Elimination of symbiotic Aeromonas spp. from the intestinal tract of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, using ciprofloxacin feeding
Research article published in Clin Microbiol Infect (2009)
Abstract
The use of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) in promoting venous drainage in tissues whose vitality is threatened by venous congestion and obstruction, especially in plastic and reconstructive surgery, has been complicated by infections caused by Aeromonas spp. These are leech endosymbionts for which patients undergoing hirudotherapy frequently receive systemic chemoprophylaxis. In order to evaluate the possibility of rendering leeches safe for use on patients, H. medicinalis were fed artificially with a 2 g/L arginine solution (used as a phagostimulant) supplemented with ciprofloxacin (100 mg/L). Aeromonads were detected in 57 out of 80 control leeches (71.3%), but in none of the 56 leeches treated with ciprofloxacin (p <0.001). Treated leeches survived for up to 4 months. Tested weekly, 61% of these leeches took human blood for at least 4 weeks after treatment and all remained negative for aeromonads. All water samples in which leeches were kept before treatment were contaminated with Aeromonas spp.; none were detected in any of the NaCl/arginine solutions with which treated animals were fed. Molecular characterization of two phenotypically distinct isolates using gyrB sequencing showed that one clustered tightly with A. veronii and the other was closely related to A. media. Other environmental bacteria and fungi were isolated from 26.5% of treated leeches that had taken a blood meal 1-4 weeks after treatment. Ciprofloxacin reduced the number of leech-associated aeromonads to undetectable levels for extended periods. Most treated leeches were ready to take a blood meal after treatment, suggesting the possibility of using ciprofloxacin-treated leeches instead of chemoprophylaxis in patients undergoing hirudotherapy.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Zusammenfassung
Feeding leeches with ciprofloxacin-supplemented arginine solution eliminated Aeromonas spp. to undetectable levels in 56 of 56 treated leeches; treated leeches survived up to 4 months.
Warum dies für die Hirudotherapie relevant ist
Diese Studie untersuchte, ob die Fütterung medizinischer Blutegel (Hirudo medicinalis) mit einer Ciprofloxacin-supplementierten Argininlösung endosymbiontische Aeromonas-Bakterien eliminieren kann, die die Hirudotherapie durch Infektionen bei Patienten verkomplizieren. Aeromonaden wurden bei 71,3 % der Kontrollegel nachgewiesen, jedoch bei keinem der 56 mit Ciprofloxacin behandelten Egel (p < 0,001); die behandelten Egel überlebten bis zu 4 Monate, und 61 % nahmen mindestens 4 Wochen nach der Behandlung weiterhin Blutmahlzeiten an. Diese Befunde sind unmittelbar relevant für den Bereich der ASH, da Aeromonas-Infektionen eine anerkannte klinische Komplikation der Blutegeltherapie darstellen, und die Autoren schlagen vor, dass mit Ciprofloxacin behandelte Egel potenziell die systemische Chemoprophylaxe ersetzen könnten. Allerdings beherbergten 26,5 % der behandelten Egel, die nach der Behandlung Blut aufnahmen, weiterhin andere Umgebungsbakterien und -pilze, und die Studie liefert keine patientenbezogenen Infektionsoutcome-Daten, sodass die klinische Auswirkung in der Praxis unbewiesen bleibt.
Zitation
Elimination of symbiotic Aeromonas spp. from the intestinal tract of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, using ciprofloxacin feeding.
Mumcuoglu KY et al. · Clin Microbiol Infect, 2009
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