Biomphalaria tenagophila; Drepanotrema anatinum; Drepanotrema cimex; Drepanotrema lucidum; Ferrissia sp.; Gundlachia ticaga; Gundlachia sp.; Heleobia sp.; Lymnaea columella; Melanoides tuberculatus; Physa acuta; Physa marmorata; Pomacea sordida and Pomacea sp. As to the snail hosts of Schistosoma mansoni the most frequent species was B. tenagophila, found in all municipalities surveyed, except Parati. Besides new records the present study extends the distribution of B. peregrina and B. straminea in the state. No specimens were found harbouring larval forms of S. mansoni although different kinds of cercariae had been observed. An account about the current schistosomiasis transmission sites in this Mesoregion is presented as well.

In this paper, the third of a series dealing with the survey of freshwater gastropods of the state of Rio de Janeiro, the results of collections carried out in the Mesoregion Baixadas from 2000 to 2002 are presented. Twenty-two species, belonging to seven families, were found. As to the snail intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, the most frequent species was Biomphalaria tenagophila besides some new findings of Biomphalaria straminea. No specimens were found harboring larval forms of S. mansoni although different kinds of cercariae had been observed.

During the course of a survey carried out from 2000 to 2001 in the Centro Fluminense Mesoregion of the State of Rio de Janeiro 22 molluscan species were found. Many of the records are new due to the dearth of previous studies. Concerning the snail hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, the most frequently encountered species was Biomphalaria tenagophila, as it occurred in all the surveyed municipalities. There are new records of Biomphalaria straminea and Biomphalaria peregrina which is regarded as a potential intermediate host. Drepanotrema lucidum and Antillorbis nordestensis were found to be shedding echinostome cercariae and strigid cercariae respectively. An account about the current schistosomiasis transmission sites in this Mesoregion is presented as well.

In order to elaborate a planorbid chart of the State of Rio de Janeiro a survey of freshwater gastropods in the Metropolitan Mesoregion of this State was performed and revealed the occurrence of 20 species: Antillorbis nordestensis (Lucena, 1954); Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818); Biomphalaria schrammi (Crosse, 1864); Biomphalaria straminea (Dunker, 1848); Biomphalaria tenagophila (Orbigny, 1835); Burnupia sp.; Drepanotrema anatinum (Orbigny, 1835); Drepanotrema cimex (Moricand, 1839); Drepanotrema lucidum (Pfeiffer, 1839); Ferrissia sp.; Gundlachia ticaga (Marcus & Marcus, 1962); Heleobia davisi Silva & Thomé, 1985; Lymnaea columella Say, 1817; Melanoides tuberculatus (Müller, 1774); Physa cubensis Pfeiffer, 1839; Physa marmorata Guilding, 1828; Pomacea sp.; Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck, 1822); Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827) and Pomacea sordida (Swainson, 1823). Among the planorbid species B. tenagophila was the most frequent, occurring in all municipalities surveyed. The present study extends the distribution of B. straminea in the State of Rio de Janeiro and reports new records for A. nordestensis, B. schrammi, G. ticaga, H. davisi and the genera Burnupia and Ferrissia. An account about the current transmission areas of schistosomiasis mansoni in this Mesoregion is presented as well.

Morphometric data on larval and adult specimens of Angiostrongylus (Parastrongylus) costaricensis Morera & Céspedes, 1971 recovered from Swiss albino mice experimentally infected is presented. Infective larvae were obtained from parasitized veronicellid Sarasinula margínala (Semper, 1885) maintained in the laboratory. This is the first complete morphometric study regarding specimens of a Brazilian strain of A. (P.) costaricensis.