Exogenous enzymes activities in the fore- and mid-gut of the African snail (Archarchatina marginata)

Okeniyi, F. A. and Osinowo, A.O. (2021) Exogenous enzymes activities in the fore- and mid-gut of the African snail (Archarchatina marginata). Archivos de Zootecnia, 70 (271). pp. 276-283.

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Abstract

This study investigated the enzyme activities of two (2) microbial organisms in the fore- and mid- gut regions in the gastrointestinal tract, in Archarchatina marginata, a giant Land snail from the region of West Africa. Microbial analysis was conducted to verify the microbial organisms present in different parts of the snail gut while enzyme assay was performed to determine the type and level of enzyme activities taking place in the mouth and stomach regions. Results revealed the different bacteria inhabiting the regions of the alimentary tract in Archarchatina marginata. Azobacter chroococcum and Pseudomonas syringae, the two bacteria isolate that were further investigated, effectively digested starch, cellulose and casein. However, P. syringae exhibited the highest enzymatic activities for cellulase (8.72µmol/min/ml at 18h) and amylase (9.05 µmol/min/ml at 24h) while Azobacter chroococcum exhibited the highest enzymatic activity for protease (17.18 µmol/min/ml at 24h) during incubation. Consequently, the study validated amylolytic, cellulolytic and proteolytic bacterial activities within the digestive tract of A. marginata. This knowledge is informative for research and an aid to snail farmers in the choice of feeding materials for these land snails.

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