ALLOZYME COMPARISONS AMONG SPECIES OF THE BULINUS FORSKALII GROUP (GASTROPODA: PLANORBIDAE) IN CAMEROON

Abstract

Allozyme comparisons were made for adult Bulinus forskalii, B. camerunensis, and B. senegalensis from populations in Cameroon using starch gel electrophoresis. Fifteen loci were examined but no differences were found between B. forskalii and B. camerunensis, bringing into question the validity of B. camerunensis as a separate species. Bulinus senegalensis differed from B. forskalii and B. camerunensis in allozymes for acid phosphatase, alpha-glycero-phosphate dehydxogenase, hydroxybutyrate dehy-drogenase, and phosphoglucomutase. No differences were found, as reported elsewhere, between B. forskalii and B. senegalensis for aspartate amino-transferase, isocitrate debydrogenase, phosphogluco-isomerase, and xanthine oxidise. No polymorphism was seen in B. camerunensis or various B. senegalensis populations examined. Three alleles for isocitrate dehydrogenase were observed for B. forskalii. Mixed populations of B. forskalii and B. senegalensis were found at four sites but no evidence of hybridization between these species was found.