12 Bacterial Flora of the Medicinal Leech (Hirudo medicinalis)

2007 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Medicinal Leech ◽  
Hirudo Medicinalis

scholarly journals Symbiosis of Aeromonas veronii Biovar sobria and Hirudo medicinalis, the Medicinal Leech: a Novel Model for Digestive Tract Associations

1999 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joerg Graf
Keyword(s):  
Digestive Tract ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Variable Region ◽  
Medicinal Leech ◽  
Hirudo Medicinalis ◽  
Bacterial Growth Rate ◽  
Culturable Bacterium ◽  
Aeromonas Veronii

ABSTRACT Hirudo medicinalis, the medicinal leech, is applied postoperatively in modern medicine. Infections by Aeromonasoccur in up to 20% of patients unless a preemptive antibiotic treatment is administered. The associated infections demonstrate the need for a better understanding of the digestive tract flora ofH. medicinalis. Early studies reported the presence of a single bacterial species in the digestive tract and suggested that these bacteria were endosymbionts contributing to the digestion of blood. In this study, we cultivated bacteria from the digestive tract and characterized them biochemically. The biochemical test results identified the isolates as Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria. This species identification was supported by sequence comparison of a variable region of the genes coding for 16S rRNA. In a colonization assay, a rifampin-resistant derivative of a symbiotic isolate was fed in a blood meal to H. medicinalis. The strain colonized the digestive tract rapidly and reached a concentration similar to that of the native bacterial flora. For the first 12 h, the in vivo doubling time was 1.2 h at 23°C. After 12 h, at a density of 5 × 107 CFU/ml, the increase in viable counts ceased, suggesting a dramatic reduction in the bacterial growth rate. Two human fecal isolates, identified as Aeromonas hydrophila and A. veronii biovar sobria, were also able to colonize the digestive tract. These data demonstrate that the main culturable bacterium in the crop of H. medicinalis isA. veronii biovar sobria and that the medicinal leech can be used as a model for digestive tract association ofAeromonas species.

scholarly journals Up-regulation of Neurohemerythrin Expression in the Central Nervous System of the Medicinal Leech,Hirudo medicinalis, following Septic Injury

2004 ◽  
Vol 279 (42) ◽  
pp. 43828-43837 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Vergote ◽  
Pierre-Eric Sautière ◽  
Franck Vandenbulcke ◽  
Didier Vieau ◽  
Guillaume Mitta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Medicinal Leech ◽  
Hirudo Medicinalis ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Microglia of medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) express a specific activation marker homologous to vertebrate ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1/alias aif-1)

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 987-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Drago ◽  
Pierre-Eric Sautière ◽  
Françoise Le Marrec-Croq ◽  
Alice Accorsi ◽  
Christelle Van Camp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Medicinal Leech ◽  
Hirudo Medicinalis ◽  
Ionized Calcium ◽  
Activation Marker ◽  
Adapter Molecule

scholarly journals Elimination of symbiotic Aeromonas spp. from the intestinal tract of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, using ciprofloxacin feeding

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 563-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.Y. Mumcuoglu ◽  
L. Huberman ◽  
R. Cohen ◽  
V. Temper ◽  
A. Adler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Tract ◽  
Medicinal Leech ◽  
Hirudo Medicinalis

Cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia induced by Hirudo medicinalis (leeches)

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Sadat Sadati ◽  
Maryam Rezaee ◽  
Sara Ghafarpur ◽  
Fatemeh Sari Aslani ◽  
Ladan Dastgheib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Biopsy ◽  
Reconstructive Surgery ◽  
Joint Pain ◽  
Inflammatory Infiltrate ◽  
Venous Insufficiency ◽  
Topical Steroid ◽  
Lymphoid Hyperplasia ◽  
Medicinal Leech ◽  
Hirudo Medicinalis ◽  
History Of

Abstract For centuries, Hirudo medicinalis (medicinal leech) has been used as a remedy to treat many discomforts, such as muscle and joint pain. Nowadays, using leech in reconstructive surgery, microsurgery, wound and flap healing, venous insufficiency, varicosities and many other disorders has increased. In this study, we report a 45 year old female patient with six pruritic papules on her legs since10 months ago that appeared about 4 weeks after one session of leech application. Skin biopsy was performed on one of the papules, and in histopathology, superficial ulceration with a dense superficial and deep inflammatory infiltrate within the dermis composed of lymphocytes and eosinophils detected that considering history of leech application at this site, these constellation of data was compatible with the diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia induced by leeches and the patient was cured by a topical steroid and cryotherapy.

Faeces of the Medicinal Leech, Hirudo medicinalis, are Haem

Nature ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 227 (5263) ◽  
pp. 1153-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
DONALD A. WINDSOR
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Leech ◽  
Hirudo Medicinalis
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