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Characterization of the digestive-tract microbiota of Hirudo orientalis, a european medicinal leech.

ABSTRACT: FDA-approved, postoperative use of leeches can lead to bacterial infections. In this study, we used culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches to characterize the digestive-tract microbiota of Hirudo orientalis. Surprisingly, two Aeromonas species, A. veronii and A. jandaei, were cultured. Uncultured Rikenella-like bacteria were most similar to isolates from Hirudo verbana.

SUBMITTER: Laufer AS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2565982 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Characterization of the digestive-tract microbiota of Hirudo orientalis, a european medicinal leech.

Laufer Alison S AS Siddall Mark E ME Graf Joerg J

Applied and environmental microbiology 20080808 19

FDA-approved, postoperative use of leeches can lead to bacterial infections. In this study, we used culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches to characterize the digestive-tract microbiota of Hirudo orientalis. Surprisingly, two Aeromonas species, A. veronii and A. jandaei, were cultured. Uncultured Rikenella-like bacteria were most similar to isolates from Hirudo verbana. ...[more]

PMID: 18689513

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