There are five species of hemogregarine apicomplexan blood parasites (distant relatives of malaria parasites) that have been described from alligators and crocodiles. Haemogregarina crocodilinorum is the one that infects the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis. This parasite is most likely transmitted by the leech, Placobdella multilineata, which is commonly found on alligators throughout the Southeast.
September 6, 2010
September 6 -Haemogregarina crocodilinorum
There are five species of hemogregarine apicomplexan blood parasites (distant relatives of malaria parasites) that have been described from alligators and crocodiles. Haemogregarina crocodilinorum is the one that infects the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis. This parasite is most likely transmitted by the leech, Placobdella multilineata, which is commonly found on alligators throughout the Southeast.
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So leeches DO transmit disease! Are humans the next species to prove this?
ReplyDeleteYes, leeches can vector several species of blood parasites, such as these hemogregarines and trypanosomes. And yes, they can transmit a nasty bacterial infection (Aeromonas) to humans, but as far as I know, the only documented cases of that are from instances when a medicinal leech was "re-used.". Whoever said they don't transmit anything?
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