A giant african snail hits the José Martí people's council in Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba.

Authors

  • Rafael Armiñana-García Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Villa Clara, Cuba.
  • Yolepsy Castillo-Fleites Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Villa Clara, Cuba.
  • José Iannacone Laboratorio de Investigación de Ecología y Biodiversidad Animal (LEBA). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemática (FCNNM). Grupo de Investigación en Sostenibilidad Ambiental (GISA). Escuela Universitaria de Posgrado (EUPG). Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal (UNFV). Lima, Perú. - Laboratorio de Zoología. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas. Grupo de Investigación “One Health”. Escuela de posgrado (EPG). Universidad Ricardo Palma (URP). Lima, Perú.
  • Anel Fernández Vizcaíno Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Villa Clara, Cuba.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62429/rnh20262012115

Keywords:

Giant African Snail, Invasive Alien Species, environment, human health, system of activities

Abstract

Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822), the "Giant African Snail," is a species that adapts to a wide range of environments, modifying its life cycle to suit specific habitats. It is one of the threats to agriculture and the environment worldwide in the 21st century and a danger to human health due to the transmission of helminthiasis. The objective of this research is to propose a system of Environmental Education activities that promote knowledge and control of the Giant African Snail as an Invasive Alien Species among the residents of the "José Martí" People's Council in the city of Santa Clara, located in the municipality of the same name in the province of Villa Clara, Cuba. For the development of this research, methods of information gathering and processing were used, such as document analysis, surveys, interviews, and observation. In the interviews conducted, it was found that some residents possessed some knowledge about this species; However, there was little awareness regarding the harmful effects this animal can have on vulnerable Cuban ecosystems and human health. The proposed system of activities was deemed relevant by experts, allowing its implementation within the People's Council. These activities created spaces for exchange and reflection on the importance of understanding key aspects of this invasive alien species. This collaborative effort fostered interaction between residents and the researcher, facilitating the exchange of scientific and local knowledge. With the active participation of the population, the species was successfully controlled in some areas of the People's Council.

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Published

2026-03-02

How to Cite

Armiñana-García, R., Castillo-Fleites, Y., Iannacone, J., & Fernández Vizcaíno, A. (2026). A giant african snail hits the José Martí people’s council in Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba. Neotropical Helminthology, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.62429/rnh20262012115