Adult ocular leech infestation

Abstract

<jats:p> Ocular trauma accounts for a significant proportion of cases in any emergency eye outpatient department. There are very few cases reporting ocular injuries after leech exposure. Leeches are annelids belonging to the subclass Hirudinea; they dwell in fresh water and the sea and can be terrestrial. An oral sucker present anteriorly helps to attach to the host by releasing an anesthetic that prevents its recognition as a foreign body. Although many methods of leech removal have been proposed, its removal with forceps after instillation of local anesthetic remains a safe and effective method. </jats:p>

Topical hypertonic saline as a treatment for ocular and nasal hirudiniasis in a dog

“…5 In addition to their medicinal use, leeches are commonly encountered by humans and their pets as unwanted foreign bodies after walking or swimming in leech-infested areas. There are at least nine reports of ocular leech infestation in humans, 1,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] which all had varying recommendations in terms of treatment for leech removal. This is the first reported case of ocular leech infestation in a dog, and the first reported case of simultaneous ocular and nasal leech infestation in a dog.…”

Ocular infestation by a juvenile leech, Myxobdella sinanensis in Japan

“…It also has been reported that when we remove a leech, we should use anesthetic eye drops. 2 , 3 , 7 , 8 , 9 Because the leech is strongly adsorbed to the conjunctiva and it is difficult to directly remove with forceps. Then we should use eye drop anesthesia to weaken its power of sucking to the ocular surface and can remove it safely.…”

“… 1 Ectoparasites which cause ocular infestation are myasis, phthiriasis palpebrum, ticks, and leeches etc, however the case of ocular leech infestation is rare, and few cases were reported. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 …”