Leeches don't carry diseases but can cause death in extreme cases. Small, young specimens of one aquatic leech species, native to Eurasia and Africa, can parasitize both humans and animals. They enter the body either in drinking water or through the excretory openings of persons who bath in infested waters. When ingested through the mouth in drinking water, they attach themselves to the linings of the nose or throat. They can then be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause anemia and eventually suffocation.
Suffocation is a common cause of death for domestic animals in Asia.
External wounds from leeches are less dangerous, but they may cause a secondary infection. Specimens were illuminated through Nikon dichromatic filter blocks containing interference filters and a dichroic mirror and imaged with standard epi-fluorescence techniques. All Rights Reserved . No images, graphics, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders.