Bacterial flora of Hirudo medicinalis and their antibiotic sensitivities in the Middle Black Sea Region, Turkey
Microbiology article published in Annals of Plastic Surgery (2001)
Abstract
The rate of infectious complications of leech therapy is almost 20% because Hirudo medicinalis has endosymbiotic bacteria. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial flora of H. medicinalis and their antibiotic sensitivities in a region in Turkey. Sixteen adult leeches were collected in Middle Black Sea region, Turkey. They were rubbed onto blood agar plates directly under ether anesthesia to obtain surface cultures. They were then killed to obtain mouth and gut cultures. Culture swabs were applied to blood agar, eosin methylene blue agar, and ampicillin blood agar plates. Gut contents were applied to blood culture medium as well. Bacteria were isolated in 15 of 16 leech surfaces, in 7 of 16 mouths, and in 15 of 16 guts. Isolated bacteria were identified with Analytical Profile Index 32 E and Analytical Profile Index 20 NE (fermentative and nonfermentative respectively). Most common types of cultured bacteria were Aeromonas hydrophila (N = 25), Ochrobacter anthropi (N = 23), nonfermenting Gram-negative rods (N = 12), Acinetobacter lwoffi (N = 3), and A. sobria (N = 2) in 73 isolates. A standard disk diffusion test was performed on isolated bacteria. All isolates were 100% susceptible to ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, gentamicin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Because leeches are carriers of Aeromonas and other bacteria, appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis should be administrated to the patient who needs leech therapy. Antibacterial agents can be determined by the resistance pattern of the bacterial flora of regional H. medicinalis.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Characterization of bacterial flora from 16 wild Hirudo medicinalis collected in the Middle Black Sea region of Turkey identified Aeromonas hydrophila, Ochrobacter anthropi, and other Gram-negative rods; all isolates susceptible to ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, gentamicin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio examinó la flora bacteriana de 16 ejemplares adultos de Hirudo medicinalis recolectados en la región del Mar Negro central de Turquía, cultivando superficies, bocas e intestinos de las sanguijuelas e identificando los aislados mediante perfil bioquímico. Las bacterias más frecuentes fueron Aeromonas hydrophila, Ochrobacter anthropi, bacilos gramnegativos no fermentadores, Acinetobacter lwoffi y A. sobria. Las pruebas de difusión en disco mostraron que todos los aislados fueron 100% susceptibles a ciprofloxacino, cefotaxima, ceftazidima, gentamicina y trimetoprima/sulfametoxazol. Esto es directamente relevante para la seguridad de la hirudoterapia, dado que las complicaciones infecciosas se aproximan al 20%, y los autores recomiendan que la profilaxis antibiótica se guíe por los patrones de resistencia de la flora bacteriana regional de las sanguijuelas. No obstante, el estudio se limita a sanguijuelas de una región turca, utilizó métodos dependientes de cultivo que pueden pasar por alto organismos no cultivables, y la muestra de 16 sanguijuelas es modesta; los perfiles de resistencia pueden diferir en poblaciones de sanguijuelas de otras áreas geográficas.
Citación
Bacterial flora of Hirudo medicinalis and their antibiotic sensitivities in the Middle Black Sea Region, Turkey.
Eroglu C, Hokelek M, Guneren E, Esen S, Pekbay A, Uysal OA · Annals of plastic surgery, 2001
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 26, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026