Antibacterial Properties of Snail Mucus on Bacteria Isolated from Patients with Wound Infection

Background: Snail mucin has been reported to contain agents with wound healing properties. Mucin obtained from the mucus of snails and epiphgram obtained from species of Achatina fulica and Archachatina marginata have also been reported to show antimicrobial properties. Snail species are abundantly available and widely consumed as a delicacy across Nigeria.

Aim: To assess the antibacterial effects of mucus secretions from different snail types on bacteria isolated from clinically infected wounds.

Place and Duration of Study: The study lasted for a period of four (4) months and was conducted at the Microbiology laboratory of The Cross River State University of Technology in Cross River, Nigeria.

Methodology: The in vitro antibacterial potency of snail mucus secretions obtained from Archachatina marginata saturalis, Archachatina marginata ovum and Achatina fulica on bacterial isolates from wound was investigated. The isolates obtained from twenty eight (28) clinical wound samples were Staphylococcusspp (24:53.3%), Pseudomonas spp (16:33.3%) and Streptococcus spp (6:13.4%). The susceptibility of the isolates to snail mucus secretions was assayed on Muller Hilton Agar by the disc diffusion method, using varied mucus/DMSO concentrations of 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20%. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the mucus secretions were also evaluated.

Results: The viscosity of the mucus secretions were rated as A. marginata saturalis> A. marginata ovum> A. fulica, while their colours were yellow, light brown and dark respectively. Results revealed that Staphylococcus sp was more susceptible to mucus secretion from the A. marginata saturalis (17.4±1.20) than those from A. marginata ovum (15.6±1.44) and A. fulica (15.4±2.04). The minimum inhibitory concentration of mucus secretions from A. marginata saturalis against the test organisms were observed at concentrations of 100% and 20% for Staphylococcus sp, 20% for Pseudomonas sp and 40% for Streptococcus sp respectively. The antibacterial activity of the mucus secretions were observed to be comparable to that of seven (7) different antibiotics used as control.

Conclusion: Snail mucus secretions could be a source for antibacterial agents that can serve as an alternative to the expensive synthetic antibacterial agents used in wound treatment if adequately explored.