Possible detection of physiological state disorders with the help of medicinal leeches Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820
Diagnostic study published in Ann Parasitol (2023)
Abstract
In the experiment, 160 medicinal leeches of the species Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820 were studied. Medicinal leeches were fed on the blood of animals and people (conditionally healthy and diseased). Four leeches were taken from each animal/person. The animals were studied for 3 weeks. Mortality was mostly observed in the first days after feeding on the blood of the host. We noted mortality, the appearance of constrictions on the leeches' body, the intensity of the host blood spitting from their body. The host's blood was taken from their stomach on the first day after feeding. Hematological and immunological indicators of blood were determined in the taken blood of the host. As a result of the study of the blood of the sick, significant changes were found, compared to conditionally healthy ones. It was manifested by an increase in erythrocytes and leukocytes. The leukocyte formula looked like in most pathological conditions of the inflammatory process. The obtained indicators of the experiment make it possible to quickly assess the presence of physiological disorders in the early stages of the disease.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Demonstrates early disease detection using H. verbana feeding behaviour and hematological changes when leeches feed on diseased versus healthy blood.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio investigó si alimentar sanguijuelas medicinales (Hirudo verbana) con sangre de humanos y animales condicionalmente sanos y enfermos podría ayudar a detectar trastornos del estado fisiológico en etapas tempranas. Los investigadores observaron la mortalidad de las sanguijuelas, cambios físicos como constricciones en el cuerpo, la intensidad de la expectoración sanguínea, y midieron indicadores hematológicos e inmunológicos de la sangre del huésped ingerida durante un período de tres semanas. El estudio encontró cambios significativos en la sangre de huéspedes enfermos comparada con la de los sanos, incluyendo aumento de eritrocitos y leucocitos y una fórmula leucocitaria similar a la de procesos inflamatorios, mientras que la mortalidad se observó principalmente en los primeros días tras la alimentación. Sin embargo, esta investigación tiene un enfoque diagnóstico, utilizando las sanguijuelas como biosensores en lugar de evaluar la hirudoterapia, y no aporta datos sobre eficacia terapéutica ni aplicaciones clínicas.
Citación
Possible detection of physiological state disorders with the help of medicinal leeches Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820.
Aminov R · Annals of parasitology, 2023
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026