Effect of sodium benzene sulphonate on adults and eggs of Lymnaea natalensis

Abstract

SODIUM benzene sulphonate is an important ingredient in most synthetic detergents. In Kenya, it was observed that one of these detergents (Omo; Unilever) was capable of killing the adult snail Lymnaea natalensis, intermediate host of the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica, in less than 24 hours at a concentration of 1 to 5 percent. The same concentration of the detergent killed the eggs of L lIatalensis within 36 hours, and miracidia of F gigantica in about three minutes. It became evident that the active component of the detergent against these organisms was sodium benzene sulphonate, so the effect of this compound on aOl.lIt snails, snail eggs and miracidia of F gigantica was aied. For comparison, a similar study was undertaken using N-tritylmorpholine (Frescon; Shell) and copper sulphate solutions, the molluscicidal properties of which are well known