First Record from North America of the Piscicolid Leech, Ozobranchus margoi, a Parasite of Marine Turtles

Abstract

Ozobranchus margoi is recorded from North America for the first time, as an ectoparasite of the marine turtles Chelonia mydas mydas, Caretta caretta caretta, Eretomochelys imbricata imbricata, and Lepidochelys kempii. The pathology and treatment of the leech infestation are described and the presumed distribution of the species compared with that of Ozobranchus branchiatus, the only species of the genus previously recorded from North America.