LEECHES

There are approximately 650 known species of leeches, some living in land others in salt and fresh water. Although some are predators, most of the leeches are hematophagous. The medicinal leeches from the genus Hirudo belong to the segmented worms of the phylum Annelida, subclass Hirudinida (leeches), suborder Hirudiniformes and to the family Hirudinidae.

Human infesting fresh water leeches include Limnatis nilotica, Limnatis maculosa, Phytobdella catenifera, Dinobdella ferox, Myxobdella africana, Hirudinea granulosa, Hirundinea viridis, Emys orbicularis, Diestecostoma mexicana and Haementeria ghilianii, and several species of Hirudo [2].

Credit: WildWoodMan/Shutterstock

A. HISTORY
E. BIOLOGY
I. APPLICATION TO THE SKIN
M. CASE REPORTS
Q. MAINTENANCE IN THE CLINIC
V. EXTERNAL LINKS
B. LEECHES
F. THE SALIVA
J. THE BITE AND BITE REACTIONS
N. SIDE EFFECT
R. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
W. REFERENCES
C. MEDICINAL LEECHES
G. USE OF LEECHES IN MEDICINE
K. PROPHYLAXIS
O. CONTRAINDICATIONS
T. TRAINING COURSES
D. MORPHOLOGY
H. LEECHES IN PLASTIC SURGERY
L. TREATMENT
P. REMOVAL OF THE LEECHES
U. VETERINARY MEDICINE