Leeches (Hirudinea: Ozobranchidae) in four species of freshwater turtles (Testudines: Podocnemididae) from the Brazilian Amazon

Resumen

Abstract: Leeches’ infestations in freshwater turtles have been reported in the Brazilian Amazon. However, the records do not investigate infestation data, but rather the relationship between the transmission of hemogregarines to these hosts. Therefore, this study aims to record the occurrence of Unoculubranchiobdella expansa in turtles of the Podocnemididae family in the Brazilian Amazon, present ecological data on this parasitic association and information on the sites of infestation of this ectoparasite. Four species of freshwater turtles of the genus Podocnemis were captured at the mouth of the Tapajós River and the mouth of the Arapiuns River in January 2023. After a thorough examination for ectoparasites on the hosts’ bodies, a prevalence of 66.66% with a mean intensity of 3.39 and a mean abundance of 2.61 was determined for specimens of Podocnemis expansa; a prevalence of 77.77% with a mean intensity of 0.77 and a mean abundance of 5.55 was determined for specimens of Podocnemis unifilis; and a prevalence of 100% with a mean intensity of 5.00 and a mean abundance of 5.00 was determined for specimens of Podocnemis sextuberculata. Only individuals of the species Podocnemis erythrocephala were not with these ectoparasites. Studies with these ectoparasites are important to elucidate parasite-host relationships that provide information on the clinical aspects of infestation as well as the transmission competence of hemogregarines.