Infestation and corporal distribution of leeches in American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus Cuvier 1807) (Reptilia: Crocodylidae) of La Ventanilla stuary, Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

We studied the infestation degree and corporal distribution of leeches in American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) of La Ventanilla, Oaxaca, Mexico. 32.9% (n = 26) of crocodiles captured had
leeches. We determined that genus of leeches that parasite of C. Acutus in La Ventanilla is Placobdella. 95.6% (n = 21) of male crocodiles showed slow infestation and only 4.6% (n = 1) show moderate infestation, in the case of female crocodiles 100% (n = 4) showed low infestation. The analysis of the corporal distribution showed that the region where the leeches were most concentrated was in the right groinof both sex. Although injuries were not observed to macroscopic level on skin crocodiles examined; to reject the possibility of which the infestation support or rule out its safety to these reptiles it will be necessary to continue follow-ups to the population across blood and faecal studies.