The duration of rest and feeding greatly affects the re-breeding of ectoparasites: Hirudo verbana, Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo orientalis
Aquaculture study published in Ann Parasitol (2022)
Abstract
Ectoparasitic leeches have many biologically active substances in their body, which are able to show various therapeutic effects, which makes them very relevant in the study. Among them, the most common are medicinal leeches: Hirudo verbana, Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo orientalis. They are listed in the Red Book as a vulnerable species, so their population is mostly supported in biolabs. Therefore, the search for different methods of their preservation is relevant. The aim of the work was to test the effect of the duration of rest and feeding of animals for re- reproduction, which will increase their population. For the study, three experimental animal groups were formed: 1 control - the animals were fed a week after the first reproduction, re-reproduction occurred not earlier than 2 months; 2 experimental - selected animals that remained clitellum after the first reproduction and again sent to the peat-soil environment for reproduction without rest and feeding; 3 experimental - selected animals that remained clitellum after the first reproduction, fed after 1 week, after another 1-2 weeks again sent to the peat-soil medium for reproduction. As a result of the study, the restoration of the physiological state after the first dilution in the first and third groups was registered. In the second group, the animals are depleted as a result of defective offspring, mortality of them and their offspring.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Резюме
Compares rest and feeding intervals between leech reproductions; one-week post-reproduction feeding followed by 1-2 week rest restores physiological state and supports successful re-reproduction.
Почему это важно для гирудотерапии
This study examined how varying periods of rest and feeding after initial reproduction affect the re-breeding and physiological restoration of three medicinal leech species (Hirudo verbana, Hirudo medicinalis, and Hirudo orientalis), which are listed in the Red Book as vulnerable and whose population is mostly maintained in biolabs. The work is relevant to the conservation and laboratory propagation of leech species that possess biologically active substances with therapeutic effects, making sustainable breeding practices a practical concern for the field. The abstract indicates that allowing a one-week rest period with feeding restores the animals' physiological state after first reproduction, whereas immediate re-breeding without rest and feeding leads to depletion, defective offspring, and mortality. However, this is strictly an animal husbandry and conservation study; it does not evaluate the clinical efficacy of hirudotherapy or characterize any bioactive compounds.
Цитирование
The duration of rest and feeding greatly affects the re-breeding of ectoparasites: Hirudo verbana, Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo orientalis.
Aminov R et al. · Annals of parasitology, 2022
Связанный клинический контекст
Узнайте, как это исследование связано с клинической практикой
Добавлено в библиотеку ASH: May 27, 2026 · Последнее обновление сайта: June 18, 2026