title: From the Worm in a Bottle of Mezcal: iDNA Confirmation of a Leech Parasitizing the Antillean Manatee.
abstract: Invertebrate-derived ingested DNA (iDNA) is quickly proving to be a valuable, non-invasive tool for monitoring vertebrate species of conservation concern. Using the DNA barcoding locus, we successfully identified both the blood-feeding leech Haementeria acuecueyetzin and its blood meal-the latter is shown to be derived from the Caribbean manatee, Trichechus manatus . DNA amplification was successful despite the fact that the specimen was fixed in Mezcal (a beverage distilled from agave). We report the first confirmed case of a leech feeding on a manatee, the first record of H. acuecueyetzin for the State of Chiapas and, to our knowledge, the first case of successful DNA amplification of a biological sample fixed in Mezcal other than the caterpillar "worms" more commonly found in that beverage.
authors.affiliation: El Colegio de La Frontera Sur. Avenida Centenario Km 5.5 Carretera Calderitas, Chetumal 77900. Quintana Roo, México.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez-Flores
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rueda-Calderon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kvist
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Siddall
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oceguera-Figueroa
mesh_terms: D027882:Agave / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices / Q000469:parasitology*; D007865:Leeches / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D008800:Mexico; D010802:Phylogeny; D020455:Trichechus / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D014900:West Indies
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives