The action of very low concentrations of sodium pentachlorophenate on freshly laid eggs of Australorbis glabratus.

This paper describes experiments to test the action of low concentrations of sodium pentachlorophenate against freshly laid eggs of Australorbis glabratus, the principal intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni in the western hemisphere. Techniques for collecting the eggs without damage and for conducting the tests are described. This compound was found to be 4-10 times more toxic for the eggs than for the adult snails. Strain differences in susceptibility of the eggs were also found. The demonstration of greater susceptibility of the eggs to the compound suggests that snail control might be accomplished more economically in some situations if the chemical were directed primarily against the eggs. The possibility of using eggs instead of adults for screening potential molluscicides is also discussed.