First record of the alien leech Myzobdella lugubris Leidy, 1851 (Hirudinea, Piscicolidae) in the Palearctic

Liuzzo, M.; Alfonso, Giuseppe; Beli, Elena; Arculeo, Marco; Marrone, Federico

doi:10.23818/limn.37.25

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 21 publications

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“…Records of Myzobdella lugubris have been reported in Hawaii and Italy (Williams & Burreson, 2006 ; Liuzzo et al, 2018 ), where they were likely accidentally introduced (Lages et al, 2021 ). More recently, Myzobdella sp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Not that many leech species after all: Myzobdella lugubris and Myzobdella patzcuarensis (Annelida: Hirudinida) are the same species

Torres-Carrera,

Velázquez-Urrieta,

Santacruz

2024

Syst Parasitol

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The genus Myzobdella groups five species of leeches parasites of fishes mainly of freshwater but with tolerance to brackish waters. Native distribution of these species includes the New World from North to South America. Myzobdella lugubris Leidy, 1851, the type species of the genus, was briefly described based on specimens from the USA, but subsequently their morphology, known distribution and host range were expanded; however, less is known about the other four species of the genus. As part of a survey focusing on characterizing the diversity of leeches from Mexico, specimens of Myzobdella patzcuarensis (Caballero, 1940), from the type locality of the species were included for the first time in a phylogenetic study. In addition, specimens assigned to Myzobdella from the southeast of Mexico as well as from Nicaragua, were also included. In the resulting phylogenetic tree, our newly generated sequences were found nested in the same clade that M. lugubris; with unresolved relationships and relatively low genetic divergence, suggesting conspecificity. In addition, the internal morphology of the specimens of Myzobdella from Mexico is consistent with the description of M. lugubris. Our morphological examination reveals high degrees of variability in the external pigmentation of the specimens. Based on our results we formally synonymize M. patzcuarensis under M. lugubris.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Not that many leech species after all: Myzobdella lugubris and Myzobdella patzcuarensis (Annelida: Hirudinida) are the same species

Torres-Carrera,

Velázquez-Urrieta,

Santacruz

2024

Syst Parasitol

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Further evidence of the southern Mediterranean medicinal leech Hirudo verbana (Annelida, Hirudinea) feeding on fish, with a review of the use of fish hosts by Hirudo spp.

Vecchioni,

Bellucci,

Novaga

et al. 2025

Limnetica

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Although often considered primarily hematophagous on mammalian blood, the leeches belonging to the genus Hirudo can feed on several other vertebrate hosts. However, to date, little is known about the feeding ecology of medicinal leeches in the wild, and the few available observations mostly deals with the European medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Since even closely related Hirudo species have different functional morphology and ecological preferences, the observations carried out on one species cannot be automatically generalized to the other medicinal leeches, and targeted surveys must be realised to better understand the feeding habits of these leeches. A wide geographical belt ranging from the Iberian Peninsula to the Caucasus and Central Asia is inhabited by the southern European medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana. Although quantitative data are missing, the species seems characterized by a general decline throughout its distribution range, whose causes are not fully understood. Accordingly, a better understanding of H. verbana dietary composition is crucial to characterise its role in the trophic webs of the ecosystems it inhabits, with important consequences for the correct management of the populations of the species. Here, we report the observation of Hirudo verbana feeding on fish in the wild in southern Italy. This observation constitutes one of the first direct evidences of the species using fish as host organisms, since to date wild H. verbena had been observed mostly feeding on amphibians and mammals. Such information is useful to better characterise the diet of the wild populations of H. verbana, and to understand the trophic resources which could be exploited by the species in different ecosystems. Finally, a review of all the available evidence dealing with the use of fish as hosts organisms by Hirudo spp. is carried out.

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The first report and a new host record of leech fish, Trachelobdella lubrica (Grube, 1840) infecting the gills of Sparus aurata (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Gulf of Bejaia, Algeria

Ramdani

2023

Aquat Res

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This study is to be the first report and new host record of segmented worms in the family Piscicolidae, Trachelobdella lubrica parasitizing Sparus aurata off the coasts of Algeria. Sparus aurata constitutes new host record for Trachelobdella lubrica. 05 specimens of Sparus aurata were examined for their leech parasites. A single specimen of leech species was recovered from the gills of Sparus aurata. Typical characters allowed us to classify the leech as Trachelobdella lubrica.

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First record of the alien leech Myzobdella lugubris Leidy, 1851 (Hirudinea, Piscicolidae) in the Palearctic

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

Not that many leech species after all: Myzobdella lugubris and Myzobdella patzcuarensis (Annelida: Hirudinida) are the same species

Not that many leech species after all: Myzobdella lugubris and Myzobdella patzcuarensis (Annelida: Hirudinida) are the same species

Further evidence of the southern Mediterranean medicinal leech Hirudo verbana (Annelida, Hirudinea) feeding on fish, with a review of the use of fish hosts by Hirudo spp.

The first report and a new host record of leech fish, Trachelobdella lubrica (Grube, 1840) infecting the gills of Sparus aurata (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Gulf of Bejaia, Algeria

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