• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.657-662
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• 2013

Freshwater snails of the family Lymnaeidae play an important role in the transmission of fascioliasis worldwide. In Vietnam, 2 common lymnaeid species, Lymnaea swinhoei and Lymnaea viridis, can be recognized on the basis of morphology, and a third species, Lymnaea sp., is known to exist. Recent studies have raised controversy about their role in transmission of Fasciola spp. because of confusion in identification of the snail hosts. The aim of this study is, therefore, to clarify the identities of lymnaeid snails in Vietnam by a combination of morphological and molecular approaches. The molecular analyses using the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA clearly showed that lymnaeids in Vietnam include 3 species, Austropeplea viridis (morphologically identified as L. viridis), Radix auricularia (morphologically identified as L. swinhoei) and Radix rubiginosa (morphologically identified as Lymnaea sp.). R. rubiginosa is a new record for Vietnam. Among them, only A. viridis was found to be infected with Fasciola spp. These results provide a new insight into lymnaeid snails in Vietnam. Identification of lymnaeid snails in Vietnam and their role in the liver fluke transmission should be further investigated.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.83-85
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• 2013

Size-mass relationships were estimated for 4 species belonging to genus Semisulcospira from the Guem River, Korea. These 4 freshwater snail species: Semisulcospira libertina, Semisulcospira coreana, Semisulcospira gottschei, and Semisulcospira forticosta. Between June and November 2011, samples were caught by dredge (mesh size 10mm of multifilament nylon, total length 4.35 m) at depths of < 2 m. Estimates of for parameter b of the size-mass relationship (W = $aSH^b$) ranged between 2.0072 (Semisulcospira libertina) and 2.3463 (Semisulcospira gottschei).

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.16 no.1_2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2000

Molluscan drugs have been traditionally used as a folk medicine mainly in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. Medicinal mollusks commonly used in the Far Eastern countries including Korea were investigated in this study, through a search of old and modern Chinese and Japanese literatures. A total of 63 medicinal species were listed: 5 species of two families in land snails, 2 species of one family in freshwater gastropods, 9 species of three families in freshwater bivalves, 23 species of five families in marine gastropods, and 24 species of five families in marine bivalves. Of 63 species searched, 22 species are occurring in Korea: 1 species of one family in freshwater gastropods, 4 species of three families in freshwater bivalves, 7 species of four families in marine gastropods, and 10 species of four families in marine bivalves. At least, medicinal mollusks occurring in Korea should be conserved preferentially to keep our natural resources and biodiversity.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2010

In this study, we evaluated the distribution, habitat characteristics, and diet of two Korean freshwater turtle species (Chinemys reevesii, Pelodiscus sinensis) and an invasive turtle species (Trachemys scripta elegans) in the area surrounding the Seomjin River and the Nam River. We surveyed basking turtles in multiple locations along a 48-km stretch of the Seomjin River and in 99 reservoirs distributed along the Seomjin and Nam rivers from June to September, 2009. We observed 8 and 6 red-eared turtles in 3 reservoirs and at 3 sites in the Seomjin River, respectively, and 33 Reeve's turtles in 9 reservoirs. There were also 28 and 16 mud turtles detected at 15 sites along the Seomjin River and in 8 reservoirs, respectively. Among the 14 biotic and abiotic habitat characteristics that might influence the abundance of freshwater turtles in reservoirs, only the distance between a reservoir and the nearest residential areas was correlated negatively with abundance. With regard to the diet, all Reeve's and red-eared turtles investigated were determined to forage on water snails. Some turtles also foraged on vegetation and aquatic invertebrates. Additionally, we found fish in the stomach of one of the Reeve's turtles, and dragonflies in the stomachs of two red-eared turtles.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2002

This experiment was carried out to obtain some information about overwintering, physiological and ecological characteristics of apple snails. Another purpose of this experiment was to characterize an appetite for rice plants by apple snails and to elucidate their choice of fresh green ones (vegetables, some other crops, weeds in rice fields). The freshwater snails were found with higher population at sites abundant organic compounds such as plant debris and at regions with high temperature. They also prefer calcium-rich water. This is a naturally occurring process. Apple snails were exceptionally veil-adapted to the south regions of Korea, especially Janghang, Jangseong and Haenam, even if the temperature of winter season is cold below 0$^{\circ}C$. Apple snails were not very selective in their food choice and eat almost everything available in their environment. A snail have something called a radula in its mouth for grinding up its food. A apple snail also chews on fruits and young succulent plant barks. In case of reproduction. apple snails deposit about 157$\sim$784 (average of 321 eggs) milky white to pale orange colored eggs above the waterline. In approximately every 22.4 seconds a new egg appears. The total time needed to deposit a egg mass varies from 58 minutes$\sim$4 hours 13 minutes. Apple snails reproduct actively from May to June and from September to October. An appetite of apple snails for rice plants was the different depending on their size and glowing stage for rice plants. Apple snails had a great appetite of rice plants as well as dropwort, tomato, cabbage, radish, aquatic plants etc. They preferred to eat young rice plants and drastically quit eating rice plants of over 40 cm in height. Thus considering the food preference of apple snail for various plants including rice, they were thought to be a potentially strong predator in fields, especially, at regions with warmer winter.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 1998

A horizontal starch gel electrophoresis for enzyme proteins extracted from 2 species of Korean viviparid snails; Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata and C. japonica was carried out in order to elucidate their genetic relationships. A total of 10 enzymes were employed in three different kinds of buffer systems. Two loci from each enzyme of alcohol dehydrogenase, esterase, glucose phosphate isomerase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, iditol dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and peptidase(VL); and only one locus dach from two enzymes, glycerlo-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucomutase were detected; but, four loci from peptidase(LGG) were observed. Most of loci in two viviparid species showed homozygous monomorphic banding patterns and some of them were specific as genetic markers between two different species. However, EST-1, MDH-1, PEP(VL)-1loci showed polymorphic banding patterns. Foru populations of C. chinensis malleata were more closely clustered in a dendrogram within the range of genetic identity values of 0.928-1.00, and these clusters were lineated with C. japonica at the value of 0.355. In summarizing the above results, two viviparid snail species dmployed in this study mostly showed monomorphic enzyme protein banding patterns, and genetic differences specific between two species.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2011

We investigated the nutritional status of the melania snail (Semisulcospira gottschei) using RNA/DNA ratios to evaluate the effect of feeding conditions (artificial versus natural) on the reaction times of the snails in a time course following starvation. In the short experiments (48 h), the RNA/DNA ratios of the artificial feeding groups were significantly higher than those of the natural groups. While two RNA/DNA ratio peaks were observed in the artificial food group during daytime, the natural food group showed a higher ratio at night. Under starvation conditions, the RNA content decreased whereas the DNA content was constant. The RNA/DNA ratios of the freshwater snail in both groups dramatically decreased after starvation and remained constant until the end of the experiment. We verified that the RNA/DNA ratio serves as an index of nutritional condition with respect to the effect of dietary differences. These results are important for understanding optimized aquaculture rearing conditions for this important commercial freshwater snail.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2020

We have identified a heat shock protein 70 gene from freshwater snail, Semisulcospira coreana. The freshwater snail HSP70 gene encode a polypeptide of 639 amino acids. Based on bioinformatic sequence characterization, HSP70 gene possessed three classical signature motifs and other conserved residues essential for their functionality. The phylogenetic analysis showed that S. coreana HSP70 had closet relationship with that of golden apple snails, Pomacea canaliculata. The HSP70 mRNA level was significantly up-regulated in response to thermal and salinity challenges. These results are in agreement with the results of other species, indicating that S. coreana HSP70 used be a potential molecular marker in response to external stressors and the regulatory process related to the HSP70 transcriptional response can be highly conserved among species.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 1993

A cladistic analysis for phylogenetic relationship among 3 freshwater planorbid snail species was carried out on the basis of their conchological and anatomical characteristics.The intestinal loop in the digestive systims was mainly distinguishable among 3 species of the planorbid snails. The loops in Hippeutis cantori and Segmentina hemisphaerula coiled around stomach, extended down to the distal part of the liver and finally connected with the anus, while the loop in Gyraulus convexiusculus was short and small, and connected directly to the anus after coiling around the stomach. However, the intestinal loop of Hippeutis cantori was the largest among those of 3 target snail species. In the main morpholohical differences of the riproductive systems, Gyraulus convexiusculus uniquely had a calcareous stylet in the penis sheath. Although there was no stylet in the penis sheath in the other snail species, the penis shesths connected with 1 and 2 flagella in Segmentina hemisphaerula and in Hippeutis cantori, respectively were different from each other. Two planorbid species, Hippeutis cantori and Segmintina hemisphaerula have a more recent phylogenetic ancestor out three species employed including Gyraulus convexiusculus.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.247-253
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• 2001

Three freshwater snail species of the family Lymnaeidae have been reported from Korea, Radix auricularia coreana, Austropeplea ollula and Fossaria truncatula. Out of 3 lymnaeid snail species, A. ollula was naturally infected with the Echinostoma cinetorchis cercariae (infection rate : 0.7%). In the experiments with the laboratory-bred snails, F. truncatula as well as A. ollula was also susceptible to the E. cinetorchis miracidia with infection rates of 25% and 40%, respectively. All of three lymnaeid snail species exposed to the E. cinetorchis cercariae were infected with the E. cinetorchis metacercariae. It is evident that A. ollula acts as the first molluscan intermediate host of E. cinetorchis in Korea, and F. truncatula may be a possible candidate for the first intermediate host of this intestinal fluke. Also, three lymnaeid snail species targeted were experimentally infected with E. cinetorchis metacercariae.