Bacteriological investigation of the occurrence and antibiotic sensitivities of the gut-flora of the potential southern African medicinal leech, Asiaticobdella buntonensis (Hirudinidae).

The lack of availability of medicinal leeches is a major impediment to the widespread use of leech therapy for treatment of congested flaps and replants in southern Africa. An investigation into the suitability of an alternative leech, the indigenous southern African leech, Asiaticobdella buntonensis, was therefore started. The risk of hospital-acquired infection related to the use of leeches and the antibiotic sensitivities of bacteria isolated from the gastro-intestinal tract of wild-caught leeches were investigated. Eleven bacterial genera were isolated but Aeromonas were most frequently isolated, occurring in 82% of microbiological samples. All were sensitive to cefotaxime and amikacin. The gut-flora and their sensitivities to 19 antibiotics were similar to those reported for the traditional medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis. These results emphasize the need to anticipate unusual infections when prescribing prophylactic or curative antibiotics in the course of leech therapy.