Leech Parasitism in Pelophylax saharicus and Discoglossus pictus (Anura, Ranidae, Alytidae) in North-Eastern Algeria

N.  Cheribiri; O. Boughaba; N. Ziane; S. Benyacoub; R. Rouag

doi:10.15407/zoo2025.06.559

N. Cheribiri Laboratory of Environmental Bio-surveillance, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, Annaba, Algeria https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7343-1030
O. Boughaba Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Pollution. Chadli Bendjedid University, El Tarf, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5861-680X
N. Ziane Laboratory of Environmental Bio-surveillance, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Badji Mokhtar University, Annaba, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9999-2040
S. Benyacoub Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chadli Bendjedid University, El Tarf, Algeria
R. Rouag Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chadli Bendjedid University, El Tarf, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1145-0165

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/zoo2025.06.559

Keywords: Pelophylax saharicus, Discoglossus pictus, leeches, prevalence, infestation, Tonga Lake, Edough Massif, Algeria

Abstract

Populations of two amphibian species, Pelophylax saharicus (Boulenger in Hartert, 1913) and Discoglossus pictus Otth, 1837, widely distributed in North-eastern Algeria, face multiple ecological threats, including parasitism by freshwater leeches. This study investigates the infestation of ectoparasites in the Edough Massif and Tonga Lake, analysing the prevalence and intensity of leech infestations. A total of 187 leeches, identified as Batracobdella algira (Moquin-Tandon, 1846), were collected and examined from 93 host individuals. Parasitism was more prevalent in Edough, though intensity was higher in Tonga Lake. Statistical analyses revealed no significant correlation between parasite load and host morphology, suggesting that infestation is influenced by environmental and ecological factors rather than host size.

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