Carol,
Several species of land snails could serve as intermediate hosts of
nematodes and trematodes parasitic in mammals including humans. Since land
snails are not known to bite or directly parasitize vertebrates, the
transmission to the next host of the parasite larvae the snails are carrying
takes places when the snails are eaten. Thus, the risk of getting a
parasitic infection from collecting land snails is probably minimal provided
that the collector practices proper personal hygiene. There is some
information on parasites carried by freshwater & land snails at this site:

http://research.ucsb.edu/connect/pro/disease.html


Aydin

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carol B Simpson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 8:29 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: land snail parasites
>
>
> Our speaker at our meeting last Sunday was telling us about
> collecting land
> snails in Argentina and other countries.  She said she was
> warned about
> parasites (some deadly) that were carried by land snails.
> The snails she
> collected were around the water, but were classified as
> "land" snails.  Can
> anyone out there tell me some more about the shells and what
> they carry?
>
> Also, I'm trying to find out any information I can about the
> adhesives used
> in dentistry and surgery.  Guess it would be the adhesives secreted by
> mussels, barnacles, etc.  Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Carol
>