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Environmental and biological interactions of Hepatitis B virus in leeches – a molecular investigation       
Yazarlar (7)
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Alican BİLDEN Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Alican BİLDEN
Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi, Türkiye
Arş. Gör. Merve KAHRAMAN Arş. Gör. Merve KAHRAMAN
Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi, Türkiye
İbrahim Halil Şahin
Türkiye
Nadia İbrahim Kamil Kamil
Ömer Karakamış
Prof. Dr. Elif SEVİM Prof. Dr. Elif SEVİM
Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi, Türkiye
Prof. Dr. Muttalip ÇİÇEK Prof. Dr. Muttalip ÇİÇEK
Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi, Türkiye
Devamını Göster
Özet
Objective. The aim of the study is to investigate whether transovarial transmission of the Hepatitis B virus occurs in leeches, and whether the virus is released into the external environment through their secretions. Materials and Method. 52 reproductive leeches (Hirudo verbana) were experimentally fed with hepatitis B infected human blood. From these reproductive leeches, juveniles were produced. Additionally, diverse leech-associated samples were collected, encompassing water and soil from the habitats of the reproductive leeches, faeces, body surface secretions, and cocoon shells. Each sample was analyzed for the presence of the hepatitis B virus using advanced molecular methods, specifically, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results. 90 juveniles, 15 leech-associated samples, and 13 cocoon shells were analyzed. Analyses did not reveal the presence of HBV in any of the 90 juveniles, or in the leech-associated samples. The results suggest that HBV is neither vertically transmitted to the juveniles through transovarial transmission, nor disseminated into the external environment through secretions or other biological materials linked to leeches. Conclusions. The study concludes that leeches (Hirudo verbana) do not facilitate the transovarial transmission of HBV. Moreover, the absence of HBV in the environmental samples highlights the minimal risk of viral spread via leech secretions, or associated materials. These findings provide critical insights for the ecological management of leech populations, especially in minimizing viral transmission risks. In the literature, studies on transovarial transmission in leeches are quite limited, and it has been concluded that while the data from the presented study are valuable, they are insufficient and highlight the need for further research in this field.
Anahtar Kelimeler
ecological safety | Hepatitis B virus | Hirudo verbana | leeches | molecular analysis | transovarial transmission
Makale Türü Özgün Makale
Makale Alt Türü SSCI, AHCI, SCI, SCI-Exp dergilerinde yayımlanan tam makale
Dergi Adı Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine
Dergi ISSN 1232-1966 Wos Dergi Scopus Dergi
Dergi Tarandığı Indeksler SCI-Expanded
Dergi Grubu Q4
Makale Dili İngilizce
Basım Tarihi 05-2025
Cilt No 32
Sayı 2
Sayfalar 211 / 215
Doi Numarası 10.26444/aaem/205390
Makale Linki https://www.aaem.pl/Environmental-and-biological-interactions-of-Hepatitis-B-virus-in-leeches-a-molecular,205390,0,2.html