[Effectiveness and cost analysis of two chemical molluscicides in hilly schistosomiasis-endemic regions].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness and cost of 50% and 80% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (NESWP) and 26% metaldehyde and niclosamide suspension concentrate (MNSC) in hilly schistosomiasis-endemic regions, so as to provide insights into the selection of chemical molluscicides in hilly regions. METHODS: In September 2020, a wasteland in Guanshanqiao Village, Yanrui Township, Yushan County of Jiangxi Province was selected as the experimental region, which was sectioned into five blocks and defined as four experimental groups (A1, A2, B, C) and a blank control group (D). 80% NESWP were given at doses of 1 g/m2 and 1.5 g/m2 in groups A1 and A2 using the spraying method, 50% NESWP was given at a dose of 2 g/m2 in Group B using the spraying method, and 26% MNSC was at a dose of 4 g/m2 in Group C using the spraying method, while no chemical treatment was given in Group D. Snail survey was performed using a systematic sampling method before chemical treatment and 1, 3, 7 d and 15 d post-treatment to examine the molluscicidal effect, and all molluscicidal costs were estimated to calculate the cost of chemical treatment per 1 m2 and the cost of the reduction in the mean density of living snails per 1%. RESULTS: The highest mortality of snails was 78.95% and the lowest density of living snails was 0.2388 snails/0.1 m2 in the experimental groups within 7 d of chemical treatment, and the highest mortality of snails was 94.74% and the lowest density of living snails was 0.058 0 snails/0.1 m2 7 d post-treatment. There were no significant differences in the snail mortality among the A1, A2, B and C groups 1 (χ2 = 2.250, P > 0.05), 3 (χ2 = 1.779, P > 0.05) or 15 d post-treatment (χ2 = 2.286, P > 0.05), while a significant difference was detected in the snail mortality among the four groups 7 d post-treatment (χ2 = 7.990, P = 0.046). In addition, there were no significant differences in the snail mortality between A1 and A2 groups 1 (χ2 = 0.724, P > 0.05), 3 (χ2 = 0.584, P > 0.05), 7 (χ2 = 0.400, P > 0.05) or 15 d post-treatment (χ2 = 0.251, P > 0.05). The costs of chemical treatment per 1 m2 were 0.58, 0.60, 0.64 Yuan and 0.73 Yuan in groups A1, A2, B and C, and the costs of the mean density of living snail per 1% reduction were 19.29, 20.44, 21.68 Yuan and 23.53 Yuan in groups A1, A2, B and C, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 80% NESWP shows a high molluscicidal efficacy and low cost in hilly schistosomiasis-endemic regions.