Species-Level Taxonomy and Diversity of Freshwater and Terrestrial Snails, and First Report of Pseudonapaeus pretiosus and Succinea putris in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, and Evaluation of their Role as Hosts of Trematode-Borne Infections

Abstract

Snails and slugs that belong to the class Gastropoda are also of medical importance because they act as intermediate hosts to trematode parasites. However, few taxonomic studies on snail species in Pakistan have been published to date. This study was designed to identify freshwater and terrestrial gastropods (snails and slugs) that inhabit moist areas or water bodies in three districts (Kotli, Poonch, and Bhimber) of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. A total of 750 snail samples were collected from agricultural lands and water bodies in the study area. All the sampling areas were wetlands with maximum rainfall and nearby freshwater resources where animals graze and drink water. The snails were tested for trematode infection by using the cercarial emergence test. The emerged cercariae and snails were identified on the basis of their morphology. Ten snail species belonging to seven families were identified. Two of these snail species, Pseudonapaeus pretiosus and Succinea putris, were reported for the first time in Pakistan. This study provides baseline information and a road map to analyze malacofauna in different regions of Pakistan. Copyright 2025 by the authors.