Effect of various hosts' blood on the reproductive efficiency of the eastern leech (Hirudo orientalis)

Abstract

Introduction: Providing a desirable food diversity for therapeutic leeches is inevitable with
their widespread commercialization and geographic expansion of their cultivation. In this
research, the growth, survival, reproduction, and reproductive efficiency (RE) rates of the
eastern leech, Hirudu orientalis, fed by a diet based on aquatic (Fish), mammalian (Cattle),
and poultry (Broiler) blood were investigated.
Materials & Methods: At first, required blood sources for feeding leeches and also
determining blood biochemical parameters were obtained from slaughterhouses and a fish
farm. A total number of 135 mature leeches with an average weight of 3.93 ± 0.06 were
triplicate fed in three various groups (i.e., fish, cattle, and poultry blood). Gravid leeches
after 30 days were individually transferred into containers containing the substrate
(sphagnum moss) and water for laying cocoons. Then, collected cocoons were placed into
the same substrate for one month. The RE was finally determine.
Results: Statistical analysis illustrated that leeches were equally interested in feeding on fish
and cattle blood compared to poultry blood (p<0.05). Leeches that fed with cattle blood had
the lowest mortality, the highest number of cocooning leeches and collected cocoons, as well
as the heaviest and largest cocoons. The leeches fed by poultry blood could record the
highest relative production of cocoons, as well as the highest total reproduction (p<0.05).
Leeches fed by fish blood despite the less significant efficiency had no remarkable
difference in the calculations of relative production of cocoons, larvae, and total
reproduction with the two other groups.
Conclusion: Poultry blood can have almost the same effect on the RE as cattle blood.
Despite the lower RE of fish blood, it is recommended to utilize it as a source of fresh and
available blood, considering the storage facilitation of the limited fish number in the water
resource of leech farm.