Are leeches a potential source of infection?

Leeching is becoming popular again. Many young ayurvedic physicians ,especially Salakya and Salya specialists, are using the technique frequently.But some callenges are still to be solved.One among them is the possibility of leeches as a potential source of infection.Some studies suggests that leeches can cause infection.'Whitlock suggested that medicinal leech was a source of infection when used in plastic and reconstructive surgery because it carries Aeromonas hydrophila within its guts.The leech has no proteolytic gut enzyme andrelies on the bacteria to digest its blood.These infections are generally characterised by the onset of inflammation and supporation over 24 hours accompanied by the moderate fever and leucocytosis.The proteolytic action of bacteria may have its effect on the muscles.'Because a possibility of an infection can never be excluded ,an immediate protocol should be discussed by all the ayurvedic as well as modern doctors practicing leeching