Clitellate (Annelida: Clitellata) parasites and predators of North American herpetofauna
Research article published in J Parasitol (2024)
Abstract
An updated checklist of leeches and oligochaetes (Annelida: Clitellata) that parasitize or prey upon wild North American amphibians and reptiles is presented: A total of 25 species grouped in 6 genera, 5 families, and 2 orders, are registered; these infect a total of 39 species of reptiles and 39 species of amphibians in the region. An illustrated identification key for the families and genera listed is proposed. Finally, a new record is made for Mexico: the leech Placobdella parasitica (Say, 1824) (Glossiphoniidae) parasitizing the Mesoamerican slider Trachemys venusta (Gray, 1856) (Emydidae) in the state of Tamaulipas.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Zusammenfassung
Updated checklist of 25 leech and oligochaete species parasitizing North American amphibians and reptiles; new record of Placobdella parasitica from Mesoamerican slider in Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Warum dies für die Hirudotherapie relevant ist
This study presents an updated checklist of leeches and oligochaetes (Clitellata) that parasitize or prey upon wild North American amphibians and reptiles, registering 25 species across 6 genera, 5 families, and 2 orders that collectively infect 39 reptile and 39 amphibian species. The authors provide an illustrated identification key and report a new Mexican record of Placobdella parasitica parasitizing the Mesoamerican slider turtle. While this contributes to general leech biodiversity knowledge, its relevance to hirudotherapy or the leech secretome is minimal, as these species are ecological parasites of herpetofauna rather than the medicinal leeches used therapeutically. Caveat: This is a taxonomic and ecological checklist with no examination of bioactive salivary compounds, anticoagulants, or therapeutic applications.
Zitation
Clitellate (Annelida: Clitellata) parasites and predators of North American herpetofauna.
De Luna M et al. · J Parasitol, 2024
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