Prevalence and infestation intensity of a piscicolid leech, Zeylanicobdella arugamensis on cultured hybrid grouper in Brunei Darussalam
Aquaculture study published in Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports (2020)
Abstract
Grouper is an important food fish due to its commercial value. A major production constraint in culturing grouper is that the fish can be fatally affected by leeches and diseases. Leeches are an ectoparasite of grouper, which can cause significant loss in fish number, and thus controlling their prevalence is indispensable as a tool of aquaculture management. In order to understand the prevalence and infestation intensity of a piscicolid leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis, field observation of hybrid grouper was conducted in two aquaculture farms in Brunei Darussalam. The prevalence rates were 100% for the two farms throughout the study period, while the infestation intensity levels were significantly different between the two farms. The farm with the higher salinity ranging from 26 to 28 psu was found to have a significantly higher number of leeches (505 ± 271 leeches fish-1; mean ± SD) than the other farm with the lower salinity ranging from 17 to 23 psu that had 27 ± 23 leeches fish-1, although the ranges of recorded water temperatures overlapped between the two farms. This study suggests salinity might be an important factor in the propagation of Z. arugamensis. Furthermore, the prevalence and intensity of the leech in Brunei Darussalam were higher than those reported in other Southeast Asian countries. These results indicate that the hybrid grouper culture in Brunei Darussalam might have a higher risk in disease than those countries.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Field study of Z. arugamensis leech infestation prevalence (100%) and intensity on cultured hybrid grouper in Brunei, with salinity 26-28 psu farms harbouring significantly more leeches than 17-23 psu farms.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio de campo examinó la prevalencia e intensidad de infestación de la sanguijuela piscicólida Zeylanicobdella arugamensis en híbridos de mero cultivados en dos granjas acuícolas en Brunei Darussalam, encontrando una prevalencia del 100% en ambos sitios y recuentos de sanguijuelas significativamente mayores en la granja con mayor salinidad (505 ± 271 vs. 27 ± 23 sanguijuelas por pez). Los autores sugieren que la salinidad puede ser un factor importante en la propagación de las sanguijuelas y señalan niveles de infestación mayores que los reportados en otras partes del sudeste asiático. Para el dominio de ASH, este estudio esencialmente no tiene relevancia directa: se refiere a una sanguijuela ectoparásita que afecta la acuicultura de peces, sin conexión con la hirudoterapia, el secretoma de la sanguijuela ni ninguna aplicación medicinal. La especie no es una sanguijuela medicinal y no se investigan compuestos bioactivos ni propiedades terapéuticas.
Citación
Prevalence and infestation intensity of a piscicolid leech, Zeylanicobdella arugamensis on cultured hybrid grouper in Brunei Darussalam.
Azmey S et al. · Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports, 2020
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026