DETECTION BY TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE OF VIRAL PARTICLES OF TOGA GROUP AND PARAMIXO GROUP VIRUS IN MOLLUSCA, GASTROPODA, PULMONATA HELIX ASPERSA (ESCARGOT - COMMON GARDEN SNAIL) HELICIDAE AND PARAMIXO GROUP IN SNAIL VAGINULUS SP. VERONICELIDAE

ABSTRACT

The authors describe the observation by transmission electron microscope of virus particles of the Toga group in muscles and the Paramixo group in faeces of Helix aspersa (Escargots Gros Gris - common garden snail) Molusca Gastropoda Pulmonata from commercial snail farming with hight rate of mortality associated with substandard sanitary management. The virus particles of the Toga group were seen in podal (movement) and columella (shell inside retraction) muscles only in diseased animals. The virus particles of the Paramixo group were seen only in faeces of H. aspersa healthies and in faeces of healthy snail Vaginulos Verocinelidae snails. The importance of these viruses as patogenic or opportunistic agents for the H. aspersa snail is still unknow. The purpose of this paper is furthermore to raise awareness concerning the importance of sanitary management in snail breeding.

KEY WORDS:
Helix aspersa; common garden snail; escargot; mollusk; pathology; virus.