Once widespread in the UK, the medicinal leech is now rare due mainly to habitat loss and historic collecting for medical use. In Ireland, the leech was driven to extinction in the 19th century.

The moist environment of the boy's body, including oxygen and blood, provided an ideal space for the leech to develop. Thanks to the efforts carried out by medical staff, Xiaoxiang was able to ...

Buglife conservation director Craig Macadam added: "Medicinal leeches have an important place in our medical history but are now one of the rarest invertebrates in Scotland. "The success of the ...

The researchers have identified and analyzed peptides and small proteins in the saliva of the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis for their ability to bind to molecules called serine proteases.

There were no further medical consultations. It is true that the lying down time and care of dressings occurred only for the leech therapy. We also assume a relevant unspecific active component ...