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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: While leeches as intranasal foreign bodies are not frequently encountered, they can be one of the causes of epistaxis. The aim of the study is to raise awareness among healthcare professionals about the possibility of patients from leech endemic regions presenting with epistaxis. Case presentation: We present a series of epistaxis cases due to intranasal leech infestation. In our series of 10 cases, there were 7 male and 3 female patients, aged between 2 and 53 years old. The duration of the complaint ranged from 1 to 5 weeks. All patients experienced with blood-stain nasal discharge or frank nasal bleeding at some point and most of them have a history of leech infestation from spring water as a local source. This article presents our approach to managing nasal leech infestation as epistaxis and outlines the precautionary measures taken for the retrieval of this living foreign body. Conclusion: Details of the history must be taken before concluding the diagnosis. Maintain a high index of suspicion of leech infestation as a hidden cause of epistaxis especially in patients coming from endemic areas. [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]

Vivid imagery and intricate tapestry of linguistic features are essential to grasp literary significance and appreciation in Dylan Thomas' poems. This study focuses on one of his most significant poems, Before I Knocked for an in-depth investigation. The study is significant in because combining both the theory of foregrounding and the checklist is unique in this type of study. Therefore, the study aims to analyze Thomas' selected poem and demonstrate how and why various linguistic elements are systematically utilized to create value and quality in the poem. Concerning this, the study utilises qualitative descriptive analysis relying on stylistic analysis within which the theory of foregrounding supplemented by Leech and Short's checklist, is applied. Ultimately, the study finds that Thomas has employed linguistic features and foregrounding aspects systematically and coherently to carry meaning and theme and relate the form and the content of his work. The study also recommends integrating linguistic features in literary stylistic analysis is essential for learners and pedagogical purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on analyzing face attacks in the conflict discourse of cross-linguistic online chats on the instant message application WeChat among a group of international students at a prestigious university in China. Drawing on the previous impoliteness theory of Leech and Culpeper, this article selectively combines these two theories and proposes that in face-attack studies, especially with respect to online discourses, impolite multimodal discourse should be considered and subsumed in the theoretical framework. It is found that a wide array of face attacks in conflict discourse manifest themselves both in verbal discourse as well as in multimodal counterparts. The present study might shed light on online impoliteness research that is beyond monolingual and single-mode contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dal Lake supports a diverse group of fauna, including fishes, aquatic birds, zooplankton, and macrobenthic invertebrates. This study is the first taxonomic documentation of the leech fauna of Dal Lake. A total of nine leech taxa belonging to four families were identified and described: Glossiphoniidae - Alboglossiphonia weberi, A. heteroclita, Glossiphonia complanata, Helobdella stagnalis, Hemiclepsis marginata asiatica, and Theromyzon sp.; Erpobdellidae - Erpobdella octoculata; Hirudinidae - Poecilobdella granulosa; and Haemopidae - Haemopis indicus. Leeches play key roles in prey-predator dynamics and host-parasite relationships in freshwater ecosystems and as bioindicators of water pollution. This study provides essential data for taxonomic accounts and the diversity of leech fauna in Dal Lake. [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]

Background: In general practice, venous ulcers (stasis ulcers) are the most common and recurrent leg ulcers. Ignorance of it can have a severe detrimental effect on one's quality of life, cause gangrene, and even the limb amputation. Venous ulcers are the most dangerous and disabling side effect of chronic venous insufficiency. Leech therapy seems to be effective for the treatment of varicose ulcers due to its salivary secretions which it injects during bloodsucking. The saliva of leeches contains certain biochemical with vaso-dilating, anticoagulant, anesthetic, thrombolytic, antibiotic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, Irsal-e-Alaq (Hirudotherapy), one of the Unani regimens, can effectively control it. Objective: The purpose of this case report is to provide insight into the effects of Irsal-e-Alaq (Hirudotherapy) on venous ulcers. Intervention: A 60-year-old male has a complaintof ulceration in his left lower leg near the medial malleolus with swelling, pain, discharge, and darkening of the skin of the left lower limb. Four leeches were applied once every week for 2 months. Efficacy of leech therapy was assessed on every 15th day by pain /leg discomfort on 4 point scale ranging from 0-3, limb girth at calf, ankle & foot, pigmentation color on 4 point scale, pigmentation area, pain in ulcer on 4 point scale from 0-3, ulcer depth, PUSH Score. Hb% was assessed every 15th day to check anemia, colour flow Doppler was done to assess any change in vein anatomy. Result: In this case report, the ulcers were completely healed, and also showed remarkable improvement in other variables. Conclusion: Irsal-e-Alaq has been proven beneficial in treating venous ulcers and enhancing patient’s quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are three therapeutic modalities in the Unani medical system: Ilaj bit Tadbeer (Regimenal Therapy), Ilaj bid Dawa (pharmacotherapy), and Ilaj bil Yad (surgery). Ilaj bit Tadbeer includes several regimenal therapies such as Hijāma (Cupping Therapy), Ta'līq or Irsal-e-'Alaq (Leech Therapy), Fasd (Venesection), Dalk (Massage), Nutūl (Therapeutic Irrigation), Qai (Emesis), Idrār-i-Bawl (Diuresis), Tariq (Diaphoresis), Mundij wa Mu'shil therapy (Concoction and purgation), Bukhoor (Medicated Steam), Kaiyy (Cauterization), Huqna (Enema) etc. Since ancient times, these therapies have been widely used for their preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative effects. One of the most significant regimenal therapies, Irsal-e-Alaq (Leech therapy), is still in use. Renowned Unani physicians Razi, Majoosi, Zahrawi, and Ibne Sina have discussed and recommended the use of non-poisonous (or medicinal) leeches in the prevention and treatment of a variety of illnesses, including joint disorders, chronic non-healing ulcers, and numerous skin disorders like eczema, p [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]

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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: Barbronia, a genus of freshwater macrophagous leeches, belongs to Erpobdelliformes (Salifidae: Clitellata: Annelida), and B. weberi, a well-known leech within this genus, has a worldwide distribution. However, the systematics of Barbronia have not yet been adequately investigated, primarily due to a few molecular markers, and only 20 Barbronia sequences available in the GenBank database. This gap significantly limits our understanding of the Barbronia species identification, as well as the phylogenetic placement of the genus Barbronia within Salifidae. Methods: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to simultaneously capture the entire mitochondrial genome and the full-length 18S/28S rDNA sequences. The species boundary of Barbronia species was estimated using bGMYC and bPTP methods, based on all available Barbronia COI sequences. Uncorrected COI p-distance was calculated in MEGA. A molecular data matrix consisting of four loci (COI, 12S, 18S, and 28S rDNA) for outgroups (three Haemopis leeches) and 49 erpobdellid leeches, representing eight genera within the Suborder Erpobdelliformes was aligned using MAFFT and LocARNA. This matrix was used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of Barbronia via Bayesian inference (BI) and the maximum likelihood (ML) method. Results: The full lengths of the mitochondrial genome, 18S and 28S rDNAs of B. cf. gwalagwalensis, are 14847 bp, 1876 bp 1876 bp, and 2863 bp, respectively. Both bGMYC and bPTP results based on COI data are generally congruent, suggesting that the previously proposed taxa (B. arcana, B. weberi formosana, and B. wuttkei or Erpobdella wuttkei) are synonyms of B. weberi. The specimens listed in the B. gwalagwalensis group, however, are split into at least two Primary Species Hypotheses (PSHs). The p-distance of the first PSH is less than 1.3% but increased to 4.5% when including the secondary PSH (i.e., B. cf. gwalagwalensis). In comparison, the interspecific p-distance between the B. weberi group and the B. gwalagwalensis group ranged from 6.4% to 8.7%, and the intraspecific p-distance within the B. weberi group is less than 0.8%. Considering the species delimitation results and the sufficient large p-distance, the specimen sampled in China is treated as B. cf. gwalagwalensis. The monophyly of the four Erpobdelliformes families Salifidae, Orobdellidae, Gastrostomobdellidae sensu stricto and Erpobdellidae is well supported in ML and BI analysis based on a data of four markers. Within the Salifidae, a well-supported Barbronia is closely related to a clade containing Odontobdella and Mimobdella, and these three genera are sister to a clade consisted of Salifa and Linta. According to the results of this study, the strategy of simultaneous obtaining both whole mitochondria and nuclear markers from extensively sampled Salifids species using NGS is expected to fathom both the species diversity of B. gwalagwalensis and the evolutionary relationship of Salifidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake Baikal is one of the largest and oldest freshwater reservoirs on the planet with a huge endemic diversity of amphipods (Amphipoda, Crustacea). These crustaceans have various symbiotic relationships, including the rarely described phenomenon of leech parasitism on amphipods. It is known that leeches feeding on hemolymph of crustacean hosts can influence their physiology, especially under stressful conditions. Here we show that leeches Baicalobdella torquata (Grube, 1871) found on gills of Eulimnogammarus verrucosus (Gerstfeldt, 1858), one of the most abundant amphipods in the Baikal littoral zone, indeed feed on the hemolymph of their host. However, the leech infection had no effect on immune parameters such as hemocyte concentration or phenoloxidase activity and also did not affect glycogen content. The intensity of hemocyte reaction to foreign bodies in a primary culture was identical between leech-free and leech-infected animals. Artificial infection with leeches also had only a subtle effect on the course of a model microbial infection in terms of hemocyte concentration and composition. Despite we cannot fully exclude deleterious effects of the parasites, our study indicates a low influence of a few leeches on E. verrucosus and shows that leech-infected amphipods can be used at least for some types of ecophysiological experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leech specimens of the genus Pontobdella (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) were found off the coast of the state of Oaxaca (Pacific) as well as in Veracruz and Tabasco (Gulf of Mexico), Mexico. Based on the specimens collected in Oaxaca, a redescription of Pontobdella californiana is provided, with emphasis on the differences in the reproductive organs with the original description of the species. In addition, leech cocoons assigned to P. californiana were found attached to items hauled by gillnets and studied using scanning electron microscopy and molecular approaches. Samples of Pontobdella macrothela were found in both Pacific and Atlantic oceans, representing new geographic records. The phylogenetic position of P. californiana is investigated for the first time, and with the addition of Mexican samples of both species, the phylogenetic relationships within Pontobdella are reinvestigated. Parsimony and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis were based on mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit I [COI] and 12S rRNA) and nuclear (18S rRNA and 28S rRNA) DNA sequences. Based on our results, we confirm the monophyly of Pontobdella and the pantropical distribution of P. macrothela with a new record in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. [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]

The traditional taxonomy of freshwater invertebrates is a labor-intensive process requiring extensive knowledge and experience. In addition, this science is largely subjective, which makes its digitalization difficult. However, accurate species attribution is becoming increasingly important for environmental surveys and conservation efforts. In the 21st century, molecular biology methods have proven to be a successful tool for objectively determining biodiversity. Achieving objectivity in identifying the taxa of non-parasitic leeches of the family Erpobdellidae was the main goal of this study. To this end, various bioinformatic approaches to DNA sequence analysis have been tested. As a result, the phylogenetic diversity amounted to 47 species versus 29 morphospecies defined traditionally. The use of molecular species delimitation methods made it possible to identify seven complexes of morphologically hidden (cryptic) species and some morphological misidentifications, as well as to discover a new species from Eastern Siberia (Erpobdella sibirica) with a unique molecular diagnosis (DNA barcode). A pioneering attempt to apply the same approach to higher taxa showed that Erpobdellidae probably consists of seven genera, including the unambiguous elimination of the genus Motobdella. Obtaining quantitative and, therefore, objective data is an advantage of the molecular approach, which has proven to be effective in recognizing species and genera, at least in leeches. [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]

Biomonitoring is an approach that uses indicators or sentinel species to assess the health or pollution of an environment, combining diversity based on specific taxonomic groups with the taxa's indicator of pollution into a single index or score. Benthic macroinvertebrates are among the most preferred and valuable indicators of the biotic index. Our study aims to evaluate water quality and ecological status using biotic and diversity indices based on benthic macroinvertebrates. The macroinvertebrate samples used in this study were collected seasonally from 16 stations determined in Karasu Stream. These samples consist of 14,747 specimens belonging to 9 orders and 40 families of Insecta, Malacostraca, Hirudinea and Oligochaeta. In addition, some physicochemical parameters were measured at the stations. The data obtained were analysed using the Turkey‐Biological Monitoring Working Group (TR‐BMWP), Average Score per Taxon (ASPT), Family Biotic Index (FBI), Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxon richness index, and Shannon–Wiener, Simpson and Hill's diversity indices. Our results showed that the last six stations of Karasu Stream were under pressure due to various anthropogenic effects. According to biotic indexes, the ecological quality status of the water in the stations was determined to be high or good in the first 10 stations and average, poor or bad in the last 6 stations. The results of our study showed that TR‐BMWP, FBI and EPT indices are more reliable in determining water quality than the ASPT index and reflect the environmental situation better. Since the TR‐BMWP index is adapted to macroinvertebrate taxa distributed in Türkiye, it can be used as a suitable tool for evaluating other rivers' water quality in Türkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mixed‐breed mesocephalic male dog, weighing 25 kg, was presented with a medical history of nasal leeches (Dinobdella ferox) affecting both nostrils with the symptoms of laboured breathing, reverse sneezing, intermittent epistaxis and a reduced appetite. The dog underwent a standard clinical examination, haematological and biochemical assessments and radiographic studies to systematically diagnose any anomalies and evaluate its suitability for general anaesthesia. A Karl Storz video‐otoscope featuring a 15 Fr instrument channel was used to conduct anterior rhinoscopy under general anaesthesia. The endoscope was introduced sequentially into each nostril to visualise the nasal cavities and pinpoint the presence of leeches therein. Grasping forceps, guided through the endoscope's integrated instrument channel, were used to extract the leeches from both nasal cavities within a brief timeframe (18 leeches in 16 min) and without encountering substantial challenges. Following the leech removal, a post‐retrieval minor capillary bleeding within the nasal cavities, which was seen from both the nostrils, was controlled by flushing the nostrils with a 1:10,000 adrenaline tartrate solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Epibiosis is an interaction between two organisms, and it can be a relationship with both positive and negative effects. Protozoa of the subclass Suctoria are common epibionts in freshwater environments. Their preference for attaching to other organisms reflects their biological needs, such as food availability and environmental conditions, as well as the anatomy of their hosts. The study area of this work was the lakes of Ingá Park located in Maringá, Paraná state, Brazil. Leeches were collected in August 2019, through an active search on aquatic vegetation, among submerged trunks and rocks. Subsequently, the specimens were sent to the laboratory. In the laboratory, they were fixed in 5% formaldehyde, and subsequently submitted to two procedures, in which permanent slides of the specimens stained by the hydrochloric carmine method were made and images were obtained by electronic scanning microscopy. For the identification and description of the leech species, morphological data, taxonomic characteristics, and the use of the identification key were obtained. The epibiont ciliated protozoa occurred in Antiga Santa Lake, associated with four specimens of the leech Helobdella adiastola. We report the first record of epibiosis among the protozoan epibiont ciliates (Ciliophora: Suctoria) associated with Helobdella adiastola in Brazil.

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]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes and a common cause of chronic kidney disease. There is currently a lack of effective treatments for DN, and the prognosis for patients remains poor. Hirudin, one of the primary active components derived from leeches, demonstrates anticoagulant, anti-fibrotic, anti-thrombotic, and anti-inflammatory properties, exhibiting significant protective effects on the kidneys. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in studying the potential benefits of hirudin, especially in its role in the management of DN. This article delves into the mechanisms by which hirudin contributes to the treatment of DN and its clinical efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Qualitative assessment by macro-invertebrates is known as a suitable method to determine the health of the river. In this study, the diversity and abundance of Baliqlu River macro-invertebrates were evaluated from June 2019 to May 2021. SamplingsSamples were taken by Surber sampler during four seasons and physico-chemical parameters such as TEM, DO, pH, BOD, and some heavy metals (Cd and Pb) were measured. Diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener), and biotic indices (EPT, HFBI, and BMWP) were calculated in four stations. A total of 8328 macro-invertebrates from the Diptera, Ephemeroptera, and Isopoda were identified. The highest frequency percentage of the dominant groups was related to the Caenidaed, Chironomidae, and Simuliidae. The results of heavy metal accumulation in two classes showed more cadmium and lead accumulation in the Clitellata class (suborder Hirudinea) than the Insecta class (Caenidae family). The results of conventional comparative analysis (CCA) demonstrate that the distribution of most macro-invertebrate families is influenced by the DO parameter. According to the HFBI, the water quality decreased from upstream to downstream in all seasons, and the level of pollution was higher in station 5 compared to other stations, due to human activities, cattle crossing, and sewage output of fish farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dina prokletijaca was found in the samples that were obtained from the Bekhal stream for the current investigation. The samples were gathered throughout the course of nine months, from March to October 2021. The reduced number of papillae on the back of D. prokletijaca distinguishes it. It can be identified by its stock and short body, the dorsal side with two dark and wide longitudinal paramedian stripes, and the ovisacs are curled reaching the somite four beyond the females' genital pores and coiled throughout their entire length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the impact caused by the success and dissemination of Broussais' theories on the use of leeches as a medical supply on Spanish–French trade relations, as well as its consequences for the Spanish market between 1821 and the 1860s. Analysing the documents produced by the different public administrations, together with newspaper and archival sources in both Spain and France and the literature and legislation of that period, allows us to understand the evolution of this trade and the heavy impact it had on the autochthonous population of this animal resource. The article reveals how, at the beginning of the 1820s, leeches became an important medical supply and how the demand for them increased significantly. This gave rise to a trade relation between Spain and France that led to the overexploitation of the resource, the issuing of regulations on the matter, and the search for technological solutions to increase the production of leeches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Barbronia, a genus of freshwater macrophagous leeches, belongs to Erpobdelliformes (Salifidae: Clitellata: Annelida), and B. weberi, a well-known leech within this genus, has a worldwide distribution. However, the systematics of Barbronia have not yet been adequately investigated, primarily due to a few molecular markers, and only 20 Barbronia sequences available in the GenBank database. This gap significantly limits our understanding of the Barbronia species identification, as well as the phylogenetic placement of the genus Barbronia within Salifidae. Methods Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to simultaneously capture the entire mitochondrial genome and the full-length 18S/28S rDNA sequences. The species boundary of Barbronia species was estimated using bGMYC and bPTP methods, based on all available Barbronia COI sequences. Uncorrected COI p-distance was calculated in MEGA. A molecular data matrix consisting of four loci (COI, 12S, 18S, and 28S rDNA) for outgroups (three Haemopis leeches) and 49 erpobdellid leeches, representing eight genera within the Suborder Erpobdelliformes was aligned using MAFFT and LocARNA. This matrix was used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of Barbronia via Bayesian inference (BI) and the maximum likelihood (ML) method. Results The full lengths of the mitochondrial genome, 18S and 28S rDNAs of B. cf. gwalagwalensis, are 14847 bp, 1876 bp 1876 bp, and 2863 bp, respectively. Both bGMYC and bPTP results based on COI data are generally congruent, suggesting that the previously proposed taxa (B. arcana, B. weberi formosana, and B. wuttkei or Erpobdella wuttkei) are synonyms of B. weberi. The specimens listed in the B. gwalagwalensis group, however, are split into at least two Primary Species Hypotheses (PSHs). The p-distance of the first PSH is less than 1.3% but increased to 4.5% when including the secondary PSH (i.e., B. cf. gwalagwalensis). In comparison, the interspecific p-distance between the B. weberi group and the B. gwalagwalensis group ranged from 6.4% to 8.7%, and the intraspecific p-distance within the B. weberi group is less than 0.8%. Considering the species delimitation results and the sufficient large p-distance, the specimen sampled in China is treated as B. cf. gwalagwalensis. The monophyly of the four Erpobdelliformes families Salifidae, Orobdellidae, Gastrostomobdellidae sensu stricto and Erpobdellidae is well supported in ML and BI analysis based on a data of four markers. Within the Salifidae, a well-supported Barbronia is closely related to a clade containing Odontobdella and Mimobdella, and these three genera are sister to a clade consisted of Salifa and Linta. According to the results of this study, the strategy of simultaneous obtaining both whole mitochondria and nuclear markers from extensively sampled Salifids species using NGS is expected to fathom both the species diversity of B. gwalagwalensis and the evolutionary relationship of Salifidae.

• Developed a novel Blood-Sucking Leech Optimizer (BSLO) inspired by blood-sucking leeches. • Evaluated the performance of BSLO using numerical experiments and six engineering problems. • Compared BSLO with ten meta-heuristic algorithms. • Validated the strong robustness and optimization efficiency of BSLO. • Demonstrated superiority of BSLO for diameter prediction of melt electrospinning writing fiber. In this paper, a new meta-heuristic optimization algorithm motivated by the foraging behaviour of blood-sucking leeches in rice fields is presented, named Blood-Sucking Leech Optimizer (BSLO). BSLO is modelled by five hunting strategies, which are the exploration of directional leeches, exploitation of directional leeches, switching mechanism of directional leeches, search strategy of directionless leeches, and re-tracking strategy. BSLO and ten comparative meta-heuristic optimization algorithms are used for optimizing twenty-three classical benchmark functions, CEC 2017, and CEC 2019. The strong robustness and optimization efficiency of BSLO are confirmed via four qualitative analyses, two statistical tests and convergence curves. Furthermore, the superiority of BSLO for real-world problems under constraints is demonstrated using five classical engineering problems. Finally, a BSLO-based Artificial Neural Network (ANN) predictive model for diameter prediction of melt electrospinning writing fibre is proposed, which further verifies BSLO's applicability for real-world problems. Therefore, BSLO is a potential optimizer for optimizing various problems. Source codes of BSLO are publicly available at https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/163106-blood-sucking-leech-optimizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]