Climatic characteristics of areas with lymnaeid snails in Fascioliasis endemic areas of Mendoza province, Argentina

CUERVO P.; DEIS E.; MERA Y SIERRA R.

Sustainable Improvement of Animal Production and Health

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Lugar: Roma; Año: 2010; p. 359 - 362

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic trematodiasis which is both emerging and spreading all over the world, with important human endemic areas in South America. Its prevalence in Argentina, and particularly in Mendoza Province, appear to be high. This study was designed to characterise the main climatic conditions of sites in endemic areas of fascioliasis where freshwater snails of the Lymnaeidae family (the intermediate vectors of Fasciola hepatica) are present This was done by analysing the sites by digital climatic analysis using DIVAGIS 5.2 software, coupled with information gained through earlier research. Temperature showed a small dispersion among sites, possibly indicating that temperature may have a greater influence on the distribution of lymnaeids than precipitation. Also there was convergence in the dispersion graphic between the values for ‘minimum temperature of the coldest month’ and ‘precipitation of the driest month’, showing that these aspects could be considered as limitations to the snails’ survival. It is concluded that lymnaeid snails have great adaptability and survival capacities, enabling them to colonise and survive in extreme and diverse environments such as the high altitudes of the Andes and the arid plains of central Mendoza Province. The impact of global climate change should not be overlooked as a factor enhancing vector spread.