Marine leech parasitism of sea turtles varies across host species, seasons, and the tumor disease fibropapillomatosis
Vector-host study published in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms (2021)
Abstract
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumorous disease affecting all species of sea turtles and is associated with the pathogen chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5). Hypothesized ChHV5 vectors include the marine leeches Ozobranchus branchiatus and O. margoi, but data on their associations with FP and ChHV5 are minimal. To establish relationships between leech parasitism, turtle hosts, and FP, we compared green and loggerhead turtles from the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, USA, in terms of (1) the presence or absence of ChHV5 within associated leeches, (2) the association between leech parasitism and host FP status, and (3) seasonal variation in leech presence. We identified 55 leeches collected from green turtles as O. branchiatus and 22 leeches collected from loggerhead turtles as O. margoi. Of 77 sequenced leeches, 10 O. branchiatus and 5 O. margoi were ChHV5 positive. ChHV5-positive O. branchiatus trended towards coming from FP-positive hosts. Using 12 yr of turtle capture data from the IRL, we found that leech parasitism was significantly correlated with FP and capture month in green turtles but not in loggerhead turtles. These results suggest that O. branchiatus and O. margoi may differ in their ability to transmit ChHV5 or to encounter and remain on FP-positive hosts. Alternatively, potential immunological differences between green and loggerhead turtles may explain the observed relationships. This study is the first to provide robust statistical evidence of an association between leeches and FP, as well as seasonal fluctuations in leech presence, in green turtles but not in loggerhead turtles.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Long-term sea turtle survey establishing first robust statistical evidence linking Ozobranchus branchiatus leech parasitism to fibropapilloma disease and ChHV5 transmission.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
This study compared green and loggerhead turtles from Florida's Indian River Lagoon to assess relationships between marine leech parasitism (Ozobranchus branchiatus on green turtles; O. margoi on loggerheads), host fibropapillomatosis (FP) status, chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) presence in leeches, and seasonal variation. Of 77 sequenced leeches, 15 were ChHV5-positive, and statistical analysis of 12 years of capture data found leech parasitism significantly correlated with FP and capture month in green turtles but not loggerheads. The study provides the first robust statistical evidence of a leech-FP association in green turtles. This work is relevant only to sea turtle parasitology and disease ecology; it has no bearing on medicinal hirudotherapy or the therapeutic leech secretome.
Citación
Marine leech parasitism of sea turtles varies across host species, seasons, and the tumor disease fibropapillomatosis.
Rittenburg LT et al. · Diseases of aquatic organisms, 2021
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026