Morganella Morganii Infection in Hirudo Medicinalis (Iran): A Case Report

Medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) are used in surgical and non-surgical manners. Morganella morganii is an opportunistic and zoonotic pathogenic bacterium causing serious clinical complications. In this study, we isolated, discovered and characterized M. morganii-infected H. medicinalis. We detected and identified M. morganii in all inflamed and swollen Hirudo medicinalis samples. The 16S rRNA sequence of the isolates confirmed all strains of M. morganii. All strains were sensitive to Ceftriaxone, Ceftiofur, Danofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Enrofloxacin, Oxytetracycline, and Meropenem and were resistant to Erythromycin, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Cefazolin, Colistin, Penicillin G, and Lincomycin. This pathogenic bacterium is a zoonotic pathogen, and monitoring the prevalence rate of this bacteria is strongly necessary for leeches used in human medical treatment and care. Finally, all infected leeches were treated successfully in this case report study.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

This case report isolates Morganella morganii from inflamed Hirudo medicinalis in Iran, confirms identity by 16S rRNA sequencing, and reports susceptibility to antibiotics including ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin but resistance to erythromycin, amoxicillin, penicillin G, and colistin.

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