First record of an alien species of Amerianna Strand, 1928 (Gatropoda: Hygrophila: Planorbidae) in the Kimpese region, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

This study provides the first case report of Amerianna species in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), first confirmed presence in Central Africa and the first molecular data from the African continent. The Amerianna species was found during a snail survey focused on schistosomiasis intermediate hosts. After sequence analysis of the partial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) marker, three of these specimens were found to belong to the genus Amerianna. Combining morphological and molecular data, we tentatively identify the three specimens as Amerianna cf. carinata. This species is originally found in Australian freshwater bodies and was first detected in 1983 in several Nigerian man-made waterbodies. Therefore, special care should be taken when mapping Bulinus truncatus, the intermediate host for Schistosoma haematobium, as to not confuse both species as this might misguide snail control.