The influence of the planting time and conditions on the reproductive properties of Hirudo verbana and Hirudo medicinalis
Research article published in Annals of parasitology (2021)
Abstract
Factors that affect on the sexual behavior of leeches not only in nature, but also in artificial conditions remain largely unexplored. We did not find data on the behavior of medicinal leeches, which are not placed in time from the aquatic environment in the peat-soil conditions after the appearance of clitella on their bodies. Therefore, the study of this problem has become relevant. For the study, four experimental animals groups were formed: 1 control - medicinal leeches (H. verbana), which were allowed to breed immediately after the appearance of clitella; 2 experimental - medicinal leeches (H. verbana), which were kept in an aqueous medium after the appearance of clitella for a month and then allowed to breed; 3 control - medicinal leeches (H. medicinalis), which were allowed to breed immediately after the appearance of clitella; 4 experimental - medicinal leeches (H. medicinalis), which were kept in an aqueous medium after the appearance of fertilization belts for a month then allowed to breed. The 400 sexually mature healthy medical leeches of two types aged 1.5-2 years were used in experiments. Initially, four individuals were placed into 4-liter containers for sexual intercourse, and after the appearance of differentiated fertilization zones, the control groups were immediately allowed to breed in a peat-soil environment. The experimental groups were left in the same containers for a month and then the survived leeches were allowed to breed. As a result of our research, we found mortality in the experimental groups. From the first week, we found that mortality before breeding of H. verbana was 15.6 ± 2.1% and of H. medicinalis - 14.3 ± 1.5%. Also, 92 ± 0.9% leeches from experimental group died in pet-soil environment sometimes even without cocoon deposition. The experimental group had defective cocoons, but mostly dead offspring.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Factors that affect on the sexual behavior of leeches not only in nature, but also in artificial conditions remain largely unexplored. We did not find data on the behavior of medicinal leeches, which are not placed in time from the aquatic environment in the peat-soil conditions after the appearance of clitella on their bodies.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio examinó cómo la transferencia retrasada de entornos acuáticos a suelos de turba después de la aparición del clitelio afecta la reproducción y la supervivencia en Hirudo verbana y Hirudo medicinalis, utilizando 400 sanguijuelas sexualmente maduras entre grupos de control y experimentales. Los hallazgos son importantes para la hirudoterapia porque el cultivo fiable de sanguijuelas medicinales es esencial para mantener un suministro sostenible de estos animales terapéuticos para uso clínico, y comprender las condiciones óptimas de reproducción respalda directamente la infraestructura de acuicultura que sustenta el campo. Los resultados indican que la retención prolongada en agua después de la formación del clitelio causa una mortalidad significativa previa a la reproducción y resultados reproductivos deficientes, ofreciendo una guía práctica para las instalaciones de cría de sanguijuelas. Sin embargo, el estudio se limita al manejo reproductivo en condiciones de laboratorio y no aborda la bioquímica salival, la eficacia clínica ni las aplicaciones terapéuticas; su relevancia para el ámbito de la ASH se limita a la biología de cría en etapas iniciales que sostiene la disponibilidad de sanguijuelas medicinales.
Citación
The influence of the planting time and conditions on the reproductive properties of Hirudo verbana and Hirudo medicinalis.
Aminov R, Frolov A, Aminova A · Annals of parasitology, 2021
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: March 18, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026