Validation of medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) as a non-invasive blood sampling tool for hematology and biochemistry profiling in mammals

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68081766%3A_____%2F22%3A00555614" target="_blank" >RIV/68081766:_____/22:00555614 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216224:14310/22:00129184 RIV/62157124:16270/22:43880033

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.831836/full" target="_blank" >https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.831836/full</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.831836" target="_blank" >10.3389/fvets.2022.831836</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Validation of medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) as a non-invasive blood sampling tool for hematology and biochemistry profiling in mammals

Original language description

Blood sampling is a challenging procedure in many captive animals. Although manual restraint or anesthesia are usually possible, they entail intense stress and a high risk of injuries or organ failure. Blood sampling using medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) represents a promising non-invasive alternative to venipuncture, however, leech blood meal was to date used only for qualitative analyses such as genetic or serological screenings. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the leech blood sampling method for quantification of hematological and biochemical parameters. Medicinal leeches were manually applied on 67 zoo animals of eleven species, and control blood samples were obtained by venipuncture of the jugular vein. The leeches drew up to 20 ml of blood in 20 to 55 min. Although most hematological and biochemical parameters were significantly altered in leech-derived samples, their values showed strong (r = 0.62–0.79, 10/24 parameters) to very strong (r > 0.8, 13/24 parameters) correlations with venipuncture in all blood parameters, except for sodium (r = 0.39). As the parameter alterations and correlations were similar among species, simple cross-species regression formulas were sufficient to correct the alterations, thereby ensuring good repeatability between leeches and venipuncture in most parameters. Our data thus suggest that medicinal leeches can be used as a reliable non-invasive and stress-reducing alternative to standard venipuncture, even for quantitative assays. This opens new opportunities for a significant improvement to animal welfare in zoological gardens, conservation programmes, and ecophysiological research, where quantification of blood parameters is often needed.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

40301 - Veterinary science

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA21-22160S" target="_blank" >GA21-22160S: Diversity and physiological mechanisms of senescence in a wild bird population</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2022

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Frontiers in Veterinary Science

ISSN

2297-1769

e-ISSN

2297-1769

Volume of the periodical

9

Issue of the periodical within the volume

FEB

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

831836

UT code for WoS article

000760800300001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

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