[Geographic distribution of planorbidae in Santa Catarina, Brazil]

A revision of the malacological surveys carried out in Santa Catarina, Brazil, by the National Health Foundation in 52 counties of 8 microregions between 1981 and 1994 was made. Fifty of them were positive for Biomphalaria tenagophila, the only schistosome vector identified in the 94,535 specimens collected. Of 1,358 districts, 617 (45.4%) were positive to the vector, varying from 4.3% to 89.4% per municipality. The percentages of water bodies with planorbids varied from 0.2% to 26.3% and, of the total 28,120 examined 2,013 (7.1%) were positive. Snails infected with cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni were found in the counties of Araquari, Massaranduba, Joinville, Jaraguá do Sul and São Francisco do Sul, the last two constituting the southernmost focus of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil. Other planorbid species identified were B. peregrina, B. oligoza, B. schrammi, B. straminea and B. occidentalis.