In the present study we analyzed the behavior and interactions among leeches in the same observation tank. Colored beads were glued onto their skin so that their behavior could be followed and quantified. When two or three leeches were present in the observation tank, they searched around for a maximum of 2 h and their motion and behavior were independent from those of their conspecifics. When ...

Leeches, fed on swine infected with hog cholera, contained virus for as long as 87 days after their infective blood meals. In three instances, infected leeches apparently transmitted hog cholera virus to susceptible swine in the process of normal feeding. Myxoma virus persisted in leeches for as long as 154 days after the ingestion of a blood meal from rabbits with myxomatosis. Leeches fed cons...

Leeches are fascinating creatures: they have simple modular nervous circuitry yet exhibit a rich spectrum of behavioural modes. Leeches could be ideal blue-prints for designing flexible soft robots which are modular, multi-functional, fault-tolerant, easy to control, capable for navigating using optical, mechanical and chemical sensorial inputs, have autonomous inter-segmental coordination and ...

The manner in which leeches are maintained before they are used for therapy has not been studied as a factor contributing to nosocomial infections. A 5-year retrospective survey of Aeromonas hydrophila nosocomial infections at a hospital in Marseille, France, revealed infections in 5 (4.1%) of an estimated 122 patients treated with leeches in the Hand Surgery Unit and 2 (2.4%) of an estimated 8...

Sir, The ingenious article by Rastogi and Chaudhari was indeed interesting. [1] Hirudo medicinalis (medical leech) has been used in ancient medicine for various ailments. In recent years, leeches have been making a remarkable re‑emergence in medical practice, especially in reconstructive microsurgery to relieve venous congestion and to improve the microrevascularization of flaps, grafts, or rep...

BACKGROUND Medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, has been used in plastic and reconstructive surgery, to relieve venous congestion and to improve the microrevascularization of flaps. In many countries, wild leeches are still provided from local markets and utilised with antibiotic prophylaxies. In this research, results of identification of bacteria in the transport fluid is reported, oral and i...

Sir, We read the comments “Leech therapy and Infection control: No clear window”[1] on the article “Pigment reduction in Nevus of Ota following Leech Therapy: A case report” published recently in the JAIM with great interest.[2] It is true that the present practice of Ayurveda does not have a validated or well–studied protocol for preventing infections and associated adverse events of applicati...

Leeches exploring a new environment continuously meet each other and merge in temporary groups. After 2-3 h, leeches become attracted to each other eventually forming a large and stable group. When their number is reduced, leeches remain solitary, behaving independently. Group formation is facilitated by body injection of serotonin (5-HT) and the level of endogenous 5-HT is elevated in leeches ...