Control of snail hosts of bilharziasis in Egypt. 3. Effect of the organophosphorous insecticide, dursban, on carbohydrate metabolism of the snails Biomphalaria alexandria and Bulinus truncatus.

The effects of the organophosphorous insecticide, Dursban, on aerobic oxidation, glycolysis, glucose utilization and gluconeogenesis in snails tissues were determined. Dursban had a biphasic effect on the aerobic oxidation of succinate, glutamate + malate and TMPD + ascorbate while it had only an inhibitory action on pyruvate oxidation. The compound significantly inhibited glycolysis, glucose utilization and gluconeogenesis when used at high concentrations (ten times higher than its LC50). However, it had a slight effect on thepreviously mentioned process when its concentration was equal to or approximated its LC50. The relationship between the metabolic effect of Dursban and its molluscicidal activity is discussed.