In medieval and early modern European medicine, the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis and its congeners H. verbana, H. troctina, and H. orientalis) was used to remove blood from a patient as part of a process to balance the humors that, according to Galen, must be kept in balance for the human body to function properly.

European medicinal leeches of the genus Hirudo are blood-feeding annelids. The most relevant species are H. orientalis (Asian leech), H. medicinalis (European leech) and H. verbana (Hungarian leech).

The European medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) is an intriguing organism. It’s related to earthworms and has a segmented body. Leeches are classified as either parasites or predators. The parasites include the medicinal leech. They feed on liquid blood, which they obtain from their host with the aid of a chemical in their saliva called ...

2020年6月18日 · Here, we present the first draft genome of the European medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, and estimate that we have sequenced between 79–94% of the full genome. Leveraging these data, we...

2016年12月23日 · Hirudo medicinalis (European medicinal leech) belongs as its relatives Hirudo verbana (Hungarian leech: syn. H. officinalis), H. troctina, H. orientalis (Asia), Hirudinaria manillensis (Mexican medical leech) or Macrobdella decora (North American medical leech), etc. to the order Gnathostomulida (Fig. 1).

After a short introduction to the classification of medicinal leeches, their historical use in phlebotomy (blood-letting) and contemporary use in neurobiology and medicine are summarised. Over-collecting of wild Hirudo medicinalis in Europe led to reduced populations and the need to

In this review, we consider the modern medical benefits of European medicinal leeches based on the systematic screening of their salivary proteins. 1. The Biology of Medicinal Leeches. European medicinal leeches of the genus Hirudo are blood-feeding annelids.

2014年11月18日 · Although the European medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis L. 1758) is one of the best-known members of the Hirudinea due to its use in phlebotomy, this species has been confused with the...

2021年7月2日 · European medicinal leeches of the genus Hirudo are blood-feeding annelids. The most relevant species are H. orientalis (Asian leech), H. medicinalis (European leech) and H. verbana (Hungarian leech).

Although the European medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis L. 1758) is one of the best-known members of the Hirudinea due to its use in phlebotomy, this species has been confused with the Mediterranean taxon H. verbana Carena 1820. Here we describe the morphology of adult and juvenile H. medicinalis and document its genetic distance to.