Genetic barcoding of marine leeches (Ozobranchus spp.) from Florida sea turtles and their divergence in host specificity
DNA barcoding study published in Molecular Ecology Resources (2010)
Abstract
Ozobranchus margoi and Ozobranchus branchiatus are the only two species of marine turtle leeches (Ozobranchus spp.) known to inhabit the Atlantic coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico. In early reports of fibropapillomatosis (FP) in green turtles (Chelonia mydas), O. branchiatus was implicated as a vector in the transmission of Fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpesvirus (FPTHV). It is imperative that the leech species be identified to elucidate the role Ozobranchus spp. may play in disease transmission. In this study, Ozobranchus branchiatus has been identified for the first time on a loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtle, and the molecular data for this species is now available for the first time in GenBank. Both species of leeches were also found infecting a single C. mydas. Using morphological taxonomy combined with distance- and character-based genetic sequence analyses, this study has established a DNA barcode for both species of Ozobranchus spp. leech and has shown it can be applied successfully to the identification of leeches at earlier stages of development when morphological taxonomy cannot be employed. The results suggest a different haplotype may exist for O. branchiatus leeches found on C. caretta versus C. mydas. Leech cocoon residue collected from a C. mydas was identified using the new method.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
DNA barcoding of marine turtle leeches Ozobranchus margoi and O. branchiatus reveals host-specific haplotypes; implicates these leeches as vectors of fibropapilloma-associated herpesvirus.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio estableció códigos de barras de ADN para dos especies de sanguijuelas marinas de tortugas, Ozobranchus margoi y O. branchiatus, mediante taxonomía morfológica combinada con análisis de secuencias genéticas basados en distancia y en caracteres. Los autores informan del primer registro de O. branchiatus en una tortuga boba (Caretta caretta), documentan la coinfección de ambas especies en una sola tortuga verde, sugieren una posible diferencia de haplotipo entre O. branchiatus de diferentes hospederos tortugas y señalan la relevancia para investigar estas sanguijuelas como posibles vectores del herpesvirus de tortugas asociado a fibropapiloma. El estudio es de naturaleza taxonómica y ecológico-patológica, involucra sanguijuelas ectoparásitas marinas sin conexión con el uso medicinal de la sanguijuela, la hirudoterapia ni el secretoma terapéutico de la sanguijuela. Su relevancia para el ámbito de ASH es insignificante, más allá de ilustrar la diversidad dentro del clado más amplio de las sanguijuelas.
Citación
Genetic barcoding of marine leeches (Ozobranchus spp.) from Florida sea turtles and their divergence in host specificity.
McGowin AE et al. · Molecular ecology resources, 2010
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026