Dinobdella ferox

Last updated

Dinobdella ferox
Dinobdella ferox.png
(A) D. ferox infesting the eye of a dog; (B) anatomical view of D. ferox
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Clitellata
Subclass: Hirudinea
Order: Arhynchobdellida
Family: Praobdellidae
Genus: Dinobdella
Moore, 1927
Species:
D. ferox
Binomial name
Dinobdella ferox
(Blanchard, 1896)
Synonyms

Whitmania ferox Blanchard, 1896

Dinobdella ferox is a species of leech in the family Praobdellidae. [1] The species is found widely in Southeast Asia and mainly feeds on the mucosal membranes of the mammalian upper respiratory tract. It has been documented to feed on humans.

Contents

Characteristic

D. ferox are dorsoventrally flattened with tappers at each end. Both ends contain a sucker that they use to attach to the host. The posterior end is used for locomotion and the main attachment to a host. The anterior end is where the mouth, jaws, and teeth are located. The jaws of this leech are made up of three sections that meet in a Y. [2] D. ferox has a dark red to brown coloring consistent throughout its segmented body. This species only reaches around 70mm in length when fully engorged at adult size. Juveniles enter a host at less than a centimeter and are very difficult to detect. [3]

Life and diet

Aquatic leeches such as D. ferox have weaker jaws than those of terrestrial leeches. This leads to them most often attaching themselves to the thin surfaces of the mucosal membranes. Aquatic leeches have been found on sites such as the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, conjunctiva, trachea, bronchi, esophagus, vagina, bladder, rectum, and the creases of the eyes, [4] Although most instances were found in the nasopharynx, lower airways, or upper esophagus. Humans become victims from bathing or drinking unfiltered water in less-developed areas where safe water is less accessible. Several species of leech are known to feed on humans including Tyrannobdella rex, Hirudinea granulosa , and Hirundinea viridis . [3] Human infections have been shown to not exceed more than only one leech infecting an individual. Cattle and other large animals can have more than 8 found during an examination. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Dinobdella ferox is found throughout Southeast Asia, but is very common in many parts of Taiwan. These leeches are aquatic and live in stagnant low oxygen water sources. This can be in ponds or lakes where humans, cattle, or wild animals drink or bathe. Poverty and drought are examples of how humans and domesticated animals can become hosts more often. [2] Limited water sources and sharing them with wildlife can introduce leeches into the water.

Treatment

Hirudiniasis is a condition characterized by an infestation of leeches. [2] Leeches can cause airway obstruction, severe respiratory distress, hemoptysis, or hematemesis. Blood loss leading to acute anemia can be deadly in children or small animals. [3] Disease transmission has not been recorded in this species. Treatment for a leech infestation starts with attempting to remove the parasites manually with artery forceps. The forceps are used to grip the leech’s mucous covered body tightly and attempt the move it laterally to minimize injury, but if the membranes are heavily damaged or the leech is too strongly attached a sodium chloride solution can be used to irrigate the nose in order to weaken or break the leech’s hold. This is because the saline disrupts the mucous layer of the leech. This is considered the best treatment if possible. It is considered to be much less painful for the victim and causes far less bleeding in the aftermath. The anemia is usually treated with iron and vitamin supplements. [4]

Related Research Articles

Aujeszky's disease, usually called pseudorabies in the United States, is a viral disease in swine that is endemic in most parts of the world. It is caused by Suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV-1). Aujeszky's disease is considered to be the most economically important viral disease of swine in areas where classical swine fever has been eradicated. Other mammals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, cats, dogs, and raccoons, are also susceptible. The disease is usually fatal in these animal species.

Mammomonogamus is a genus of parasitic nematodes of the family Syngamidae that parasitise the respiratory tracts of cattle, sheep, goats, deer, cats, orangutans, and elephants. The nematodes can also infect humans and cause the disease called mammomonogamiasis. Several known species fall under the genus Mammomonogamus, but the most common species found to infest humans is M. laryngeus. Infection in humans is very rare, with only about 100 reported cases worldwide, and is assumed to be largely accidental. Cases have been reported from the Caribbean, China, Korea, Thailand, and Philippines.

Avipoxvirus is a genus of viruses within the family Poxviridae. Poxviridae is the family of viruses which cause the afflicted organism to have poxes as a symptom. Poxviruses have generally large genomes, and other such examples include smallpox and monkeypox. Members of the genus Avipoxvirus infect specifically birds. Avipoxviruses are unable to complete their replication cycle in non-avian species. Although it is comparably slow-spreading, Avipoxvirus is known to cause symptoms like pustules full of pus lining the skin and diphtheria-like symptoms. These diphtheria-like symptoms might include diphtheric necrotic membranes lining the mouth and the upper respiratory tract. Like other avian viruses, it can be transmitted through vectors mechanically such as through mosquitoes. There is no evidence that this virus can infect humans.

<i>Trichuris suis</i> Species of roundworm

Trichuris suis is a whipworm; the variations in thickness of the anterior and posterior segments give the parasite the characteristic "whip-like" appearance. Adult females measure 6 to 8 cm and adult males 3 to 4 cm. T. suis eggs are oval and yellow-brown with bipolar plugs. T. suis is also used in helminthic therapy studies.

<i>Ehrlichia ruminantium</i> Ruminant disease

Heartwater is a tick-borne rickettsial disease. The name is derived from the fact that fluid can collect around the heart or in the lungs of infected animals. It is caused by Ehrlichia ruminantium —an intracellular Gram-negative coccal bacterium. The disease is spread by various Amblyomma ticks, and has a large economic impact on cattle production in affected areas. There are four documented manifestations of the disease, these are acute, peracute, subacute, and a mild form known as heartwater fever. There are reports of zoonotic infections of humans by E. ruminantium, similar to other Ehrlichia species, such as those that cause human ehrlichiosis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protozoan infection</span> Parasitic disease caused by a protozoan

Protozoan infections are parasitic diseases caused by organisms formerly classified in the kingdom Protozoa. They are usually contracted by either an insect vector or by contact with an infected substance or surface and include organisms that are now classified in the supergroups Excavata, Amoebozoa, SAR, and Archaeplastida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leech</span> Parasitic or predatory annelid worms

Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented bodies that can lengthen and contract. Both groups are hermaphrodites and have a clitellum, but leeches typically differ from the oligochaetes in having suckers at both ends and in having ring markings that do not correspond with their internal segmentation. The body is muscular and relatively solid, and the coelom, the spacious body cavity found in other annelids, is reduced to small channels.

<i>Chrysomya bezziana</i> Species of fly

Chrysomya bezziana, also known as the Old World screwworm fly or screwworm, is an obligate parasite of mammals. Obligate parasitic flies require a host to complete their development. Named to honor the Italian entomologist Mario Bezzi, this fly is widely distributed in Asia, tropical Africa, India, and Papua New Guinea. The adult can be identified as metallic green or blue with a yellow face and the larvae are smooth, lacking any obvious body processes except on the last segment.

<i>Ancylostoma caninum</i> Species of roundworm

Ancylostoma caninum is a species of nematode known as a hookworm, which principally infects the small intestine of dogs. The result of A. caninum infection ranges from asymptomatic cases to death of the dog; better nourishment, increasing age, prior A. caninum exposure, or vaccination are all linked to improved survival. Other hosts include carnivores such as wolves, foxes, and cats, with a small number of cases having been reported in humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pharynx</span> Part of the throat that is behind the mouth and nasal cavity

The pharynx is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea. It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its structure varies across species. The pharynx carries food to the esophagus and air to the larynx. The flap of cartilage called the epiglottis stops food from entering the larynx.

<i>Tyrannobdella</i> Genus of annelid worms

Tyrannobdella is a monotypic genus of leech, of family Praobdellidae, found in South America in the upper reaches of the Amazon. This newly found genus of leech takes sustenance from the mucous membranes of the mammalian upper respiratory tract, and is known to feed upon humans. It has eight teeth. Tyrannobdella rex was discovered feeding upon the mucous membrane of a girl who had recently bathed in the upper Amazon in Peru.

<i>Trichomonas gallinae</i> Species of bird parasite

Trichomonas gallinae is a cosmopolitan parasite of birds including finches, pigeons, doves, turkeys, chickens, parrots, raptors. The condition in birds of prey is called frounce. It is believed to be an ancient pathogen causing frounce-like symptoms in theropod dinosaurs. The same condition in pigeons is commonly called canker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ticks of domestic animals</span>

Ticks of domestic animals directly cause poor health and loss of production to their hosts. Ticks also transmit numerous kinds of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa between domestic animals. These microbes cause diseases which can be severely debilitating or fatal to domestic animals, and may also affect humans. Ticks are especially important to domestic animals in tropical and subtropical countries, where the warm climate enables many species to flourish. Also, the large populations of wild animals in warm countries provide a reservoir of ticks and infective microbes that spread to domestic animals. Farmers of livestock animals use many methods to control ticks, and related treatments are used to reduce infestation of companion animals.

<i>Oestrus ovis</i> Species of fly

Oestrus ovis, the sheep bot fly, is a widespread species of fly of the genus Oestrus. It is known for its parasitic predation and damage to sheep, deer, goats and sometimes cattle. There have also been many records of horse, dog and human infestation. In some areas of the world it is a significant pest which affects the agricultural economy.

Amphistomiasis is a parasitic disease of livestock animals, more commonly of cattle and sheep, and humans caused by immature helminthic flatworms belonging to the order Echinostomida. The term amphistomiasis is used for broader connotation implying the disease inflicted by members of Echinostomida including the family Paramphistomidae/Gastrodiscidae ; whereas paramphistomiasis is restricted to that of the members of the family Paramphistomatidae only. G. discoides and Watsonius watsoni are responsible for the disease in humans, while most paramphistomes are responsible in livestock animals, and some wild mammals. In livestock industry the disease causes heavy economic backlashes due to poor production of milk, meat and wool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mites of livestock</span> Small crawling animals related to ticks and spiders

Mites are small crawling animals related to ticks and spiders. Most mites are free-living and harmless. Other mites are parasitic, and those that infest livestock animals cause many diseases that are widespread, reduce production and profit for farmers, and are expensive to control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parasitic flies of domestic animals</span> Overview of parasite-transmitting flies

Many species of flies of the two-winged type, Order Diptera, such as mosquitoes, horse-flies, blow-flies and warble-flies, cause direct parasitic disease to domestic animals, and transmit organisms that cause diseases. These infestations and infections cause distress to companion animals, and in livestock industry the financial costs of these diseases are high. These problems occur wherever domestic animals are reared. This article provides an overview of parasitic flies from a veterinary perspective, with emphasis on the disease-causing relationships between these flies and their host animals. The article is organized following the taxonomic hierarchy of these flies in the phylum Arthropoda, order Insecta. Families and genera of dipteran flies are emphasized rather than many individual species. Disease caused by the feeding activity of the flies is described here under parasitic disease. Disease caused by small pathogenic organisms that pass from the flies to domestic animals is described here under transmitted organisms; prominent examples are provided from the many species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trematoda in Kuwait</span>

Trematoda is a whole-living worm that lives in different parts of the host's body, some of which live in bile ducts. These are called hepatic worms such as Fasciola species, including species that live in the intestines such as the genus Heterophyes, including those living in blood vessels such as the genus that causes schistosomiasis, the genus of Schistosoma. Including what lives in the lung such as the genus of Paragonimus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praobdellidae</span> Family of hematophagous leeches which live on the mucous membranes of mammals

Praobdellidae is a family of hematophagous leeches which live on the mucous membranes of mammals and sometimes invertebrates. These are internal parasites that enter the body through natural orifices, and cause hirudiniases.

<i>Limnatis nilotica</i> Species of annelid worm

Limnatis nilotica is a species of leech in the family Hirudinidae. It is hematophagous, living on the mucous membranes of mammals.

References

  1. "Dinobdella". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mulilo, Misheck A.; Siwila, Joyce; Madoshi, Philbert B.; Silayo, Richard S. (2020-03-27). "Hirudiniasis in Cattle in Mpwapwa District, Dodoma Region of Tanzania". Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine. 2020: 1–6. doi: 10.1155/2020/3028345 . ISSN   2090-7001. PMC   7140120 . PMID   32280554.
  3. 1 2 3 Sarathi, Kalra (2011). "Nasal leech infestation causing persistent epistaxis". Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock. 4 (3): 413–414. doi: 10.4103/0974-2700.83875 . ISSN   0974-2700. PMC   3162716 . PMID   21887037.
  4. 1 2 Kruger, Carsten; Malleyeck, Isaack; Olsen, Ole H. E. (2004-06-01). "Aquatic leech infestation: a rare cause of severe anaemia in an adolescent Tanzanian girl". European Journal of Pediatrics. 163 (6): 297–299. doi:10.1007/s00431-004-1422-0. ISSN   0340-6199. PMID   15346909. S2CID   22092028.