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Groundwater-fed helocrene springs constitute hydrologically heterogeneous environment, vulnerable to human and climate-induced changes. Using quantitative samples of clitellate assemblages, we investigated whether hydrologically stable nearby streams can serve as refugia for species inhabiting helocrenes, prone to seasonal desiccation. As water conductivity constitutes the main environmental gradient of helocrene springs, we categorized them as low or high-conductivity sites and compared their assemblage diversity. We hypothesized that the spring–stream association can change along this gradient, expecting assemblage homogenization is promoted by high tufa precipitation, creating differences with tufa-free nearby streams. Contrary to this prediction, the assemblages of low-conductivity helocrenes were more homogeneous, being also significantly different from those in the streams. This result is related to the apparently more favorable tufa-free substrate at low-conductivity fens, as shown by the high taxa richness and the number of indicator species. Contrary to the other invertebrates, the clitellates differed between spring fens and streams only under acidic conditions. It seems that small adjacent streams can only serve as potential refugia for spring fen biota at sites with high conductivity, while at sites with low conductivity, clitellate assemblages differ more from those in adjacent streams and thus are more susceptible to disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leech bites have long been a persistent problem for individuals engaged in outdoor activities, particularly in environments such as moors, jungles, and grasslands. Methods to prevent leech bites are anecdotal and individual, highlighting the need for the development of universal and effective repellent formulations. This study developed a novel approach for repelling leeches using combined repellent agents and a film-forming material (polyvinyl butyral), to enhance efficiency in multi-scenario applications. Material and methods: This study demonstrates that citronellal, icaridin and DDAC (didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) showcasing active avoidance and contact toxicity on leeches. the optimized repellent formulation (MSRS, containing citronellal, icaridin and DDAC as repellent agents) enables specific sustained release properties of constituents in both air and water conditions. Results: MSRS could effectively achieve the purposes of "proactive repelling", "contact repelling", and "bite detaching". The effectiveness could last for several hours. Additionally, the hydrophobic polyvinyl butyral membrane reduced the transdermal absorption of repellent agents. Moreover, the formulation is biocompatible and environmentally friendly. Conclusions: This study provides a new feasible strategy for the prevention and removal of leech bites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper traces the temporal tactics of continually renewed coloniality—where some impasses are made to appear insurmountable while others demand swift solutions—in relation to housing and mining at Borroloola in Australia's Northern Territory. Distinct policy and regulatory regimes encourage analyses that set housing and mining apart. Yet together they signal the settler state's simultaneous remedial and extractive orientations to remote Aboriginal communities. Mining leeches into housing, and housing is a promise extracted from late liberal recognition, for community members forced to wait for promised amenities while fighting for long‐term environmental protections. The analysis demonstrates the central significance of temporal control to settler colonialism: by selectively deferring action; by producing the appearance of actions that are not actually taken; and by intervening to expedite processes that serve the interests of extractive capital. We argue that the confection of intermittent urgency to intervene is a key feature of the deferrals enacted by Australian settler governance, as it rations remedial solutions and displaces harms into mortgaged futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During captivity, round stingrays, Urobatis halleri, became infected with the marine leech Branchellion lobata. When adult leeches were deprived of blood meal, they experienced a rapid decrease in body mass and did not survive beyond 25 days. If kept in aquaria with host rays, B. lobata fed frequently and soon produced cocoons, which were discovered adhered to sand grains. A single leech emerged from each cocoon (at ~ 21 days), and was either preserved for histology or molecular analysis, or monitored for development by introduction to new hosts in aquaria. Over a 74-day observation period, leeches grew from ~ 2 to 8 mm without becoming mature. Newly hatched leeches differed from adults in lacking branchiae and apparent pulsatile vesicles. The microbiome of the hatchlings was dominated by a specific, but undescribed, member of the gammaproteobacteria, also recovered previously from the adult leech microbiome. Raising B. lobata in captivity provided an opportunity to examine their reproductive strategy and early developmental process, adding to our limited knowledge of this common group of parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses how the concept of norms of speech and thought presentation relates to speech and thought presentation in actual texts with reference to the examination of two corpora, Semino and Short's discourse presentation corpus, and a corpus of contemporary present-tense fiction. Through this approach, we review the meanings of the norms in each kind of discourse presentation. Leech and Short suggest that the norm of speech presentation is direct speech (DS) and the norm of thought presentation is indirect thought (IT). Examining their claim quantitatively and qualitatively, we will discuss how forms of speech and thought presentation are chosen in different socio-lingual contexts. Our examination strongly indicates that DS predominantly serves as the norm for speech presentation. However, thought presentation exhibits a higher degree of variability, influenced by genre, text type, and narrative tense and mode, and thus our investigation did not ascertain a singular category that consistently prevails quantitatively over others in thought presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\nImpact statementThis study aimed to assess the impact of light on the reproductive performance of leeches for the first time using the Mediterranean medicinal leech Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820, which is important in medicinal leech aquaculture. Gravid leeches were subjected to three different light conditions: 24-h Light, 24-h Dark, and Daylight (14-h light and 10-h dark) for 11 weeks. Gravidity ended at the 8th week for the Dark (5.33 ± 0.38 weeks) and Daylight (5.41 ± 0.29 weeks) groups, whereas it persisted for 11 weeks in the Light group (6.75 ± 0.51 weeks) (p = 0.031). In comparison to the Daylight group (cocoons: 40, offspring: 538), the Light (cocoons: 50, offspring: 723) and Dark (cocoons: 45, offspring: 576) groups achieved a greater yield of cocoons (p = 0.312) and offspring (p = 0.323). We invite discussion on the notion that the enhanced reproductive capacity of leeches in full light and full dark conditions, as opposed to daylight, may be attributed to the disturbance of their circadian rhythms. Effects of light on reproductive performance of leeches were investigated for the first time.Gravidity lasted 3 weeks longer in the 24-hour light group.Cocoon and offspring were more abundant in 24-h light and 24-h dark groups.Findings are thought to be due to the disruption of the circadian rhythms of the leeches.Effects of light on reproductive performance of leeches were investigated for the first time.Gravidity lasted 3 weeks longer in the 24-hour light group.Cocoon and offspring were more abundant in 24-h light and 24-h dark groups.Findings are thought to be due to the disruption of the circadian rhythms of the leeches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compilation of scientific papers dealing with marine annelids (including Sipuncula) along the coasts of Türkiye (Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, and Levantine Sea) together with the new records of polychaete species (21 species) presented in this study resulted in a list of 827 species belonging to 63 families. Polychaeta were represented by 782 species, Sipuncula by 21 species, Oligochaeta by 18 species, Hirudinea by 5 species, and Echiura by 1 species. Syllidae (127 species), Spionidae (57 species), and Serpulidae (56 species) were the most species-rich families and their numbers varied among the seas. Most annelid species were benthic (808 species), 14 species were pelagic, and 5 species (leeches) were parasitic. The Aegean Sea had the highest number of species (634 species), followed by the Levantine Sea (566 species) and the Sea of Marmara (479 species). A total of 72 alien annelid species were reported from the region, with the highest number of alien species (64 species) being found in the Levantine Sea and the lowest number of alien species (3 species) in the Black Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health professionals working in rural areas where leech infestation is common should be aware that people are at risk for leech bites. The bite develops infected and wounds or ulcers may cause a reaction to an allergen. The experimental plant Lagerstroemia speciosa is commonly called Queen crape myrtle. Medicinal plants as effective and affordable treatments for cutaneous wounds. The objective of the present study was to investigate the wound healing effect of acetone flower extract of L. speciosa against Haemadipsa sylvestris bite. Group I control. They didn’t receive any drug treatment. Group II and III received commercial ointment, betadine and herbal ointment, respectively. Group IV and V are the topical application of LAFE 1 and 2% formulated ointments. The results revealed that the topically applied herbal ointment-treated groups had a rate of wound contraction of 94.4%. The topically applied LAFE 1% and LAFE 2% treated groups had rates of wound contraction of 94.5 and 95.3% (p <0.05), respectively at day 21. The present research finds the LAFE1% treated group has equal contraction to the herbal ointment applied group and the LAFE2% treated group has the highest contraction rate compared to the control. The study revealed that the acetone flower extract of L. speciosa was capable of promoting wound healing and functional recovery in a dose-dependent way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hirudo nipponia is an important medicinal animal in China. Its salivary gland secretions contain a variety of protein bioactive substances. Investigations of its salivary glands are of great significance in the study of the medicinal value and mechanism of leech secretions. Illumina RNA-Seq technology was used to perform transcriptome sequencing of salivary gland tissue of H. nipponia under starvation (D30) and fed (D0) states. A total of 2,650 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened. Using the label-free protein quantification technique and bioinformatics analysis, the expression of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the salivary gland tissue of H. nipponia was compared. A total of 2,021 proteins were identified, among which 181 proteins were differentially expressed between the starvation and fed states, with 72 significantly upregulated and 109 significantly downregulated. The salivary glands of H. nipponia synthesized protein-based active substances after 30 days of starvation and adapted to the starvation environment by weakening respiratory activity and reducing metabolic activity to reduce energy expenditure. Energy was produced by glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle for the synthesis of substances such as antibiotics. This study combined transcriptome and proteome sequencing data to provide a data reference for an in-depth study of the regulatory mechanism of salivary gland secretions of H. nipponia under starvation stress by analyzing DEGs and DEPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of medicinal leeches in clinical therapy has been employed for a long time, as it was originally recognized for exerting antithrombin effects. These effects were due to the ability of the leech to continuously suck blood while attached to human skin. According to Chinese Pharmacopoei, leeches used in traditional Chinese medicine mainly consist of Whitmania pigra Whitman, Hirudo nipponia Whitman, and Whitmania acranulata, but the latter two species are relatively scarce. The main constituents of leeches are protein and peptide macromolecules. They can be categorized into two categories based on their pharmacological effects. One group consists of active ingredients that directly target the coagulation system, such as hirudin, heparin, and histamine, which are widely known. The other group comprises protease inhibitor components like Decorsin and Hementin. Among these, hirudin secreted by the salivary glands of the leech is the most potent thrombin inhibitor and served as the sole remedy for preventing blood clotting until the discovery of heparin. Additionally, leeches play a significant role in various traditional Chinese medicine formulations. In recent decades, medicinal leeches have been applied in fields including anti-inflammatory treatment, cardiovascular disease management, antitumor treatment, and many other medical conditions. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the historical journey and medicinal applications of leeches in various medical conditions, emphasizing their pharmaceutical significance within traditional Chinese medicine. This review offers valuable insights for exploring additional therapeutic opportunities involving the use of leeches in various diseases and elucidating their underlying mechanisms for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of Haemogregarina are blood parasites known to parasitise vertebrate hosts, including fishes (Haemogregarina sensu lato) and freshwater turtles (Haemogregarina sensu stricto). Their vectors, include gnathiid isopods and leeches, respectively. In turtles, Haemogregarina balli has the best-characterized life cycle in the genus. However, no studies in Brazil have suggested a possible vector for any species of Haemogregarina from freshwater turtles. Therefore, in the present study, we provide insights into a leech vector based on specimens found feeding on two species of freshwater turtles, Podocnemis unifilis and Podocnemis expansa, using morphological and molecular data. In 2017 and 2019, freshwater turtles were collected in Goiás State, Brazil. Hosts were inspected for ectoparasites and leeches were collected from two specimens of P. expansa and nine specimens of P. unifilis. Leeches were subsequently identified as members of the genus Unoculubranchiobdella. Leech histological slides revealed haemogregarine-like structures, similar to post-sporogonic merogony, found near the gills and within the posterior sucker. Molecular analysis of the haemeogregarines resulted in the identification of three species of Haemogregarina: Haemogregarina embaubali, Haemogregarina goianensis, and Haemogregarina brasiliana. Therefore, our findings, based on morphology and DNA data suggest leeches of the genus Unoculubranchiondella as vectors for at least three species of Haemogregarina from Brazilian turtles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of Hirudinea species infesting elasmobranchs are scarce and scattered worldwide and they are inexistent off the Tunisian waters. In this work, we aimed to assess the occurrence of these parasites on two ray species in the Gulf of Tunis (Tunisia). Between 2017 and 2021, 254 fish specimens belonging to two Torpedinidae species (marbled electric ray, Torpedo marmorata Risso, 1810, and common torpedo, Torpedo torpedo (Linnaeus, 1758)) were examined for leech infestation. Morphological and molecular characterizations based on 18S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase (COI) sequences allowed us to identify two leech species: Pontobdella muricata (Linnaeus, 1758) and a new Branchellion Savigny, 1822 species Branchellion tunisensis sp. n. This new species (B. tunisensis) exhibited distinctive traits unlike other Branchellion, including a transparent body marred with dark green along the abdomen and neck, long trachelosome (about 1/3 of the length of the body), distinctive two eye spots, the presence of a pair of lateral branchiae per somite except for the last 2 somites and cup-shaped posterior sucker. Molecular analysis of the 18S rDNA and COI gene fragments shows more than 10% divergence of B. tunisensis from other Branchellion spp. and high identity score of P. muricata with other sequenced isolates. This work allowed us to report the presence of P. muricata for the first time off the Tunisian coasts and to identify a new marine leech species parasitizing electric rays in the Gulf of Tunis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several strategies for the management of venous congestion of the nipple–areola complex (NAC) after reduction mammaplasty have been proposed. Among these, hirudotherapy represents an ancient but still effective method, even though the risk of infections related to leeches should be considered. We report a peculiar case of breast infection and sepsis after leech therapy in a patient who underwent a reduction mammaplasty. A prompt surgical debridement of the wounds and necrotic tissues associated with targeted antibiotic therapy led to a fast improvement of clinical conditions, and partial preservation of the NAC was obtained. Accurate knowledge of the clinical presentation of soft tissue infections related to leeching allows for an early diagnosis and would serve as a warning for surgeons who approach such breast cosmetic procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leeches therapy, also known as hirudotherapy, is one of the oldest methods used in medicine. Hirudotherapy treatments are increasingly used as a useful therapeutic method in the treatment of various diseases as an independent and complementary therapy. The method is used, among others, to treat pain, circulatory system diseases, diabetic complications, and arthritis. It is also effectively used by surgeons to treat venous diseases, hematomas, and wounds. Aim of the study: This article aimed to review the literature on hirudotherapy and its impact on eliminating pain. Material and methods: The analysis included articles from the pubMed and Google Scholar databases, including publications from 2010 to 2024. The keywords used were: leeches medicinal, hirudotherapy, pain. Results: A total of 15 out of 29 articles were qualified for the review. The search resulted in four randomized controlled trials, five case reports, two case series, two systematic reviews, and two meta-analyses. The research shows that the use of hirudotherapy can be an effective method in the treatment of pain in various clinical conditions. Both clinical studies and case reports confirm the effectiveness of this method for relieving pain. Conclusions: At this stage, it can be concluded that hirudotherapy can be an independent or supportive therapy in the treatment of pain in various diseases. Studies have differed regarding the use of leeches to treat pain. An important issue is determining the appropriate leech use regimen, including the number of leeches, frequency, and duration of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leeches are distributed worldwide and are found in aquatic and humid terrestrial environments. They play important roles in trophic systems as parasites, predators and prey and, in determining water quality and biodiversity of aquatic and wetland ecosystems. This study was carried out to determine the species composition and effects of physico-chemical parameters on the distribution of leeches in Zaria located within the northern guinea savanna zone of Nigeria. Leeches were collected from August - October 2019 in rice farms and the banks of a stream and a pond with the aid of forceps. The pH, temperature, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids of each sampled location were taken in-situ using a Hanna Instrument. The average of each physicochemical parameter was recorded as mean ± Standard Error. A total of 12 leeches belonging to 3 families were collected (Erpobdellidea: Erpobdella octoculata, Glossiphoniidae: Placobdella costata and Hirudinidae: Hirudo species). The species composition (3) which constitutes 25% and abundance (9) constitutes 75% of leeches were highest in the rice farm. Temperature, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were relatively higher in the rice farm as compared with the stream and pond. However, the physico-chemical parameter did not affect the distribution and abundance of Erpobdella octoculata which was collected in all sampled locations. Species composition of leeches in Zaria was generally low due to reduced precipitation and vegetation type in the study area. Temperature, electrical conductivity, pH and total dissolved solids have effects on the distribution and abundance of Placobdella costata and Hirudo species. Intense survey of Leeches species composition is recommended in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leeches, classified under Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida, hold a crucial position within the aquatic ecosystem due to their substantial contribution to the intricate food web. As a result of some morphological and phylogenetic uncertainties in the classification, molecular studies have been implemented in leech taxonomy. We investigated the leech fauna in 14 wetlands in the province of Ankara in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey between 2017 and 2019. A total of 38 specimens were collected from wetlands, representing two families, four genera, and five species (Glossiphonia complanata, Glossiphonia concolor, Helobdella stagnalis, Hirudo verbana, Limnatis paluda). Morphological characters were identified following examination under a stereomicroscope, and maximum likelihood (ML), neighbour-joining (NJ) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses were employed to resolve the phylogenetic relationships using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). The haplotype analysis of the obtained COI region on 15 sequences revealed 11 haplotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The medicinal leech has been used in plastic surgery to resolve venous congestion that can threaten the viability of tissue transfer. Within the context of breast surgery, venous congestion is a pertinent consideration for reconstructive and non-reconstructive breast surgery such as mammoplasty and mastopexy. However, leeching is closely associated with complications such as infection, pain, and anaemia. This is the first systematic review that examines the methodology, efficacy, and post therapeutic outcome data across all existing studies on medicinal leeching in breast surgery. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and Embase databases from their inception to November 2023 was conducted. Inclusion criteria included studies reporting on the use of leeches to resolve venous congestion in any breast surgery. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Series tool was used for bias analysis. Descriptive statistics were undertaken in Microsoft Excel. Results: A total of 18 studies with a combined sample size of 28 were examined, including 4 case series and 14 case reports. Patients mostly underwent reconstructive breast surgery (75%). The median number of leeches used was two, with a median number of three leeching sessions per day and 3 days of leeching. Medicinal leeching successfully prevented the loss of 75% of all tissue transfers. The complication rate was high at 81.14% and mainly included infection and anaemia. Conclusions: Medicinal leeching is an effective method to relieve venous congestion in breast surgery but must be judiciously used within the clinical context of the patient to maximise efficacy and mitigate harm from complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove explicit stability estimates for the sphere packing problem in dimensions 8 and 24, showing that, in the lattice case, if a lattice is ∼ ε close to satisfying the optimal density, then it is, in a suitable sense, close to the E 8 and Leech lattices, respectively. In the periodic setting, we prove that, under the same assumptions, we may take a large "frame" through which our packing locally looks like E 8 or Λ 24 . Our methods make explicit use of the magic functions constructed in [M. S. Viazovska, The sphere packing problem in dimension 8, Ann. of Math. (2) 185 2017, 3, 991–1015] in dimension 8 and in [H. Cohn, A. Kumar, S. D. Miller, D. Radchenko and M. Viazovska, The sphere packing problem in dimension 24, Ann. of Math. (2) 185 2017, 3, 1017–1033] in dimension 24, together with results of independent interest on the abstract stability of the lattices E 8 and Λ 24 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 194 specimens of the predatory leech Helobdella stagnalis were collected from Sarchnar Stream, in Sulaimaniyah City along year of 2022 from January to the end of December. The seasonal distribution and occurrence, time of egg laying and hatching in relation with some physico-chemical factors were studied, including air and water temperatures, dissolved oxygen, pH, FCO2, HCO3-, Cl-, Ca+2 and Mg+. The temperature and dissolved oxygen were the most effective factors on leech's population density as well as time of egg lying and juvenile hatching. The highest density was in Autumn, while the lowest was recorded during Summer. Cocoons were seen to laid in late winter and maximum juvenile numbers were recorded during Spring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glossiphoniid leech, Helobdella austinensis, is an experimentally tractable member of the superphylum, Lophotrochozoa. Its large embryonic cells, stereotyped asymmetric cell divisions and ex vivo development capabilities makes it a favorable model for studying the molecular and cellular events of a representative spiralian. In this study, we focused on a narrow developmental time window of ~6–8 h, comprising stages just prior to and immediately following zygote deposition. Employing RNA-Seq methodology, we identified differentially expressed transcripts at this fundamental ontogenic boundary, known as the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). Gene expression changes were characterized by the massive degradation of maternal RNAs (~45%) coupled with the rapid transcription of ~5000 zygotic genes (~20% of the genome) in the first mitotic cell cycle. The latter transcripts encoded a mixture of cell maintenance and regulatory proteins that predictably influence downstream developmental events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a compilation of scientific articles and studies on the presence of leeches associated with Andean water frogs in southern Peru. The articles discuss the decline of amphibian populations globally and the role of infectious diseases caused by microorganisms. The studies focus on two species of leeches, Helobdella sp. and Maiabdella batracophila, that were observed attached to the skin of Telmatobius frogs. The document also highlights the need for further research to understand the impact of leeches on frog populations in the high Andes and emphasizes the importance of studying these interactions for conservation efforts. [Extracted from the article]

A class of Möbius monoids leads us to Möbius categories of Q 3 -type via a particular breaking process, where Q 3 is a quiver with three arrows (atoms). In this paper we show that a quasi-commutativity regarding composable atoms uniquely determines (via a certain local congruence) a half-factorial broken Möbius category of Q 3 -type as a quotient category of the path category of Q 3 . Some examples shed light on the development of the topic under discussion. On the other hand, the Möbius breaking process can be extended for inverse semigroups as well. The Leech inverse semigroups of the two broken Möbius categories (the path category of Q 3 and its quotient category) are split inverse semigroups in the sense that both are unions of two proper inverse subsemigroups, that is, both are with covering numbers 2. The connections on the two planes (broken Möbius categories and split inverse semigroups) are made on one hand by a local congruence ϱ + of the path category of Q 3 , and on the other hand by a normal inverse subsemigroup G + namely a gauge inverse subsemigroup. This gauge inverse semigroup is a full inverse subsemigroup of the almost Cartesian product B × 0 B N of the bicyciclic semigroup B and the Brandt semigroup B N . Special properties of this almost Cartesian product are examined by comparison with the well known polycyclic monoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being a non-hematophagous leech, Whitmania pigra is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of antithrombotic diseases. In this study, we provide a high quality genome of W. pigra and based on which, we performed a systematic identification of the potential antithrombotic genes and their corresponding proteins. We identified twenty antithrombotic gene families including thirteen coagulation inhibitors, three platelet aggregation inhibitors, three fibrinolysis enhancers, and one tissue penetration enhancer. Unexpectedly, a total of 79 antithrombotic genes were identified, more than a typical blood-feeding Hirudinaria manillensis, which had only 72 antithrombotic genes. In addition, combining with the RNA-seq data of W. pigra and H. manillensis, we calculated the expression levels of antithrombotic genes of the two species. Five and four gene families had significantly higher and lower expression levels in W. pigra than in H. manillensis, respectively. These results showed that the number and expression level of antithrombotic genes of a non-hematophagous leech are not always less than those of a hematophagous leech. Our study provides the most comprehensive collection of antithrombotic biomacromolecules from a non-hematophagous leech to date and will significantly enhance the investigation and utilization of leech derivatives in thrombosis therapy research and pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The freshwater flat leech Helobdella europaea Kutschera, 1987 is a small annelid indigenous to South America. This invasive species feeds on the haemolymph of host aquatic invertebrates, with occurrences reported from Europe, USA, Taiwan, North Africa, Hawai'i, Australia and New Zealand. A large number of individuals were discovered in the Ba River catchment, Fiji, during a 2015–2020 freshwater biodiversity survey, raising concerns of potential impacts on endemic Fijian aquatic invertebrate fauna and ecosystem integrity. Aims: To facilitate assessments of its spread and ethology, this study employed morphological and phylogenetic analyses for verification of taxonomic identity. Methods: Phylogenetic trees were constructed using a 658 bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA cox1 (COI) gene. The first complete mitochondrial genome sequence of H. europaea was also determined using selective multiple displacement amplification and Oxford Nanopore Technology to provide a reference for future comparative analyses and source tracking of spread to other regions. Key results: Morphological and COI analyses identified all Fijian leech specimens collected (n = 16) as H. europaea , reporting the first occurrence of this species on a south-west Pacific Island. The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced. Conclusions: Confirmation of its presence in Fiji is a national biosecurity concern and will guide the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and national agencies in further ecosystem assessment and response strategies. Implications: With the complete mitochondrial genome of H. europaea now available, transmission pathway traceability is possible in other regions where this species may be detected. The freshwater leech Helobdella europaea is a globally invasive species which preys on freshwater invertebrates and is now confirmed present in Fiji. We provide and describe a new genetic resource (complete mitochondrial genome sequence) for tracking its spread to other regions. These findings will inform appropriate biosecurity assessments and responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—are situated on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea between Russia and the Scandinavian countries. This region is characterized by diverse landscapes and numerous bodies of water, including lakes, peat bogs, and marshes, which serve as natural habitats for aquatic invertebrates, including leeches. Despite the rare and uncertain taxonomic status of leech species in the area, research in the Baltic region has been inadequate. Therefore, this study aims to examine the composition of leech species in the Baltic countries, drawing on both past and current research. The study also seeks to assess the status of Hirudo medicinalis in the Baltic region and discuss the rare, questionable, and potentially present leech species in the Baltic states. A scoping review method was employed, surveying published references, books, and databases. In total, the study found records of 21 leech species in Estonia, 15 in Latvia, and 26 in Lithuania, belonging to the families Glossiphoniidae, Erpobdellidae, Hirudinidae, Haemopidae, and Piscicolidae. Hirudo medicinalis L. is distributed throughout all Baltic countries, but the most recent records on their location are only available for Estonia. The data on a few Piscicolidae species is questionable and requires verification, but further research on Piscicolid leeches can potentially lead to the discovery of rare species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An antilattice is an algebraic structure based on the same set of axioms as a lattice except that the two commutativity axioms for ∧ and ∨ are replaced by anticommutative counterparts. In this paper, we study certain classes of antilattices, including elementary (no nontrivial subantilattices), odd (no subantilattices of order 2), simple (no nontrivial congruences) and irreducible (not expressible as a direct product). In the finite case, odd antilattices are the same as Leech's Latin antilattices which arise from the construction of semimagic squares from pairs of orthogonal Latin squares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although most members of the freshwater leech family Glossiphoniidae have mid-body somites divided into three annuli, the genus Torix Blanchard, 1893 is distinguished by two-annuli somites. Torix has high species richness in Far East Asia, and three nominal species have been recognised in the Japanese Archipelago and adjacent regions that can be distinguished by a combination of both internal and external morphological characteristics. However, recent studies have shown that these diagnostic features are ontogenetically variable and this has resulted in taxonomic confusion among Torix species endemic to the Japanese Archipelago. In this study, we revisit the taxonomic accounts of T. orientalis (Oka, 1925) and T. tagoi (Oka, 1925), in addition to that of the recently redescribed T. tukubana (Oka, 1935) to clarify the diagnostic characteristics for each of the three species. Our morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the three Torix species in Japan are indistinguishable. We therefore conclude that these species should be synonymised and treated as a single species. The specific names orientalis and tagoi were simultaneously established under the genus Oligobdella Moore, 1918, therefore we acted as First Reviser and gave precedence to the name O. tagoi, thus the valid name for the Far East Asian Torix species is T. tagoi unless T. orientalis and T. tagoi are treated as distinct species. There are several type localities for T. tagoi and the name-bearing types have been lost, therefore we designate a neotype for this species to obviate zoological and nomenclatural issues. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E2DBF999-3B51-456F-AB04-A7D138E0AF2D [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leeches feeding on invertebrates are an important component of freshwater communities, including those dominated by fish, but the effects of fish on their abundance and distribution are not well explored. The relative densities and assemblage structure of two leech families, Erpobdellidae and Glossiphoniidae, were studied from May to August 2014 in ponds stocked with low biomass densities of young common carp Cyprinus carpio, too small to prey on leeches (low-fish ponds), and in ponds containing high biomass densities of large (one- or two-year-old) carp (high-fish ponds), using two types of activity traps (placed either on the bottom or near the water surface). The most common and numerous species were Erpobdella octoculata, Helobdella stagnalis, and Erpobdella nigricollis. The traps near the water surface captured relatively small numbers of leeches, yet the catches showed that in summer some of the leeches moved to the upper layers of the water column, which was free of macrophytes. No differences in leech species richness or diversity were found with respect to fish status of ponds; however, bottom erpobdellids were more abundant in high-fish ponds. Redundancy analysis identified the fish status of the ponds and total nitrogen concentration in water as the only significant variables explaining the distribution of leeches among ponds. Species distribution was nested, but the nestedness pattern was not affected by the fish status of the pond. While fish are generally believed to adversely affect macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance, our study shows that some predatory leech species can persist in the presence of fish and possibly indirectly benefit from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bipolar distribution of fish leeches (Piscicolidae) has been considered and discussed by leech biologists for a long time. All cases of putative bipolar ranges of related taxa that occur in cold and temperate waters of both hemispheres and are absent in the tropics have been morphology-based hypotheses. Here, we present, for the first time, an instance of bipolar distribution substantiated by morphological and molecular data. The latter include the mitochondrial genes 12S rRNA, COI, ND1 and tRNA Leu, and the nuclear 28S rRNA. A new genus and species of Antarctic piscicolids, Austroplatybdellina prodiga, is described. The new leech was part of a Boreal-Arctic monophyletic group that is informally called 'classic platybdellins'. That clade is the core of the non-monophyletic subfamily Platybdellinae. Austroplatybdellina prodiga gen. nov. sp. nov. was further classified as a member of a monophyletic group along with two Boreal genera, Crangonobdella and Beringobdella, which share a number of systematically important morphological features with its newly described relative. It is hypothesized that the Boreal ancestor of the new leech crossed warm tropical waters and colonized the Antarctic. The colonization was relatively recent as the low genetic distance between A. prodiga and its Boreal sister species suggests. This migration can be viewed as a return of a Boreal descendant of the Antarctic ancestor of Piscicolidae to the area of origin of the entire family, which follows from the basal position of the Antarctic Megaliobdella szidati in the family phylogenetic tree. This evolutionary scenario is reflected in the species epithet of the new leech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leeches are an integral component of aquatic biocenosis and can be found in a wide range of ecosystems such as freshwater, saltwater, flowing, and still-water ecosystems. It especially plays an important role in the freshwater benthic community and is an important part of the food web. In this study, a leech species was found in the mantle cavity of wild freshwater mussels in Zigong City, Sichuan Province, China, and its identity was determined through morphological analysis and molecular biological analysis. Results: The leech is Hemiclepsis khankiana, a new species of Hemiclepsis that has been discovered in Russia in recent years. Through morphological analysis, the current survey observed that the morphological characteristics of Hemiclepsis khankiana eyespots were significantly different from the first reported description. The first pair of eyespots on the leech were separated and clear, while it had been reduced to unclear shadows in the previous report. The phylogenetic tree based on the COI gene showed that the COI gene sequence obtained in this study was in the same evolutionary branch as Hemiclepsis khankiana (MN295420, MN295421). Genetically, it was most closely related to Hemiclepsis kasmiana (mean COI p-distance = 3.98%). Conclusions: The current study reported on the new distribution range of Hemiclepsis khankiana, which was initially discovered in China. This study indicates that the distribution range of the leech species has expanded, laying a foundation for further studies in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated an interaction between bitterlings and a parasitic leech Hemiclepsis kasmiana in freshwater mussel hosts. We found that leeches fed on bitterling eggs and embryos; this may exert a considerable negative effect on bitterling fitness. Host choices by females of three bitterling species may be differently affected by the presence of leeches within mussels; Tanakia limbata apparently avoided laying eggs in infested mussels while T. lanceolata and Acheilognathus rhombeus did not. Our novel findings suggest that relationships between the parasitic leech and the host mussel may be context dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the spatial conformation and activity of mitochondria in the developing syncytial male germline cysts during spermatogenesis of the medicinal leeches using light, fluorescent, transmission electron microscopy, and serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. In cysts with spermatogonia and spermatocytes, mitochondria form networks and are in a dynamic hyperfusion state, while in cysts with spermatids, a single huge mitochondrion is observed. As spermiogenesis progresses, this huge mitochondrion is finally located in the future midpiece. The highest activity, in terms of membrane potential, of the mitochondria in H. medicinalis germline cysts was observed in cysts with spermatocytes; the lowest was in cysts with late elongated spermatids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leeches are well-known annelids due to their obligate blood-feeding habits. Some leech species secrete various biologically active substances which have important medical and pharmaceutical value in antithrombotic treatments. In this study, we provided a high-quality genome of the Asian buffalo leech (Hirudinaria manillensis), based on which we performed a systematic identification of potential antithrombotic genes and their corresponding proteins. Combining automatic and manual prediction, we identified 21 antithrombotic gene families including fourteen coagulation inhibitors, three platelet aggregation inhibitors, three fibrinolysis enhancers, and one tissue penetration enhancer. A total of 72 antithrombotic genes, including two pseudogenes, were identified, including most of their corresponding proteins forming three or more disulfide bonds. Three protein families (LDTI, antistasin, and granulin) had internal tandem repeats containing 6, 10, and 12 conserved cysteines, respectively. We also measured the anticoagulant activities of the five identified hirudins (hirudin_Hman1 ~ hirudin_Hman5). The results showed that three (hirudin_Hman1, hirudin_Hman2, and hirudin_Hman5), but not the remaining two, exhibited anticoagulant activities. Our study provides the most comprehensive collection of antithrombotic biomacromolecules from a leech to date. These results will greatly facilitate the research and application of leech derivatives for medical and pharmaceutical purposes in the treatment of thrombotic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protocols for hirudiculture have not been fully established; many issues need to be investigated. The present study aimed to determine the effects of the cocoon incubation angle (CIA) on hatching success in hirudiculture, using leech species of Hirudo verbana. Cocoons were individually incubated in jars at three different angles, horizontally (0°), angled (45°), and vertically (90°) for one month. The rot in cocoons, which was 17.5% in cocoons incubated horizontally, decreased gradually as the CIA increased, was 2.5% in cocoons incubated vertically. The average number of offspring obtained from cocoons increased as the CIA increased. The optimum CIA was determined to be 78.73° and 60.63° for the lowest rot in cocoons and the highest number of offspring, respectively. The present study revealed that although not statistically significant the CIA is a variable affecting the hatching success of medicinal leeches during the incubation period. This result is thought to be because the air ventilation inside the cocoons is more efficient in cocoons positioned at an angle or in a vertical position compared to cocoons incubated in a horizontal position. For profitable hirudiculture, we recommend that cocoons be positioned at an angle close to vertically, more than 60° during incubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myxobdella sinanensis Oka, 1925 (Arhynchobdellida, Praobdellidae) is endemic to Japan, and was recently observed attaching to the freshwater Japanese crab, Geothelphusa dehaani White, 1847 (Decapoda, Potamidae), revealing that M. sinanensis is a facultative parasite of G. dehaani. Although they both inhabit headwater streams in Japan, their interactions and behavioral responses have not been investigated before. We hypothesized that G. dehaani reacts to M. sinanensis through (1) chemical cues, and (2) visual cues or physical contact in addition to the chemical cues. Two experiments were conducted in a container in which G. dehaani could hide under a rock on the bottom covered with sediment. The duration of activity outside the rock and distance moved before and after introducing rearing water of M. sinanensis, or live M. sinanensis, was measured. No statistical difference was observed in movement distance, behavior, and time outside the rock in G. dehaani, indicating limited sensitivity to chemical cues. G. dehaani remained beneath the rock for a statistically shorter period after M. sinanensis was introduced into the container, indicating its dependence on visual and/or physical cues. It showed altered behavior by remaining stationary and escaping, confirming importance of visual and contact stimuli to escape the ectoparasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strict blood-feeding animals are confronted with a strong B-vitamin deficiency. Blood-feeding leeches from the Glossiphoniidae family, similarly to hematophagous insects, have evolved specialized organs called bacteriomes to harbor symbiotic bacteria. Leeches of the Haementeria genus have two pairs of globular bacteriomes attached to the esophagus which house intracellular " Candidatus Providencia siddallii" bacteria. Previous work analyzing a draft genome of the Providencia symbiont of the Mexican leech Haementeria officinalis showed that, in this species, the bacteria hold a reduced genome capable of synthesizing B vitamins. In this work, we aimed to expand our knowledge on the diversity and evolution of Providencia symbionts of Haementeria. For this purpose, we sequenced the symbiont genomes of three selected leech species. We found that all genomes are highly syntenic and have kept a stable genetic repertoire, mirroring ancient insect endosymbionts. Additionally, we found B-vitamin pathways to be conserved among these symbionts, pointing to a conserved symbiotic role. Lastly and most notably, we found that the symbiont of H. acuecueyetzin has evolved an alternative genetic code, affecting a portion of its proteome and showing evidence of a lineage-specific and likely intermediate stage of genetic code reassignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two balls with similar diameters (approximately 11–12cm) were found on the bottom of Lake Białe (Kashubian Lake District) at depths of 4m and 7m. The structures were made of tightly-packed plant remains represented mainly by decaying leaves of Larix sp. The balls were colonised by invertebrates (Tubificinae, Hirudinea, Isopoda, and insect larvae). They also contained pollutants, namely microplastics in blue, white, red, and black colours with a length from 500 to 1000 μm. Four other balls had been earlier reported by another diver in the same lake. According to a report of the local press, similar balls have also been found in Lake Bobęcińskie (Bytowskie Lake District). This article aims to record the first appearance of larch balls in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation based on the morphometric and morphologic characterization of five leech specimens were collected from the water spots and springs of Hazar-Merd Caves serious near the Hazar-Merd Village during May-June of 2022. The examinations of these annelid worms (morphological and anatomical) ensured evident for the first appearance of an erpobdelloid cave leech Erpobdella borisi and adding this species to Iraqi fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notwithstanding the genus Italobdella has been hypothesized to have doubtful taxonomic value, we decided to update its diagnosis by describing the new species – Italobdella bieleckii sp. n. The leeches were collected from the stony bottom along the shore of the Danube River in Slovakia. In the study, we implemented the model of leech body form and the set of external and internal morphological characters to present the similarity of the new species to the other fish leeches. As a result, we were able to construct the key for determining leeches belonging to the genus Italobdella hoping that the species could be found and determined by other researchers. This would enrich our knowledge about the actual distribution of these leeches and strengthen their systematic position in the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To identify the species of Hirudo from different sources. [Methods] In accordance with morphological, anatomical and molecular taxonomic characteristics, the identification conclusion was drawn. [Results] The living samples of Hirudo belong to 1 order, 2 families, 3 genera and 5 species, and the dry samples of medicinal leeches belong to 4 species. [Conclusions] The sources of medicinal leeches are complex, and there is a problem that Hirudo from different basic sources are mixed for medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the histopathological changes and some parameters of oxidative stress in the testes of the freshwater leech Limnatis nilotica, following their exposure to 50 µg l−1 of cadmium (Cd). The protective effects of salicylic acid (SA) in mitigating Cd-induced oxidative and histopathological injury were also investigated. We found that Cd exposure caused several histopathological changes in leech testes, such as vacuolisation of spermatogenic cysts which were strongly destroyed and disorganised. Biochemical study showed oxidative stress damage marked by a substantial increase in malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxidase levels as well as disturbance in the activity of the leech antioxidant system. Interestingly, the testes from the Cd and SA leech-exposed group exhibited increased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant mechanism defenses, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, oxidized glutathione, thiols, and ascorbic acid, in comparison with the testes of leeches exposed to Cd alone. Thus, SA supplementation considerably attenuated the histopathological lesions induced by Cd exposure, thereby restoring the normal appearance of the testes. In summary, the findings of this study indicate that SA treatment ameliorated the testicular histopathological and oxidative stress-induced damages caused by exposure to Cd through enhancing the antioxidant defense system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unusual worm, previously interpreted as the earliest leech, is described from the early Silurian (Llandovery, Telychian) Brandon Bridge Formation Lagerstätte (Waukesha Biota) of Wisconsin (~437 Ma). Lacking preserved internal organs, it is up to ~16 cm long, 8.2 mm wide, with ~250 annulations and a circular structure at one end, interpreted here as the broken end of a molt. It is therefore referred to Cycloneuralia incertae sedis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human beings utilize varied linguistic politeness to facilitate interaction and minimize the potential for conflict. With the advancement of the Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) and the introduction of new social networks, studying how politeness operates within human communication opened up new avenues for research, particularly within diverse cultures. For this reason, the current study sought to report on the "whats" and "hows" of politeness strategies identified in Telegram messages delivered by EFL Learners in Iran. Data were analyzed based on Leech's (Leech, Geoffrey. 2007. Politeness: Is there an East-West divide? Journal of Politeness Research 3(2). 167–206) Grand Strategy of Politeness, considering the purpose of communication, politeness strategies, and context. The corpus for this study encompassed 1,413 text messages sent via Telegram by 9 EFL learners during one year. Findings indicated a number of different politeness strategies in Iranian culture, specifically the modesty constraint – the speaker maximizes dispraise of himself – which can be construed as one of the unique features and influences of Islamic teachings. Moreover, the Leech's model might appropriately describe politeness principles in Asian contexts, including Iran, and how cultural dynamics manifest themselves in interpreting the concept of politeness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify occupational hazards and hazard control strategies adopted by inland fishers of Odisha state in India. Methods: Information on occupational hazards faced by fishers was collected by personal interviews with 90 riverine and reservoir fishers of Odisha. Through qualitative discussions with key informants and review of literature, a list of occupational hazards were prepared and classified into physical, ergonomics, psychosocial, and natural. Responses were quantified, and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Occupational hazards faced by fishers were physical (94%), ergonomic (75%), psychosocial (50%), and natural (34%) in nature. Physical hazards include sharp fishing instruments, uneven surfaces, high temperatures, and wet/slippery areas on the vessel along with the presence of snake/leech/crocodile/fish fin rays. About 97% of reservoir and 90% of the riverine fishers reported physical hazards leading to cuts, fractures, dehydration, headache, sunburn, snakebite, leech bite, crocodile bite, and injuries due to fish fin rays. Heavy nature of work and force exerting activities caused pain in the upper back (50%), shoulders (45%), and lower back (41%). Regarding psychosocial hazard, stress (31%), and anxiety (23%) was reported. Common reasons for this were uncertainty in fish catch and extended working hours, causing tiredness, headache, dizziness, and fatigue. Natural hazards like cyclones, floods, and excessive rain caused financial loss and damage to fishing nets and boats. Regarding personal protective equipment (PPE), floating buoys were used by 26% of riverine and 43% of reservoir fishers to avoid drowning. Conclusion: Occupational hazards in the inland fishing sector were identified as physical, ergonomic, psychosocial, and natural. No particular hazard control strategy was reported to be used. Integrating the occupational safety measures in the fisheries policies is thus needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When Poecilobdella manillensis attacks its prey, the prey bleeds profusely but feels little pain. We and other research teams have identified several anticoagulant molecules in the saliva of P. manillensis, but the substance that produces the paralyzing effect in P. manillensis is not known. In this study, we successfully isolated, purified, and identified a serine protease inhibitor containing an antistasin-like domain from the salivary secretions of P. manillensis. This peptide (named poeciguamerin) significantly inhibited elastase activity and slightly inhibited FXIIa and kallikrein activity, but had no effect on FXa, trypsin, or thrombin activity. Furthermore, poeciguamerin exhibited analgesic activity in the foot-licking and tail-withdrawal mouse models and anticoagulant activity in the FeCl3-induced carotid artery thrombosis mouse model. In this study, poeciguamerin was found to be a promising elastase inhibitor with potent analgesic and antithrombotic activity for the inhibition of pain and thrombosis after surgery or in inflammatory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determine the Hirudinea fauna to Lake Karagöl (Sındırgı-Balıkesir, Türkiye) and Lake Gölcük (Bigadiç-Balıkesir, Türkiye), which has not been found in any limnological studies before. It was determined the species of Placobdella costata, Helobdella stagnalis, Hirudo verbana, Haemopis sanguisuga and Dina punctata in Lake Karagöl and P. costata, Glossiphonia concolor, Dina lineata and D. punctata in Lake Gölcük. According to the findings of the present study Dina punctata was reported for the first time in the Turkish Hirudinea fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal-derived drugs are an indispensable part of folk medicine worldwide. However, their chemical constituents are poorly approached, which leads to the low level of the quality standard system of animal-derived drugs and further causes a chaotic market. Natural peptides are ubiquitous throughout the organism, especially in animal-derived drugs. Thus, in this study, we used multi-source leeches, including Hirudo nipponica (HN), Whitmania pigra (WP), Whitmania acranulata (WA), and Poecilobdella manillensis (PM), as a model. A strategy integrating proteogenomics and novel pseudotargeted peptidomics was developed to characterize the natural peptide phenotype and screen for signature peptides of four leech species. First, natural peptides were sequenced against an in-house annotated protein database of closely related species constructed from RNA-seq data from the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) website, which is an open-sourced public archive resource. Second, a novel pseudotargeted peptidomics integrating peptide ion pair extraction and retention time transfer was established to achieve high coverage and quantitative accuracy of the natural peptides and to screen for signature peptides for species authentication. In all, 2323 natural peptides were identified from four leech species whose databases were poorly annotated. The strategy was shown to significantly improve peptide identification. In addition, 36 of 167 differential peptides screened by pseudotargeted proteomics were identified, and about one-third of them came from the leucine-rich repeat domain (LRR) proteins, which are widely distributed in organisms. Furthermore, six signature peptides were screened with good specificity and stability, and four of them were validated by synthetic standards. Finally, a dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (dMRM) method based on these signature peptides was established and revealed that one-half of the commercial samples and all of the Tongxinluo capsules were derived from WP. All in all, the strategy developed in this study was effective for natural peptide characterization and signature peptide screening, which could also be applied to other animal-derived drugs, especially for modelless species that are less studied in protein database annotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]