The effect of blood human, domestic and small laboratory animals on the viability and behavior of the medicinal leech
Basic science / preclinical published in Annals of parasitology (2023)
Abstract
Medicinal leeches are used for therapeutic purposes in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Because they have a large amount of biologically active substances in their body. Each of these substances has many therapeutic effects. In natural conditions, they are mostly are fed of blood by wild animals. In laboratory conditions, the blood of domestic animals is mostly used. Currently, medicinal leeches are mostly bred in laboratory conditions. Because there are very few of them in nature. They are listed in the Red Book. Scientists of various specialties are looking for optimal conditions for their life and breeding. That became our research goal. To identify the influence of blood human, domestic animals (pigs and chickens) and small laboratory animals (rats) on the viability and behavior of medicinal leeches Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820 and Hirudo orientalis Utevsky & Trontelj, 2005. According to this, 8 groups of sexually mature animals were formed: 1 and 2 - human blood; 3, 4 - blood of a domestic pig; 5, 6 - blood of domestic chickens; 7, 8 - blood of a non-linear laboratory rat. As a result of the study, it was found that the blood of pigs and chickens is the most suitable for feeding the medical leech for normal life and behavior. Mortality of leeches was observed when feeding on rat and human blood. It should be noted that at the beginning of feeding animals with blood human. The percentage of cannibalism in animals increased.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
In this feeding study on Hirudo verbana and Hirudo orientalis, pig and chicken blood best supported normal life and behavior, while rat and human blood caused mortality and human blood raised cannibalism, making pig and chicken blood most suitable for laboratory rearing.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This study examined how blood from different sources—humans, domestic pigs, chickens, and laboratory rats—affects the viability and behavior of two medicinal leech species (Hirudo verbana and Hirudo orientalis), reporting that pig and chicken blood best supported normal leech life and behavior, while rat and human blood caused mortality, and human blood notably increased cannibalism among the leeches. The findings concern sustainable laboratory breeding of medicinal leeches, and understanding which blood sources optimize leech health informs husbandry practices for breeding facilities. The study provides practical guidance for leech cultivation. The abstract provides minimal quantitative data on mortality rates or behavioral metrics.
Citation
Reference (Vancouver style)
Aminov R. The effect of blood human, domestic and small laboratory animals on the viability and behavior of the medicinal leech. Ann Parasitol. 2023;69(1):1-6. doi:10.17420/ap6901.501. PMID: 37768304
Bibliographic details (authors, volume, pages, DOI) are taken from the PubMed record.
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