Marine leech parasitism of sea turtles varies across host species, seasons, and the tumor disease fibropapillomatosis

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.

Long-term sea turtle survey establishing first robust statistical evidence linking Ozobranchus branchiatus leech parasitism to fibropapilloma disease and ChHV5 transmission.

Узнайте, как это исследование связано с клинической практикой

More peer-reviewed studies in Безопасность и инфекционный контроль.

• Leech-Assisted Flap Salvage — Systematic Review of 277 Cases — Whitaker et al. (2012)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• Efficacy and Safety of Hirudotherapy for Improving Sperm Quality Parameters in Male Infertility: A Randomized Controlled Trial — Abtahi-Forooshani M et al. (2026)
• Improvement of patient care through hirudotherapy and the management of leeches from their reception to their disposal in France — Vaesken C et al. (2023)
• Hirudotherapy in Medicine and Dentistry — Jha K et al. (2015)
• Management of Chronic Non-healing Wounds by Hirudotherapy — Iqbal A et al. (2017)
• Hirudotherapy attenuates arthritic pain in patients with various chronic pain syndromes: A retrospective analysis — Loeser J et al. (2020)
• Hirudotherapy (medicinal leeches) for treatment of upper airway obstruction in a dog — Trenholme H, Masseau I, Reinero C (2021)
• Analysis of antibiotic resistant infections associated with hirudotherapy — Brauer P et al. (2024)
• Leech Me Alone! Atraumatic Hemarthrosis after Hirudotherapy — Curcio J, Lloyd C (2020)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →