Ground fresh green leaves of Lucas aspera and Parthenium hysterophorus were screened for their molluscicidal property at dilutions of 1,000,2,500,5,000 and 10,000 ppm in water against fresh water snail, Indoplanorbis exustus at 6, 24 and 48 hr of exposure. Cent percent mortality of snails was noticed in all dilutions except the first one for each exposure time.

The molluscicidal effect of ether extract of different components of neem plant (leaf, seed, bark and whole plant) was evaluated against snails Lymnaea auricularia and Indoplanorbis exustus. The extracts were prepared by cold extraction method. The concentrations of extracts used were 1:10, 1:15,1:20, 1:25, 1:30 and 1:35 and the results were recorded at different period of exposure time (6, 12, 24, 48,72 and 96 h). The different concentrations of ether extract of neem showed variable effect on adult stages of L. auricularia and I. exustus. It showed positive correlation between exposure time and mortality and negative correlation between dilution and mortality. Among the different extracts, the whole plant extract was most effective followed by seed, leaf and bark against snails. I. exustus was found to be more susceptible to methanolic extract of neem as compared to L. auricular.

Escargots are animals capable to produce a glycoproteic secretion by glands located in all the surface of their bodies which among other functions presents anti-bacterial power and participation in the own immunity. The antimicrobioan power of certain substances may aid of repair of wounds with several origins. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate macroscopic and histologically the reparative effects of the mucus of Achatina fulica escargots on lesions made in the skin of rabbits. Incisions were performed in the skin of 15 rabbits, separated in three groups according to the treatment received. Immediately after the lesion, the respective treatments with pure mucus form and in ointment form were supplied, while the other group received no treatment (control group). The macroscopic characteristics of the lesion were registered daily and a biopsy was performed 72 hours after the treatments. The fragments were processed and stained with Masson's trichrome. The macroscopic evolution in the cicatrization process ocurred in a shorter period of time in rabbits from the ointment group, comparativity with the other groups. Histologically, the epidermis of the treated rabbits showed a basal layer of cubic cells, while rabbits of the control group presented a basal layer of cylindrical cells with cutaneous debris. | Os escargots são animais capazes de produzir através de glândulas localizadas em toda superfície do seu corpo, uma secreção glicoproteica com um poder antibacteriano que participa na própria imunidade inata¹. O poder antimicrobiano de determinadas substâncias pode auxiliar nos processos de reparação de feridas de origens diversas. Desta forma, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi o de avaliar macroscopicamente e histologicamente, os efeitos reparadores do muco do escargot Achatina fulica, em lesões provocadas por instrumento cortante na pele de coelhos. Incisões de 10cm de comprimento foram realizadas na pele de 15 coelhos. Estes foram divididos em três grupos e submetidos aos respectivos tratamentos: 1) tratamento com o muco na forma pura, 2) tratamento com o muco sob a forma de pomada e 3) um grupo sem receber o tratamento (controle). As características macroscópicas da lesão foram registradas diariamente e para a análise histológica, uma biópsia foi realizada após 72 horas de tratamento. Os fragmentos processados rotineiramente e corados com Tricrômio de Masson. Histologicamente, a epiderme dos coelhos tratados mostrou uma camada basal de células cúbicas, enquanto os do grupo controle apresentaram uma camada basal de células cilíndricas com áreas desorganizadas e a derme apresentou um estágio mais avançado no processo de reparo quando comparado ao controle. A evolução macroscópica no processo de cicatrização ocorreu num menor espaço de tempo nos coelhos do grupo pomada, em relação aos demais tratamentos.

The macro-anatomy of the reproductive system of both Achatina fulica and Achatina monochromatica was studied, by establishing the morphologic parameters of both species. Fifteen samples of each species with nearly twelve years old from the same family were used. The specimens were sacrificed by freezing (-2ºC). The collection of the reproductive system was made after the retreat from the shell and dissection of the animal. It was observed that even if the specimens have been maintained in the same environmental and alimentary conditions, as well as submitted to the same type of selection, the development of their reproductive organs show some variation. In both species, some segments of the reproductive system morphologic aspects differ macroscopically, although the disposition and the location of these segments are identical. | Foi estudada a macro-anatomia do sistema reprodutor do escargot das espécies Achatina fulica e Achatina monochromatica e estabelecidos os parâmetros morfológicos comparativos de ambas espécies. Foram utilizados 15 exemplares de cada espécie com quase 12 meses de idade pertencentes à mesma família. E estes foram sacrificados por congelamento (-2ºC). A coleta do sistema reprodutor foi feita após a retirada da concha e dissecação do animal. Verificou-se que, apesar dos animais terem sido mantidos nas mesmas condições ambientais e alimentares bem como submetidos ao mesmo tipo de seleção, o desenvolvimento dos órgãos reprodutores apresentou certa variação. Os aspectos morfológicos de alguns segmentos do sistema reprodutor, nas duas espécies, diferem macroscopicamente, porém, a disposição e a localização destes segmentos são idênticas.

The aim of this work was to make histological description of the male and hermaphrodite genital system of escargots of the species Achatina fulica and Achatina monochromatica. Ten adult copies of each species were used for such analysis. After a selective process, weighting and measuring the shell, the specimens were sacrificed by freezing in freezer to -2ºC for approximately 10min. Reproductive organs were exposed by longitudinal incision made in the cranial extremity and by accompanying the sprain of the body, until the tail extremity. Each animal was dissected over a Petri plate, under immersion in 10% phormol for better preservation of the tissues. Representative fragments of each segment of the reproductive system were collected and it was observed that their histological structure did not present evident differences, except for the Achatina fulica ovotestis in which a larger number of pigmented cells was observed in the germinative epithelium than in the same epithelium in the Achatina monochromatica. | O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a histologia da via genital masculina e hermafrodita dos escargots das espécies Achatina fulica e Achatina monochromatica. Foram usados 10 exemplares adultos de cada espécie para análise histológica. Após o processo seletivo, pesagem e tomada das medidas da concha, os espécimes foram sacrificados por congelamento em freezer, a -2ºC por aproximadamente 10min. Para a exposição dos órgãos reprodutores foi efetuada uma incisão longitudinal iniciada na extremidade cranial e, acompanhando a torção do corpo, até a extremidade caudal. Cada animal foi dissecado, sobre uma placa de Petri, sob imersão em formol a 10% para melhor preservação dos tecidos. Foram coletados fragmentos representativos de cada segmento do sistema reprodutor e observou-se que a estrutura histológica dos mesmos não apresentou diferenças notórias, com exceção do ovotestis do Achatina fulica, no qual se constatou um número maior de células pigmentadas no epitélio germinativo do que, nesse mesmo epitélio, no Achatina monochromatica.