DISEASE SUMMARY PAGE

Leech Infection in Bears:

Summary Information
Diseases / List of Parasitic Diseases / Disease summary
Alternative Names	--
Disease Agents	Myxobdella annandalei, a parasitic leech. (P85.1.w2)
	Infectious Agent(s)	Myxobdella annandalei (Hirundinea - Leeches (Class))
	Non-infectious Agent(s)	--
	Physical Agent(s)	--
General Description	A 10 cm parasitic leech (Myxobdella annandalei) was found in the nostril of a wild-caught Helarctos malayanus - Sun bear in Thailand. (P85.1.w2)
Further Information	This leech is known to parasitise humans, cattle and dogs. (P85.1.w2)
Associated Techniques	History & Documentation Physical Examination of Mammals Necropsy of Mammals Environmental Assessment Treatment and Care Environmental and Population Management Preventative Medicine for Mammals Chapter 2 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen Collection and Preservation Chapter 3 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen shipment Appendix A - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Sample specimen history form
Host taxa groups /species	Further information on Host species has only been incorporated for species groups for which a full Wildpro "Health and Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature review has been undertaken). Helarctos malayanus - Sun bear (List does not contain all other species groups affected by this infectious agent)