Journal articles on the topic 'Leeches'
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1
C.R, Swathy, P. K. V. Anand, and Rahul H. "Leech Farming: An Overview Over Leech Breeding and Multiplication." International Research Journal of Ayurveda & Yoga 06, no. 07 (2023): 63–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.47223/irjay.2023.6709.
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Introduction: There are various descriptions regarding blood letting or Raktamoksha using leeches (Jaloukavacharana) in ayurvedic classics. Acharya Susruta considers Rakta as the fourth Dosha and mentions Raktamoksha as a Shodhana karma (purificatory therapy) and is indicated in many diseases with vitiation of Raktha. As a matter of time, leech therapy is becoming more popular due to its benefits but there is no known established reliable suppliers of leeches for medical needs especially for medal purpose, maintenance of leeches in adequate environment, reproduction of leeches and storage of leeches on a large scale. Materials and Methods: This study is based on analysis of classical ayurvedic texts, modern books and internet sources. Some help was also been taken from previous articles published on the same topic. All the relevant information are compiled here. Result: Parameters for successful leech farming are studied and application of these facts can improve leech farming and thus ensure increased availability of leeches for medical needs. Discussion: The increased demand of leeches and its lesser availability forms a challenge especially in extreme weather. Basically, leech farming is a research topic and also an innovative idea for ayurvedic scholars. Leech farming provides special knowledge regarding selection and breeding of leeches
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MISHRA, DEVENDRA P. "A Conceptual View of Poisonous and Non-Poisonous Leeches in Ayurveda." Dev Sanskriti Interdisciplinary International Journal 5 (January 15, 2015): 55–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.36018/dsiij.v5i0.57.
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Leeches are being used by of human kind for centuries for treating many disorders. Though it is very useful tool and is propagating throughout the world as a special medical device, side effects of leech bites in some cases have been found from time to time. It is because of improper knowledge of non-poisonous and poisonous leeches. Sushruta’s classification shows us the passage to the proper use of leeches for leech therapy. In this study, Sushruta’s classification of leeches was compared and paired with that of phylum Annelida and was found effective in scientifically differentiating between non-poisonous and poisonous leeches.
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Dubey, Anubhav, Mamta Kumari, and Ghosh Niladry. "Anti-leech activity of asparagus racemosus and anogeissus latifolia roxb extracts against Piscicola Geometra." IP International Journal of Comprehensive and Advanced Pharmacology 9, no. 2 (June 15, 2024): 125–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.18231/j.ijcaap.2024.018.
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Piscicola geometra leeches are naturally parasitizing Cobia juveniles. The leeches adhere to cobia by suctioning and biting its surface, thereby facilitating the entry of a secondary infection. The anti-leech action An in vitro technique investigated the anti-leech action against Piscicola geometra using water extracts of Asparagus racemosus seeds and Anogeissus latifolia roxb leaves, preparing a grand total of 800 afflicted cobia leeches. We compared the anti-leech activity of water extracts from Asparagus racemosus seeds and Anogeissus latifolia leaves. We diluted the plant extracts to various concentrations and observed the activity over a duration of 96 hours. The seeds and leaves of Asparagus racemosus exhibited significant anti-leech activity, resulting in 80% of the leeches dying. Anogeissus latifolia leaves exhibited a greater degree of anti-leech action, resulting in the complete killing of leeches. The average duration required for Anogeissus latifolia leaves to immobilise and eliminate the leeches ranged from 8 hours to 96 hours, depending on the different concentrations of Anogeissus latifolia leaves used. This research has shown that the aqueous extract of Anogeissus latifolia leaves has strong potential as a novel anti-leech agent.
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Sudeepa, Gururaj D., and Sneha A. "A Survey Study on Leech Storage Practices in Ayurveda Hospitals." Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences 7, no. 3 (June 10, 2022): 17–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.21760/jaims.7.3.3.
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Leech therapy is one of the popular treatment method adopted in Ayurveda hospitals. We have conducted a survey study to evaluate the method of collection; storage and maintenance of leeches. Data regarding the leech storage were collected from 31 Ayurveda hospitals, on the basis of a standardized questionnaire. All the responding hospitals practiced leech therapy, mostly with a storage setup in the minor OT. 68% procured leeches during rainy season from the leech suppliers. 42% responders used tap water and plastic jars for storage. 94% of Ayurveda hospitals did not subject the water used for storage of medicinal leeches for physiochemical and microbial parameters periodically. There is a need for breeding centers in order to supply of medicinal leeches throughout the year. There is a need for establishing national guidelines for good storage and maintenance of medicinal leeches in India.
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Arabacı, Büşra. "‘Pearls’ of the nineteenth-century: from therapeutic actors to global commodities medicinal leeches in the Ottoman Empire." Medical History 67, no. 2 (April 2023): 128–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/mdh.2023.17.
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AbstractNineteenth-century physicians increasingly favoured leeching – the placing of a live leech onto a patient’s skin to stimulate or limit blood flow – as a cure for numerous ailments. As conviction in their therapeutic properties spread, leech therapy dominated European medicine; France imported over fifty million leeches in one year. Demand soon outpaced supply, spawning a lucrative global trade. Over-collection and farming eventually destroyed leech habitats, wreaked environmental havoc and forced European merchants to seek new supply sources. Vast colonies of leeches were found to inhabit the immense wetlands of the Ottoman Empire, which soon became a major exporter of medicinal leeches. Following the Treaty of Balta Liman (1838), the Ottoman state moved to exert control over the lucrative trade, imposing a tax on leech gathering and contracting with tax-farmers (mültezim) to collect the taxes. British diplomats, merchants and other stakeholders protested the imposition of the tax, as had previously happened with the commodification of wildlife; their pursuit of profit led collectors and farmers to over-gather leeches, with catastrophic consequences. By the end of the century, so great had their worth climbed that the leech population faced extinction. This paper situates medicinal leeches as therapeutic actors of history and adopts an interscale approach in formulating the human-leech interaction. It offers a substantive contribution to the history of medicine, in revealing the centrality of leeches to the rise of modern medicine and global trade, but also by making visible their role in shaping imperial diplomacy and worldwide economic markets.
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Trontelj, Peter, and Patricija Podkrajšek. "new checklist of Slovenian leeches (Clitellata: Hirudinea: Euhirudinea): In memory of Boris Sket (1936–2023)." Natura Sloveniae 25, no. 2 (December 30, 2023): 15–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.14720/ns.25.2.15-25.
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The new (as of 2023) checklist of Slovenian leeches (Euhirudinea) contains 33 species, which represents a 44% increase since the last published inventory in 2003. Notable new entries include Placobdella costata found parasitizing on European pond turtles, the marine fish leech Trachelobdella lubrica from the Slovenian Adriatic coast, the semi-terrestrial Haemopis elegans, the terrestrial Xerobdella praealpina – making Slovenia possibly the only country with confirmed occurrence of all three European land leeches – and a new, still undescribed highly troglomorphic cave leech from a deep Dinaric cave. The number of freshwater fish leeches is underwhelmingly low: two. This, and several unresolved taxonomic questions in erpobdellids suggest that more faunistic and taxonomic work is needed and that the list of Slovenian leech species is far from concluded. The authors dedicate this contribution to their teacher, Prof. Boris Sket (1936–2023), a leading figure in biodiversity research in the Dinaric Karst, including leeches and cave life.
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Azmey, Syakirah, Hussein Taha, Gunanti Mahasri, Muhamad Amin, Ahasan Habib, Min Pau Tan, and Takaomi Arai. "Population Genetic Structure of Marine Leech, Pterobdella arugamensis in Indo-West Pacific Region." Genes 13, no. 6 (May 26, 2022): 956. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes13060956.
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Grouper aquaculture is rapidly expanding in both tropical and subtropical regions. The presence of marine leeches (Pterobdella arugamensis; previously named Zeylanicobdella arugamensis) infesting cultured groupers, however, can have a fatal effect on grouper aquaculture production and cause significant economic loss. Understanding the marine leech’s population structure is therefore important to determine its possible distributional origin and distributional mechanisms, which will help monitor and mitigate the infestation. In this study, a total of 84 marine leeches collected from cultured hybrid groupers Epinephelus spp. in Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Indonesia were identified as P. arugamensis, based on morphological and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequence analyses. These leech samples, together with additional sequences from the GenBank database, were grouped into four genetically distinct haplogroups: (1) Asia Pacific, (2) Borneo, (3) Surabaya and (4) Iran. The four populations were found to be highly diverged from each other. The results also suggested that the samples from the Asia Pacific population could be dispersed and transported from Indonesia.
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Koo, Kyo Soung, Kayoung Yun, and Yikweon Jang. "Ozobranchus jantseanus (Clitellata: Ozobranchidae) from Reeve’s Turtle, Mauremys reevesii: New Annelid Fauna in Korea." Korean Journal of Parasitology 60, no. 3 (June 30, 2022): 213–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2022.60.3.213.
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Turtle leeches have not been recorded in Korea, although they occur in geographically adjacent countries including China and Japan. This study describes a turtle leech, <i>Ozobranchus jantseanus</i> (Clitellata: Ozobranchidae), found from Reeve’s turtle (Mauremys reevesii) in Korea. Of the 143 Reeve’s turtles collected from the freshwater reservoir in Jinju City, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, 95 unidentified leeches were found in 8 (5.6%) individuals. The leeches had 22 somites with 11 pairs of externally exposed branchiae, body-sized posterior suckers, and spines on the dorsal surface. We identified these leeches as <i>Ozobranchus jantseanus</i> Oka, 1912 (Clitellata: Ozobranchidae). This species of turtle leeches found in Korea may fill the gap in the biodiversity of East Asian annulus.
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Mumcuoglu, Kosta Y. "Recommendations for the Use of Leeches in Reconstructive Plastic Surgery." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014 (2014): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/205929.
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A written informed consent should be obtained from the patient before hirudotherapy is initiated. The patients should be treated each day of leech therapy with anti-Aeromonasantibiotics. Leeches should be applied on the darker spots of the reattached body parts or flaps. Usually 1–10 leeches are used for each treatment, while at the beginning, the patient might need two or more treatments per day. Leech therapy is used until venous capillary return is established across the wound border by angiogenesis. Usually the treatment with leeches lasts for 2–6 days. Hematologic evaluations should be performed every 4 hrs and the patient has to receive blood transfusions when the hemoglobin level is lower than 8 g/dL. Signs of regional lymphadenitis, slight swelling, and pain of regional lymph nodes on the side of leech application and subfebrile temperature can occur. Contraindications related to hirudotherapy include arterial insufficiency, hemophilia, hemorrhagic diathesis, hematological malignancies, anemia, hypotension, and sepsis. Leech therapy is not recommended in pregnancy and lactation and in patients with an unstable medical status, history of allergy to leeches or severe allergic diathesis, and disposition to keloid scar formation, as well as in those using anticoagulants and immunosuppressants.
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Nazarova, Anna, Andrei Mutin, Denis Skafar, Nadezhda Bolbat, Sofya Sedova, Polina Chupalova, Vasiliy Pomazkin, Polina Drozdova, Anton Gurkov, and Maxim Timofeyev. "Leeches Baicalobdella torquata feed on hemolymph but have a low effect on the cellular immune response of amphipod Eulimnogammarus verrucosus from Lake Baikal." PeerJ 12 (May 17, 2024): e17348. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17348.
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Lake Baikal is one of the largest and oldest freshwater reservoirs on the planet with a huge endemic diversity of amphipods (Amphipoda, Crustacea). These crustaceans have various symbiotic relationships, including the rarely described phenomenon of leech parasitism on amphipods. It is known that leeches feeding on hemolymph of crustacean hosts can influence their physiology, especially under stressful conditions. Here we show that leeches Baicalobdella torquata (Grube, 1871) found on gills of Eulimnogammarus verrucosus (Gerstfeldt, 1858), one of the most abundant amphipods in the Baikal littoral zone, indeed feed on the hemolymph of their host. However, the leech infection had no effect on immune parameters such as hemocyte concentration or phenoloxidase activity and also did not affect glycogen content. The intensity of hemocyte reaction to foreign bodies in a primary culture was identical between leech-free and leech-infected animals. Artificial infection with leeches also had only a subtle effect on the course of a model microbial infection in terms of hemocyte concentration and composition. Despite we cannot fully exclude deleterious effects of the parasites, our study indicates a low influence of a few leeches on E. verrucosus and shows that leech-infected amphipods can be used at least for some types of ecophysiological experiments.
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Miler, Krzysztof, Aleksandra Gurgul, Maja Peryga, and Marcin Czarnoleski. "Larger leeches attack from higher ground – size-dependent preferences for ambush sites in the Bornean terrestrial leech Haemadipsa picta." Journal of Tropical Ecology 35, no. 03 (March 4, 2019): 140–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467419000038.
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AbstractThe rain forests of South-East Asia represent a biodiversity hotspot of terrestrial leeches, but we have only fragmentary and often anecdotal information on this component of tropical communities. To address the foraging tactics of terrestrial leeches, we studied the vertical distribution of Haemadipsa picta on foliage in a Bornean tropical rain forest. We investigated the links between leech body length and the above-ground height of their ambush positions under natural conditions and in a choice experiment performed under semi-natural conditions. We studied 167 leeches, which varied considerably with respect to body length (4–29 mm). On average, the leeches ambushed at lower heights under natural conditions than under experimental conditions (47.7 cm vs. 67.5 cm), though the heights of ambush positions overlapped considerably. Leeches that chose higher ambush positions under natural conditions consistently chose higher ambush positions in the experiment (Pearson r = 0.29). Under both natural and experimental conditions, leech body length was positively correlated with the height of ambush positions (Pearson r = 0.48); on average, a 1-mm increase in body length corresponded to a 2–3 cm higher ambush position. Our findings suggest that H. picta individuals actively choose hunting locations according to their above-ground height, shifting their ambush sites over ontogeny to higher foliage. We hypothesize that growing leeches might target different prey following ontogenetic shifts in the foraging optima, ultimately decreasing intraspecific competition.
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Siddall, Mark E., and Sherwin S. Desser. "Developmental stages of Haemogregarina delagei in the leech Oxytonostoma typica." Canadian Journal of Zoology 79, no. 10 (October 1, 2001): 1897–900. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z01-136.
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Haemogregarine infections in little skates, Raja erinacea, were assessed for a period of approximately 1 year. Prevalence of Haemogregarina delagei in little skates varied seasonally between 77 and 91%. Prevalence of leeches (Oxytonostoma typica) varied between 9 and 18%. One leech was removed from a little skate (from Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick) heavily infected with H. delagei. Imprints made from the leech's digestive tissue contained haemogregarine oocysts that produced 1632 sporozoites, and meronts with 4 merozoites. The latter were also found in imprints made from salivary tissues.
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Jones, Simon R. M., and Patrick T. K. Woo. "Development and infectivity of Trypanosoma phaleri in leech and fish hosts." Canadian Journal of Zoology 69, no. 6 (June 1, 1991): 1522–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z91-213.
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Trypanosoma phaleri underwent cyclopropagative development in the gut of the leech Desserobdella phalera. Dividing sphaeromastigotes and epimastigotes preceded nondividing, elongate, slender trypomastigotes. The latter forms migrated from the crop to the proboscis sheath, shortened, and acquired infectivity. Metatrypanosomes from the proboscis sheath but not those from the crop were infective. The flagellum of short metatrypanosomes penetrated the cuticular lining of the proboscis sheath. Proboscis-sheath infections were first detected 9 days after an infective blood meal in 2 of 10 leeches incubated at 13 °C and after 2 days in 1 of 10 leeches incubated at 20 °C. In the former group, 3 of 10 leeches had proboscis-sheath infections after 11 days whereas in the latter group, 9 of 10 leeches had proboscis-sheath infections after 5 days. Metatrypanosomes did not reinvade the proboscis sheath when infected leeches fed on uninfected Amia calva but did so if the subsequent blood meal was infective. Developmental stages were not detected in 49 leeches that fed on A. calva with infections of 24 and 48 h but were detected in 4 of 27 leeches that fed on A. calva with 72-h infections.
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Kumar, Syal, Gustav J. Dobos, and Thomas Rampp. "Clinical Significance of Leech Therapy in Indian Medicine." Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine 18, no. 2 (November 20, 2012): 152–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2156587212466675.
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Traditional Indian medicine—ayurveda—could be the oldest medical system in which leech therapy was adopted for treating specific disease conditions of patients. Some of the indications in which leeches are used are in tumors, hemorrhoids, abscess and boils, skin disorders, ulcers, gout, diseases of the eye, headache, herpes zoster, thrombosis, and wounds. The saliva of the leech consists of anesthetic agents, anticoagulant, antiplatelet aggregation factor, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory substances, and gelatinous substances. Leeches suck the excess blood, reduce the swelling in the tissues, and promote healing by allowing fresh oxygenated blood to reach the area until normal circulation can be restored. Clinical studies have been conducted in different parts of the world to observe the scientific action of leech therapy. Studies with leeches have been carried out to observe the healing of complicated varicose veins, pain reduction in osteoarthritis, and other disorders.
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Lent, C. M., K. H. Fliegner, E. Freedman, and M. H. Dickinson. "Ingestive behaviour and physiology of the medicinal leech." Journal of Experimental Biology 137, no. 1 (July 1, 1988): 513–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.137.1.513.
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Ingestion lasts 25 min in Hirudo medicinalis and is characterized by pharyngeal peristalsis which fills the crop. This peristalsis has an initial rate of 2.4 Hz which decays smoothly to 1.2 Hz at termination of ingestion. During ingestion, the leech body wall undergoes peristalsis which appears to aid in filling the crop diverticula. Body peristalsis begins at a rate of 10 min-1 and decreases linearly to 2 min-1 at termination. The body also undergoes dorsoventral flexions when blood flow is occluded. Blood meal size increases slightly with leech size: 8.4 g for 1-g leeches and 9.7 g for 2-g leeches. However, relative meal size decreases markedly with increasing animal size; from 8.15 times body mass for 1-g to 4.80 times for 2-g leeches. When intact leeches were exposed to micromolar concentrations of serotonin, there was an increase in the rate of pharyngeal peristalsis and the size of the blood meals. Leeches excrete the plasma from their ingested blood meals. Excretion is activated during ingestion, which increases feeding efficiency by increasing the proportion of blood cells in the ingestate. Excretion continues for 4–6 days following ingestion, removing all the remaining plasma from the ingestate. Leech ingestion comprises stereotyped muscular movements, secretion of saliva and excretion of plasma. A strikingly similar feeding physiology is seen in the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius, and we suggest that efficient sanguivory may require the convergent evolution of similar ingestive mechanisms.
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Zahra, Aminatul, Okto Rimandi Bakkara, Shavika Miranti, Henky Irawan, Rika Wulandari, Muzahar Muzahar, and Tri Yulianto. "Application of Rosmery (Rosmarinus officinalis) Solution to Reduce Marine Leeches in “Cantang” Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus x Epinephelus lanceolatus)." BIO Web of Conferences 79 (2023): 13004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20237913004.
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One common disease that attacks hybrid grouper is marine leech (Zeylanicobdella sp.). Therefore, it is necessary to take safe and environmentally friendly treatment steps, namely bathing fish infected with marine leeches with rosemary solution. This research examined the application of rosemary solution with different concentrations and bathing times to decrease the intensity of marine leech infections in “cantang” hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus x Epinephelus lanceolatus). The experimental design of this research was a randomized factorial design (rosemary solution concentration factor and bathing time factor) with three replications. This experimental’s treatments were a combination of rosemary solution concentrations (0, 7.5, and 15 mL/L) and bathing times (20, 40, and 60 minutes). The experiment showed that the interaction of concentration and bathing time of rosemary significantly eliminate the number of leeches in “cantang” hybrid grouper. The rosemary solution at concentrations of 15 mL/L and 7.5 mL/L significantly differed from the control; 15 mL/L was the best concentration for reducing leeches intensity, with an average intensity reduction of 29.91%. The best duration of bathing rosemary to decrease the intensity of leeches in “cantang” hybrid grouper is 60 minutes, with an average reduction in intensity of 19.21%. However, the concentration and duration of bathing in rosemary solution could not decrease the prevalence of leeches in “cantang” hybrid grouper. Bathing grouper fish in rosemary solution at a dose of 15 mL/L for 60 minutes is the best treatment to decrease the intensity of leech attacks on grouper fish by 44.85%. Bathing hybrid grouper with rosemary solution is one solution to decrease the intensity of marine leech attacks on fish farming.
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Ugural, Bahadır, and Ramazan Serezli. "Effects of various environments on number of cocoon and offspring in breeding of southern medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820." Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37, no. 3 (September 15, 2020): 207–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.37.3.01.
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Breeding medicinal leeches in controlled environments is extremely important in order to prevent their extinction. Moreover, due to medicinal leeches coming into contact with the patient's blood, breeding medicinal leeches in hygienic conditions is essential to prevent possible complications. In this study, breeding patterns of Hirudo verbana were studied in controlled conditions and the effects of various moist environments were examined. Peat, hydrogel and chopped sponge materials were compared in terms of number of cocoon and offspring in medicinal leech breeding. Peat and hydrogel environments didn’t show any statistically significant difference for number of cocoon and offspring breeding. Cocoon per leech was 3.13 ± 0.74 for peat and 2.80 ± 0.56 for hydrogel respectively. Offspring per cocoon was 11.81 ± 2.27 for peat and 12.52 ± 1.98 for hydrogel (P>0.05) respectively. In conclusion, hydrogel could be a new material for medicinal leech cocoon deposition environment especially for laboratory breeders.
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Mulilo, Misheck A., Joyce Siwila, Philbert B. Madoshi, and Richard S. Silayo. "Hirudiniasis in Cattle in Mpwapwa District, Dodoma Region of Tanzania." Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine 2020 (March 27, 2020): 1–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/3028345.
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Hirudiniasis is a condition caused by infestation by leeches. Despite the annoyance, clinical signs, and associated lesions caused by leeches in both humans and animals, the extent of the problem in Tanzania is not well elucidated. Individual animals and people become infested when they drink, bath, or walk through contaminated water sources. Leech infestations are more common in rural areas where water is scarce especially during the dry season. In this report, clinical cases of hirudiniasis in twenty-seven (27) cattle in Mpwapwa, Tanzania, are presented. The report further reviews the morphological features of leeches and creates awareness among the affected cattle farmers and the general public. A total of two hundred (200) live cattle were examined; out of these, 27 cattle had live leeches. There were, on average, 3–8 leeches per animal. Affected cattle had wounds on the gums, buccal mucosa, root of the tongue, and under the tongue with copious amounts of blood-stained frothy discharge. Further, the affected animals had respiratory distress and were rolling their tongues. The leeches were manually removed from all the affected cattle, with uneventful recovery. Laboratory examination revealed segmented, dorsal-ventral flattened, cylindrical parasites which had posterior and anterior suckers. The leech infestation was linked to drinking water from a pond which was suspected to be contaminated with “undescribed organisms” as indicated by the farmers. A follow-up was made and revealed no new cases and complete recovery of the affected animals. Hirudiniasis is one of the neglected diseases in humans and livestock and, therefore, requires integrated efforts especially in areas where water is scarce during the dry season. It is anticipated that this case report will stimulate interest and more studies in the subject matter to understand the extent of the problem and document the species and distribution of leeches in Tanzania.
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Simon, T., and K. Barnes. "Olfaction and prey search in the carnivorous leech Haemopis marmorata." Journal of Experimental Biology 199, no. 9 (September 1, 1996): 2041–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.199.9.2041.
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Haemopis marmorata, the green horse leech, is carnivorous and readily eats earthworms. Using a Y-maze with flowing water, we show that specimens of H. marmorata are attracted to live earthworms. Ablating the dorsal lip, the presumed site of the chemoreceptors that this species uses in prey search, disrupts the ability of the leeches to find the earthworms in the Y-maze. Earthworm wash, a preparation of the collagen coating of earthworm skin, shock-induced earthworm secretion, mammalian blood and a salt­arginine mixture are not attractive to the green horse leech. The tails of freshly killed earthworms are attractive to the leeches, but tails from worms killed 8­12 h previously and stored cold are not. Our conclusion is that the earthworms produce a metabolite that attracts the leeches.
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Chernaya, L. V., L. A. Kovalchuk, D. K. Kozhaeva, D. V. Zhantegolov, and N. V. Mikshevich. "NEW FINDINGS OF MEDICINAL LEECH HIRUDO VERBANA (CARENA, 1820) IN THE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS OF KABARDINO-BALKARIA." Водные биоресурсы и среда обитания 7, no. 1 (2024): 27–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.47921/2619-1024_2024_7_1_27.
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Background. Medicinal leeches are a traditional aquatic biological resource in Russia, officially used in practical medicine, pharmacology and cosmetology. However, in recent decades, the distribution range and abundance of these valuable aquatic organisms on the Russian territiry have decreased considerably. Relevance. The study of the present geographical range of this exploitable leech species is of practical importance, since the modern technology of their controlled breeding at biological production facilities requires constant replenishment of the broodstock and procurement of mature individuals from natural populations. This work is aimed at the identification of the current habitats of medicinal leeches in the aquatic ecosystems of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Methods. This research was carried out in the last ten days of August 2021 in the daytime, in the littoral part of the water bodies of the plain and foothill zones of Kabardino-Balkaria. Leeches were caught with a handheld net, as well as collected manually from the objects in the immediate surroundings. The species of the caught leeches were determined using taxonomic keys in accordance with the modern classification. Results. New data on the distribution of the exploitable species of medicinal leeches Hirudo verbana (Carena, 1820) in the aquatic ecosystems of Kabardino-Balkaria are presented. Habitats of natural populations of this leech species were found in the Trek Lake and Deya River. Conclusion. The presence of the medicinal leech H. verbana in the investigated water bodies indicates their good ecological state. The results of this study make it possible to expand our understanding of the present distribution range of this exploitable species of aquatic organisms.
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Yadav, Satish, and Bingqiang Zhang. "An uncommon cause of unilateral nasal bleeding." Grande Medical Journal 2, no. 1 (December 28, 2020): 25–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/gmj.v2i1.45695.
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Leeches are segmented worms that belongs to phylum Annelida and Hirudinea subclass. They are commonly found in stream water, land and sea. Leech infestation is seen in people swimming or drinking water inhabited by leech. The most common symptom of nasal leech is unilateral nasal bleeding. In this case report, a ten-year-old Chinese boy went swimming in the river in countryside prior to the incident. On examination, he was found to have a leech in his left nostril. The leech self- extruded after irrigation with 5ml of normal saline. Health workers must be aware of the possibility of a leech as the differential diagnosis for unilateral nasal bleeding, especially in a rural area where leeches are prevalent.
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Kikuchi, Yoshitomo, Shinya Sameshima, Osamu Kitade, Junichi Kojima, and Takema Fukatsu. "Novel Clade of Rickettsia spp. from Leeches." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 68, no. 2 (February 2002): 999–1004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.68.2.999-1004.2002.
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ABSTRACT Intracellular rickettsia-like structures were found in the tissues of a glossiphoniid leech, Torix tagoi, by transmission electron microscopy. Diagnostic PCR analysis using specific primers suggested that of the nine glossiphoniid species examined, two species, T. tagoi and Hemicrepsis marginata, harbored bacteria of the genus Rickettsia. A 1.5-kb eubacterial 16S rRNA gene segment obtained from each of these species was amplified by PCR, cloned, and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene demonstrated that the Rickettsia species found in the leeches constituted a novel clade that is distinct from the clade of arthropod-associated Rickettsia species. In natural populations, 97.7% (43 of 44) of T. tagoi leeches and 100% (9 of 9) of H. marginata leeches carried Rickettsia, suggesting that infection with Rickettsia is prevalent in these leeches. This is the first report of Rickettsia found in annelids.
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Siddall, Mark E., Paul L. Worthen, Matthew Johnson, and Joerg Graf. "Novel Role for Aeromonas jandaei as a Digestive Tract Symbiont of the North American Medicinal Leech." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 73, no. 2 (November 17, 2006): 655–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.01282-06.
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ABSTRACT The gut bacteria of the North American medicinal leech, Macrobdella decora, were characterized. Biochemical tests and DNA sequences indicated that Aeromonas jandaei is the dominant culturable symbiont in leeches from a broad geographic area. In this work we identified a new habitat for A. jandaei, and here we suggest that there is unexpected specificity between leeches and Aeromonas species.
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Baca, Serapio M., Eric E. Thomson, and William B. Kristan. "Location and Intensity Discrimination in the Leech Local Bend Response Quantified Using Optic Flow and Principal Components Analysis." Journal of Neurophysiology 93, no. 6 (June 2005): 3560–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.01263.2004.
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In response to touches to their skin, medicinal leeches shorten their body on the side of the touch. We elicited local bends by delivering precisely controlled pressure stimuli at different locations, intensities, and durations to body-wall preparations. We video-taped the individual responses, quantifying the body-wall displacements over time using a motion-tracking algorithm based on making optic flow estimates between video frames. Using principal components analysis (PCA), we found that one to three principal components fit the behavioral data much better than did previous (cosine) measures. The amplitudes of the principal components (i.e., the principal component scores) nicely discriminated the responses to stimuli both at different locations and of different intensities. Leeches discriminated (i.e., produced distinguishable responses) between touch locations that are approximately a millimeter apart. Their ability to discriminate stimulus intensity depended on stimulus magnitude: discrimination was very acute for weak stimuli and less sensitive for stronger stimuli. In addition, increasing the stimulus duration improved the leech's ability to discriminate between stimulus intensities. Overall, the use of optic flow fields and PCA provide a powerful framework for characterizing the discrimination abilities of the leech local bend response.
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Bower, S. M., L. Margolis, and R. J. MacKay. "Potential Usefulness of Chlorine for Controlling Pacific Salmon Leeches, Piscicola salmositica, in Hatcheries." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 42, no. 12 (December 1, 1985): 1986–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f85-246.
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Susceptibility to the lethal effects of low levels of total residual chlorine (TRC) differed between juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and the salmon leech (Piscicola salmositica), the vector for the haemoflagellate salmonid pathogen Cryptobia salmositica. There was no salmon mortality at concentrations below approximately 50 μg TRC/L for the maximum exposure time of 24 h. Some damage to gill tissue (hypertrophy, fusion, oedema, and some necrosis), was observed at the highest concentrations of TRC that did not kill any of the fish (approximately 50 μg/L for 24 h, and approximately 100 μg/L for 8 h). This damage was repaired by the fish within 4 d of exposure, although evidence of past irritation was noted in 6 of 12 fish. All small juvenile leeches exposed to 44 μg TRC/L for 24 h died, and over half of such leeches exposed to 44 μg/L for 8 h and 21 μg/L for 24 h died. Below TRC concentrations that were lethal to the fish (approximately 50 μg/L), contours of constant leech mortality derived from a logistic regression model fitted to the data offered a wide range of concentrations and exposure times that would result in high mortality of juvenile leeches. Larger subadult and adult leeches were more resistant to chlorine than the smaller leeches but were more sensitive than the juvenile fish. Thus, chlorine may prove useful for controlling P. salmositica in salmonid hatcheries.
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Pfordt, Victoria, Pegah Kalatehjari, Céline Tolksdorf, Bernhard H. Rauch, and Christian Müller. "Go West: Hirudins and Decorsin/Ornatin-like Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors in Two Representatives of American Hematophagous Leeches." Parasitologia 2, no. 4 (November 1, 2022): 313–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia2040026.
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Hematophagous leeches express a broad variety of secretory factors in their salivary glands; among them are hirudins, inhibitors of blood coagulation, and decorsins/ornatins, inhibitors of platelet aggregation. Here, we describe the identification and molecular and functional characterization of putative hirudins and decorsins/ornatins in two leech species of American origin, Limnobdella mexicana and Haementeria vizottoi. The leech species represent two orders of leeches, the proboscis-bearing Rhynchobdellida and the non-proboscis-bearing Arhynchobdellida. Members of the hirudin superfamily, such as hirudins or decorsins/ornatins, are described for the first time in the genus Haementeria. Both species expressed very potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation, but only the putative hirudins of L. mexicana displayed high thrombin-inhibitory potency, whereas the putative hirudin of H. vizottoi turned out to be a hirudin-like factor. The results of our study provide new insights into the evolutionary background of the blood-sucking lifestyle in leeches.
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Dadashova, L., and A. Mammadov. "Intraspecies Molecular DNA Polymorphism and Threat of Hirudo orientalis." Bulletin of Science and Practice 10, no. 5 (May 15, 2024): 102–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.33619/2414-2948/102/13.
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Medical leeches play the role of a natural factory for the production of a complex of unique biologically active substances such as hirudin, eglins, bdellins, hementin, bradykinins, which are urgently needed by modern medicine and veterinary medicine. Medical leeches produce a wide range of enzymes such as hyalinodase, destabilase, collagenase, apyrase, elastase and triglyceride. All these substances are biologically active substances of natural origin. It is used to treat a wide range of diseases, such as amenorrhea, osteoarthritis, trauma, and blood stasis syndrome. In modern times, leeches also serve as an important model system for understanding the structure, function, development, regeneration, and repair of the nervous system. The currently seven known species of the HirudoLinnaeus, 1758 genus of the Hirudinidae family are widespread in different regions of the Eurasian contingent. The results of the phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequences of the oxidase enzyme subunit I (12S r-RNA, COI) allow us to assume that the Hirudo genus is monophyletic. In 2005, P. Trontelj and S. Utevsky, while studying the molecular systematics of medical leeches, analyzed 2 samples of medical leeches from Azerbaijan together with others. According to the results of the cluster analysis, two medicinal leech samples of Azerbaijan (Hirudo sp. AZ1 and Hirudo sp.AZ2) form a separate cluster and are located between H. medicinalis and H. verbanaspecies. As a result of recent phylogenetic studies, it was determined that those two samples are H. orientalisspecies. The main goal of the conducted research is to study the intraspecies polymorphism of medical leeches collected from different regions of Azerbaijan at the genome level. Isolation of leech chromosomal DNA was performed with the Gene Elute Mammalian Genomic DNA miniprep reagent kit.
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Nakano, Takafumi, Hajime Suzuki, Naoko Suzuki, Yuichi Kimura, Tatsuo Sato, Hiromi Kamigaichi, Naoki Tomita, and Takeshi Yamasaki. "Host–parasite relationships between seabirds and the haemadipsid leech Chtonobdella palmyrae (Annelida: Clitellata) inhabiting oceanic islands in the Pacific Ocean." Parasitology 147, no. 14 (September 18, 2020): 1765–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182020001729.
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AbstractThe duognathous haemadipsid leeches of the genus Chtonobdella show a trans-oceanic distribution throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Although passive long-distance dispersal (LDD) of Chtonobdella leeches by birds has been suggested, little is known about the host–parasite relationships between avian hosts and Chtonobdella leeches. In the current study, we investigated Chtonobdella leech infestations of the eyes and other mucus membranes of migratory procellariiform seabirds, Pterodroma hypoleuca and Oceanodroma tristrami, captured at six locations in the Bonin Islands, Honshu and Okinawa Island, Japan. Analyses of the partial sequences of 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and morphological examination of the specimens demonstrated that the Chtonobdella leeches belonged to Chtonobdella palmyrae, which is indigenous to Palmyra Atoll in the Northern Line Islands. A dominant COI sequence type was observed in samples from all six sites; therefore, C. palmyrae almost surely dispersed approximately 1000 km by infesting the eyes and mucus membranes of procellariiform seabirds. The host–parasite relationships between procellariiform seabirds and C. palmyrae provide explicit evidence of the LDD of duognathous haemadipsid leeches. The taxonomic status of Haemadipsa zeylanica ivosimae from the Volcano Islands is also briefly discussed.
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landa, jorge, juan c. arronte, pablo abaunza, and antonio c. fariña. "calliobdella lophii (hirudinea: piscicolidae) parasitizing white anglerfish lophius piscatorius off the north of spain." Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 85, no. 5 (October 2005): 1297–300. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315405012476.
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this paper describes the interaction between two species: white anglerfish lophius piscatorius and its specific leech parasite calliobdella lophii off the north of spain. catches of white anglerfish by the spanish gill-net fleet operating in those waters were sampled monthly in 2001. abundance, mean intensity and prevalence were used to analyse infestation level by c. lophii. prevalence of leeches and fish length was significantly correlated. mean intensity was higher on larger white anglerfish. significant differences were found in the presence of leeches by fish length between areas, with higher values in the western part of the studied area. no significant differences were found in the presence of leeches between sexes or seasons.
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Khan, R. A. "Trypanosome occurrence and prevalence in the marine leech Johanssonia arctica and its host preferences in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean." Canadian Journal of Zoology 69, no. 9 (September 1, 1991): 2374–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z91-334.
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In this study, the distribution, abundance, host selection, and prevalence of trypanosomes in the marine leech Johanssonia arctica in the northwestern Atlantic were investigated. This leech is widely distributed and is encountered more often in the Labrador – northeastern Newfoundland area, especially at depths of 165 m or more, where water temperatures of about 0 °C prevail. It rarely occurs south and west of Newfoundland, where warmer bottom temperatures occur. The highest prevalence of the trypanosome (Trypanosoma murmanensis) infection was found in leeches collected from a depth of 165 m in summer off the Labrador and north and east Newfoundland coasts in the largest leeches (~25 mm). Samples taken at 3- to 5-month intervals in Conception Bay over a 7-year period showed that prevalence of the trypanosome infection is also greater in summer–autumn than during winter. The leeches sampled had fed predominantly on pleuronectiform (flatfish) rather than perciform or gadiform fish, and rarely on elasmobranchs. High prevalences of T. murmanensis in fish coincide with the abundance of J. arctica in several areas of the northwestern Atlantic. Since six other species of marine leeches apparently do not acquire trypanosome infections after feeding on infected fish, J. arctica is probably the major vector of the parasite in the northwestern Atlantic north of latitude 45°N.
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Sawyer, Roy T. "History of the Leech Trade in Ireland, 1750–1915: Microcosm of a Global Commodity." Medical History 57, no. 3 (May 30, 2013): 420–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/mdh.2013.21.
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AbstractIn the nineteenth century the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis evolved into a lucrative commodity in great demand throughout the western world. In less than a century its trade became big business by any measure, involving tens of millions of animals shipped to every inhabited continent. In this context Ireland is particularly instructive in that it was the first country in Europe to exhaust its supply of native leeches. Concomitantly, it was also the first country to import leeches from abroad, as early as 1750. Being an island with manageable border controls, and a clearly definable medical market, Ireland serves superbly as a microcosm of the leech as a worldwide commodity. Being a relative small country it is possible for the first time to gain a balanced perspective of various economic factors underlying this trade, including supply and demand, exploitation of natural resources, and an evolving network of competitive traders.This paper addresses these and other aspects of the leech trade in Ireland. The principal, and unexpected, finding of this paper is that leeches were unequivocally very expensive in Ireland and became a significant drain on hospital budgets. As such, they found little use amongst the Irish poor. An estimate of several million leeches were imported into Ireland in the nineteenth century, a practice which continued into the twentieth. They were imported initially from Wales and then from France following the defeat of Napoleon, but the bulk came ultimately from Hamburg, via importers in England.
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Kaygorodova, Irina, and Antonina Natyaganova. "Karyotype characterization of the endemic piscine leech from Lake Baikal with vindication of Baicalobdella cottidarum Dogiel, 1957 (Piscicolidae, Hirudinea)." Archives of Biological Sciences 67, no. 4 (2015): 1405–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/abs1412205119k.
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In this paper, we present for the first time data on karyotype analysis of leeches of the genus Baicalobdella (Piscicolidae) parasitizing Lake Baikal endemic cottoid fishes. Both mitotic and meiotic chromosomes are described. Leech testisacs were processed by a ?shaking-blotting? technique, and chromosomal preparations were stained with water-based fuchsine. Diploid and haploid chromosome sets demonstrated 2n=34 and n=17, respectively, with maximal chromosome length of 1.5-3.0 ?m. Comparative karyotype analysis of two ecological forms of Baicalobdella leeches revealed differences in chromosome numbers and its morphology. Previously studied Baicalobdella torquata (Grube, 1871) parasitizing Baikal amphipods had smaller diploid and haploid sets (2n=32, n=16). In addition to numerical superiority, differing patterns of chromosome size gradation and presence of satellite elements were found in the karyotype of piscine Baicalobdella leeches. This confirms the systematic position of the Baikal cottoid leech parasite as a separate species, validating the original name Baicalobdella cottidarum sensu Dogiel, 1957.
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Fedorova, Lyudmila I., and Irina A. Kaygorodova. "First data on the Hirudinea fauna of lotic ecosystems of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area (Russia)." ZooKeys 1082 (January 19, 2022): 73–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1082.71859.
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Hirudinea, a small and ecologically important group of aquatic organisms, is poorly studied in northern Eurasia. In this study, we demyth the idea of the faunistic poverty of this region and present the first findings of rheophilic leeches from the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, Russia. Investigation of 25 rivers (Severnaya Sosva, Ob, Konda-Irtysh, and Bolshoi Yugan river basins) resulted in finding 10 leech species with parasitic and non-parasitic life strategies. These species belong to two orders (Rhynchobdellida and Arhynchobdellida), three families (Glossiphoniidae, Piscicolidae, and Erpobdellidae) and six genera (Alboglossiphonia, Glossiphonia, Helobdella, Hemiclepsis, Piscicola, and Erpobdella). Five species, A. hyalina, G. verrucata, E. monostriata, E. vilnensis, and potentially new morphological species of piscine leeches Piscicola sp., have been discovered for the first time in Western Siberia. Data on species diversity of rheophilic leeches include the exact systematic position for all leech taxa. Each species from the list is supplemented with information about its geographical distribution.
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Yang, Zi-Bin, Yan Liu, Qiu-Juan Zhang, Bing-Ran Zhang, and Ming-Wei Liu. "Case report of recurrent epistaxis caused by a live leech in the nasal cavity." Medicine 103, no. 14 (April 5, 2024): e37720. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000037720.
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Rationale: Epistaxis is one of the common emergencies in otolaryngology. There are many causes of epistaxis, but reports of epistaxis due to nasal foreign bodies like leeches are rare. Patient concerns: A 55-year-old male presented with “repeated epistaxis for over 20 days.” Nasal endoscopy revealed a live leech in the olfactory area of the left nostril. Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed with epistaxis caused by a live leech in the nasal cavity. Interventions: Under nasal endoscopy, the leech was grasped with a vascular clamp and removed from the nasal cavity. The leech measured 8 cm in length. Hemostasis was achieved using a gelatin sponge at the wound site, and the nasal cavity was packed with Vaseline gauze. Outcomes: The live leech was removed via nasal endoscopy. Two days later, the Vaseline gauze packing was removed, and the patient experienced no further nasal bleeding. Conclusion: Live leeches in the nasal cavity can cause epistaxis. Nasal endoscopic removal of the live leech is an effective treatment. Lesson: There are many causes of epistaxis, which are nonspecific and prone to missed or incorrect diagnosis. In patients with a history of fieldwork or direct contact with leeches who present with recurrent nasal bleeding, the possibility of epistaxis caused by a live leech should be considered, and timely and effective treatment should be provided.
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Bayramov, A., and M. Maharramov. "Leeches (Annelida, Hirudinea) Fauna of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic." Bulletin of Science and Practice 10, no. 1 (January 15, 2024): 86–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.33619/2414-2948/98/11.
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The fauna of the leeches of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is represented by 10 species belonging to 9 genera, 5 families, 2 orders and one class. According to zoogeographical affiliation, leech species belong to 4 faunistic complexes. In the benthic infauna of various types of water bodies, glossyphonides predominate in the frequency of occurrence and abundance of individuals. An extremely rare medical leech (Hirudo medicinalis) is the only practically useful representative of the girudofauna. Functional significance of other species in biocenoses is low. The article also presents data on morphology, body sizes, objects of finding and biotopes of leeches of fauna of Nakhchivan.
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Kikuchi, Yoshitomo, and Takema Fukatsu. "Endosymbiotic Bacteria in the Esophageal Organ of Glossiphoniid Leeches." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 68, no. 9 (September 2002): 4637–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.68.9.4637-4641.2002.
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ABSTRACT We characterized the intracellular symbiotic bacteria of the hematophagous glossiphoniid leeches Placobdelloides siamensis and a Parabdella sp. These leeches have a specialized structure called an “esophageal organ,” the cells of which harbor bacterial symbionts. From the esophageal organ of each species, a 1.5-kb eubacterial 16S rRNA gene segment was amplified by PCR, cloned, and sequenced. Diagnostic PCR detected the symbiont in the esophageal organ and intestine. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene(s) demonstrated that the symbionts from the leeches formed a monophyletic group in a well-defined clade containing endosymbiotic bacteria of plant sap-feeding insects in the γ-subdivision of the Proteobacteria. The nucleotide compositions of the 16S rRNA gene from the leech symbionts were highly AT biased (53.7%).
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Mohanty, Bishnupriya, Divya Naik, and Sangram Keshari Das. "JALAUKA ANUSHASTRANAM-AN INTEGRATED UNDERSTANDING." International Ayurvedic Medical Journal 11, no. 6 (June 21, 2023): 1285–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.46607/iamj1111062023.
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The basic Ayurvedic treatment is based on two principles viz. Shodhan Chikitsa (Elimination Therapy) and Shaman Chikitsa (Internal medicine). Shodhana Chikitsa deals with five purificatory procedures popularly known as Panchakarma. Acharya Susruta included Rakta Mokshana in Panchakarma and described it as the best procedure because it eliminates all three vitiated Doshas viz. Vata, Pitta & Kapha. Jalaukavacharana is a type of Raktamokshana where leeches are used for bloodletting. This is considered the most effective and unique method of Raktamokshana as vitiated Doshas are removed from the body without using any cutting instruments, so, Raktamokshana by means of ‘Leech’ comes under the Ashastra category. The following paper deals with the basic concepts of leeches therapy and the method of using leeches for Rakta Mokshana.
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Dadashova, L. "Modern Situation of Hirudo orientalis in Lankaran Natural Province Water Basins." Bulletin of Science and Practice 10, no. 1 (January 15, 2024): 80–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.33619/2414-2948/98/10.
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The Eastern medical leech (Hirudo orientalis Utevsky et Trontelj, 2005) belongs to the Hirudinea class to a Euhirudinea subclass to the Gnathobdellidae order, Hirudo genus. H. orientalisis ectoparasitic bloodsucking. Medicinal leeches feed by sucking blood of the vertebrates such as mammals, fish, amphibians, birds and reptiles. They live in the freshwater basins in swamps, rivers and lakes. Materials were collected through the suture-catching nets to breed leeches and carry out investigations in laboratory conditions. The study was carried out in 2018-2020 in the 42 water bodies of the Lankaran natural province. H. orientalis was found in only 16 of them. The weight of the collected leeches was 1.0-2.5 g, and the length was between 4-10 cm.
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Conan, Antonin, Astolfo Mata, Eloïse Lenormand, Alexandre Zahariev, Manfred Enstipp, Jonathan Jumeau, and Yves Handrich. "Causes for the High Mortality of European Green Toad Tadpoles in Road Stormwater Ponds: Pollution or Arrival of a New Predator?" Diversity 15, no. 4 (March 25, 2023): 485. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d15040485.
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Declining wetland areas cause many amphibian species to breed inside stormwater ponds (SWPs), which have been constructed alongside major roads to collect and retain polluted road runoff water. However, the suitability of such artificial ponds as a breeding habitat for amphibians remains unclear. Recently, a study found a very low survival rate of European green toad tadpoles (Bufotes viridis) inside SWPs, presumably because of high sediment pollution and/or the presence of a leech Helobdella stagnalis. To establish the effects of sediment pollution and leech presence on tadpole growth and survival, we exposed 480 green toad tadpoles to a number of controlled conditions inside holding tanks. We tested the following conditions: (1) ‘control’ (clean sediment + clean water); (2) ‘leech’ (clean sediment + clean water + leeches); (3) ‘SWP sediment’ (clean water + polluted sediment); and (4) ‘SWP sediment + leech’ (clean water + polluted sediment + leeches). Tadpole size and survival was monitored until metamorphosis and, individuals participated in swim tests and respirometry trials to the test potential effects of pollution on their escape capacity and metabolic rate. We found that the growth rate of tadpoles exposed to the SWP sediment (condition 3) was increased, while pollution had no effect on survival. By contrast, leeches heavily preyed upon tadpoles, leaving no survivors in conditions 2 and 4. Tadpoles swim speed and metabolic rate of toadlets did not differ between the ‘control’ and ‘SWP sediment’ group, the only conditions with surviving individuals. Our study found that leeches had the strongest effect on tadpole survival and were likely responsible for the low survival rates in SWPs observed recently. Hence, we suggest that adequate management measures are needed to limit leech penetration inside SWPs (frequent dredging/draining) to prevent these artificial structures from becoming an ecological trap for locally endangered amphibians but rather a base to help in their recovery.
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Upton, Joseph. "LEECHES." Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 79, no. 2 (February 1987): 311. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00006534-198702000-00050.
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Graham, C. E. "Leeches." BMJ 310, no. 6979 (March 4, 1995): 603. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.310.6979.603c.
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Weisblat, David A. "Leeches." Current Biology 13, no. 19 (September 2003): R752. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2003.09.011.
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ŠATKAUSKIENĖ, INGRIDA, and JURGITA RUTKAUSKAITĖ-SUCILIENĖ. "The present state of the leech fauna (Annelida: Hirudinea) in Lithuania." Zootaxa 5115, no. 1 (March 11, 2022): 47–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5115.1.3.
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The aim of the present study is to present the composition of the leech fauna from Lithuania. Based on morphology, 12 species of leeches belonging to 10 genera and 5 families (Haemopidae, Hirudinidae, Glossiphoniidae, Erpodellidae and Piscicolidae) were identified in the country. Comparison of the data generated in current study with historical records, we extend the list of species to 21. Additional localities of Hirudo medicinalis and Erpobdella monostriata, two uncommon leeches, were established in Lithuania.
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Sproll, Christoph, Julian Lommen, Adriana Balasiu, Lara Schorn, Norbert R. Kübler, Birgit Henrich, Rainer Kram, and Sabine Petersdorf. "Lethal Aeromonas veronii Sepsis in the Course of Medicinal Leech Therapy." Antibiotics 11, no. 9 (August 31, 2022): 1180. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11091180.
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A patient with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) underwent complex surgical tumor therapy, including the reconstruction of soft tissues using a radial forearm flap. Due to venous congestion that could only partly be resolved by revision surgery, leech therapy was started on the second postoperative day. The patient developed pneumonia and sepsis and died as a result of septic shock, despite having received targeted broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy since day 5. Aeromonas spp. were cultured from both the patient’s specimens and unused leeches. Biochemical identification and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) yielded inconsistent identification results. Finally, microbiological identification of Aeromonas spp. was performed via 16S rDNA sequencing and use of the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST), and strains from both the patient and the leeches were identified as Aeromonas veronii. Aeromonas spp. strains derived from the patient and leeches and independent laboratory strains were submitted to randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) subtyping. RAPD of A. veronii strains from both sources revealed an identical pattern, strongly suggesting the transmission of A. veronii from the leeches to the patient. Physicians should be aware of the potential for severe lethal infections as a fatal side-effect of leech therapy in critically ill patients, which should be addressed using antibiotic prophylaxis.
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Wakeman, Lisa J., Roger C. Munro, and Saad Al-Ismail. "Anti-Platelet Properties of Salivary Secretions of the Avian Leech." Blood 108, no. 11 (November 16, 2006): 4115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v108.11.4115.4115.
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Abstract Introduction Haematophages, animals evolved to a bloodsucking lifestyle as their exclusive mode of feeding secrete compounds capable of arresting haemostasis in the host. It is clear that exploitation of host haemostasis is an absolute requirement for the survival of these species. Since the discovery and with the subsequent characterisation and engineering of Hirudin a potent thrombin inhibitor from the European medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis, attention has been focused on the potential anticoagulant and platelet aggregation inhibitors derived from an array of different species of leech from both the Rhynchobdellid and Arhynchobdellid orders. Haematophagous leeches of the genus Theromyzon sp. of the Rhynchobdellid order, also termed duck leeches, feed directly on the nasal passages, trachea and nictating membranes of migratory birds. We present the novel observation of inhibition of aggregation of human platelets by the salivary secretion extracts of the avian leech Theromyzon tessulatum. Methods Twelve adult leeches of the species T. tessulatum (total weight 2.828g) were anaesthetised with ethanol vapour. The leeches were severed at the anterior end and a homogenate produced containing salivary gland secretions. The posterior two thirds of the leeches were treated identically to serve as control material. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) was prepared from blood from a normal individual (free from known platelet modifying medicines) mixed 9:1 (v:v) with 0.105 M trisodium citrate in siliconised glass vacutainers. Platelet numbers were adjusted with autologous platelet poor plasma (PPP) to obtain concentrations of approximately 300 × 109/L. Leech extracts (anterior or posterior control) were added to PRP at a ratio of 1:4. Aggregation studies were performed using thrombin (10units/ml), collagen 10μg/ml, Ristocetin (1.5mg/ml) and ADP (5μm/ml). Results Data from this study shows that platelet aggregation was completely inhibited when stimulated by thrombin, collagen and ADP and partially inhibited (40%) on the addition of ristocetin. Conclusion Our observations contradict the belief that the anti-thrombocyte properties of this species of haematophagous leech are restricted to duck thrombocytes. We suggest the presence of one or more inhibitory molecules acting by various mechanisms including inhibition of vWF and platelet integrin mediated collagen interactions, inhibition of ristocetin mediated vWF and platelet GPIb receptor binding and salivary secretion derived apyrase inhibition of arachidonic acid mediated platelet aggregation. These findings provide conclusive evidence that this blood sucking bird leech has the ability to overcome thrombocyte function in higher vertebrates.
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Haron, Fatin Khairah, Muhammad Dawood Shah, Yoong Soon Yong, Jen Kit Tan, Mohammad Tamrin Mohamad Lal, and Balu Alagar Venmathi Maran. "Antiparasitic Potential of Methanol Extract of Brown Alga Sargassum polycystum (Phaeophyceae) and Its LC-MS/MS Metabolite Profiling." Diversity 14, no. 10 (September 24, 2022): 796. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d14100796.
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In Southeast Asian nations, cultured hybrid groupers are facing serious infestation by the marine parasitic leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (Annelida, Hirudinea). They attach to the hybrid groupers by sucking and biting on the surface of the skin, paving the way for secondary infection upon the fish. The objective of the study is to utilize the locally available seaweed to control the infestation of parasitic leeches. The methanol extracts of the brown alga Sargassum polycystum C. Agardh, 1824 (Phaeophyceae) from Sabah were prepared and investigated for antiparasitic efficacy against Z. arugamensis through in vitro bioassay. A total of 126 adult leeches from the host hybrid groupers were obtained from the fish hatchery. The parasitic leeches were treated with the methanol extracts of S. polycystum for 180 min by preparing five different dosages at concentrations of 100, 50, 25, 12.5, and 6.25 mg/mL. The brown alga was found to have high antiparasitic efficacy, resulting in 100% leech mortality over a short period of time. It showed the highest antiparasitic efficacy (total mortality of leeches) in a short time limit of 0.96 ± 0.44 min, for 100 mg/mL of the extract. Observations on leech behavior in the positive control and the seaweed extract treatments showed vigorous swimming before mortality. LC-MS/MS analysis was used to reveal the phytochemical composition of the extract to understand the nature of the main components responsible for its antiparasitic activities. A total of 29 metabolites were identified via Q Exactive HF Orbitrap mass spectrometry, including two flavonoids (ephedrannin A and hinokiflavone), two organoarsenics (1-dimethylarsinoyl-heptadecane and cacodylic acid), four heterocyclic compounds, and two chlorophyll breakdown products. The presence of bioactive compounds could increase the mortality rate of parasitic leeches. Thus, this study concludes that the brown alga showed high efficacy in its antiparasitic activities and can be effectively applied for treatment in grouper aquaculture farms for sustainable aquaculture.
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Habeeb, Batool K., and Harith Saeed Al-Warid. "MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF TWO LEECH SPECIES (ANNELIDA, HIRUDINEA) WHICH USED IN SOME ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE CLINICS IN BAGHDAD PROVINCE, IRAQ." Bulletin of the Iraq Natural History Museum 17, no. 3 (June 20, 2023): 499–506. http://dx.doi.org/10.26842/binhm.7.2023.17.3.0499.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this study is to describe the leech species that are used in some of the alternative medicine clinics in Baghdad Province based on morphometric measurements and colouring pattern of the body. A collection of twenty leeches was provided from some clinics. All specimens were identified and described based on standard available keys. The morphometric characteristics and colouring patterns were recorded and the indicated that these leeches were Hirudo orientalis Utevsky & Trontelj, 2005 and H. verbana Carena, 1820.
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Ceylan, Mustafa, and Osman Çetinkaya. "Size and structure of the Mediterranean medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana populations inhabiting wetlands around Lake Eğirdir, Turkey." Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 38, no. 4 (December 15, 2021): 437–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.38.4.05.
Full textAbstract:
In the present study size and structure of the Mediterranean medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820) populations inhabiting wetlands around Lake Eğirdir (Turkey) were investigated. Population size was estimated by removal methods, age classes were estimated for the first time in leeches (Hirudinea) using “Modal Progression Analysis” of body length frequencies using Bhattacharya's method. The population size and biomass of medicinal leeches around Lake Eğirdir were estimated to be 1,562,696 ± 805,613 leeches and 467.26 ± 172.91 kg, respectively. Three age classes were identified; the age group of 0+ was dominant with 78.6%. While 89.9% of the individuals weighed less than 1 g, whereas the broodstock was estimated to represent only 7%. Body weight, body length and condition factor were found to be 0.52 ± 1.19 g, 4.5 ± 2.4 cm and 0.620 ± 0.123, respectively. This study reveals that the population size of H. verbana in the wetlands around Lake Eğirdir is relatively well preserved and there is no significant threat to the sustainability of the exploitation of the medicinal leech populations. It is concluded that the stability of the lake's water budget, the variety and abundance of the host in the undamaged wetlands, the socioeconomic structure of the leech collectors, the sales policies, and the effective activities of conservation and control units might affect conservation status of the medicinal leech populations inhabiting wetlands around Lake Eğirdir.
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Buote, N. J. "The use of medical leeches for venous congestion." Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology 27, no. 03 (2014): 173–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.3415/vcot-13-10-0122.
Full textAbstract:
SummaryThe medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, has been used for hundreds of years in human medicine for a variety of diseases, most recently including venous congestion following reconstructive surgeries (skin flaps and reimplantations), excessive lingual and periorbital swelling, and non-traditional treatments for osteoarthritis, compartment syndrome and sialoadenitis. The treatment of venous congestion in animals using leeches has been mentioned anecdotally, but the only published report pertains to the use of leeches in a cat suffering from polycythemia vera. We report the use of medical grade leeches in a one-year-old male castrated Domestic Shorthaired cat presenting with severe swelling of the paw after sustaining a constrictive injury from a bandage. The limb use had become compromised and the swelling was not responsive to compression bandages so leech therapy was instituted for four days and the swelling dramatically improved. The patient's limb use improved back to normal and the constrictive wound went on to heal without complication. The use of leeches in this case allowed for resolution of severe venous congestion and a full return to function in this patient with no continued skin loss. The mechanism of action of hirudotherapy for venous congestion is to allow for an alternative egress of pooled venous blood leading to a reduction in capillary pressure and increases in arterial reperfusion of capillary beds. The human and veterinary applications, method, and potential complications with hirudotherapy are discussed in this review.
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Oosthuizen, J. H., and Ronald W. Davies. "The biology and adaptations of the hippopotamus leech Placobdelloides jaegerskioeldi (Glossiphoniidae) to its host." Canadian Journal of Zoology 72, no. 3 (March 1, 1994): 418–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z94-058.
Full textAbstract:
The specificity of the association between the freshwater leech Placobdelloides jaegerskioeldi and the hippopotamus was confirmed both by collections from the Kruger National Park and by laboratory experiments. Placobdelloides jaegerskioeldi is established as the only leech showing species specificity for a mammal. Forty sexually mature leeches were collected free-living and 2260 mature and immature leeches were collected from 40 of 53 culled hippopotami. In the field P. jaegerskioeldi was never found on any of the alternative hosts, and none fed in the laboratory when offered a range of potential hosts. A combination of unique attributes, including mode of locomotion, anatomical features, and feeding behaviour, makes it possible for this leech to utilize the hippopotamus as a host. Evidence suggests that mating in P. jaegerskioeldi is restricted to the rectum of the hippopotamus.