The small leech Hirudo medicinalis is particularly valuable for plastic and reconstructive surgery. This leech produces several important substances that make its bite very special, including an anticoagulant hirudin , a local vasodilator, and a local anaesthetic. These substances allow continued bleeding that mimics venous circulation for up to 10 hours after the leech has detached and the anaesthetic makes the bite painless.
The leech can also remove any congested blood to allow normal circulation to return to the tissues and prevent gangrene from setting in. Leeches may also be used to treat black eyes. And hirudin, the anticoagulant, may be used in the treatment of inflammation of the middle ear. Hirudin may also eventually be used in invitro blood sampling. Researchers have found that the anticoagulant and clot-digesting properties of substances in leech saliva make them potentially useful for the treatment of heart attacks and strokes.
No leeches have to be harmed in the making of these drugs! The leeches can be "milked" for their secretions without being harmed. Plus, researchers are looking into the possibility of synthetically engineering leech saliva to be used for all these purposes. Effect of ale, garlic, and soured cream on the appetite of leeches. Like vampires, most leeches feed by sucking blood from their hosts they are sanguivorous. Lewis' 1-year-old granddaughter, Hailee, who had been floating in an inner tube, had about a dozen leeches on her legs and a few under her bathing suit.
Although leeches have been reported in past years at Buck Lake in North Kitsap, this is the first time that a significant number of people have picked up leeches at any other lake in the county, Miles said. Leeches are likely to be found in shallow, muddy areas, he said. They are often concealed by aquatic plants or under rocks or logs. If you get one on you, you can take it off. Adults should keep an eye on their kids.
Leeches on the skin are easily removed, according to Miles. At first, the water cools your scorched skin. The relief from the jungle heat doesn't last long, though. Soon, your skin begins to tingle with a burning sensation, as if you're being bitten by something.
You jump from the water to find your body covered with dozens of worm -like creatures that have attached themselves to your skin and appear to be feasting on your blood. Are they vampire worms? Not quite! They're leeches! Leeches are real creatures that look like flat, wide, segmented worms with suction cups on each end of their bodies. Usually a dark brown, green, or black color, leeches can be plain or feature spots and stripes. These unique creatures can range in size from less than an inch to nearly 10 inches in length.
And, yes, those leech species that feed on the blood of fish , animals, and humans also have sharp teeth. Unfortunately, you don't need to find yourself in a wild jungle half the world away to find leeches.
There are hundreds of species of leeches and they can be found all over the world. While a few leeches can be found in oceans or moist soil on land, most leeches prefer to live in shallow bodies of fresh water. If you find a leech attached to your body after a swim, don't panic. Most leech bites are not harmful. As with any bite, there's a chance of infection or an allergic reaction.
However, most people don't suffer any permanent harm from leech bites, since they can't suck enough blood to hurt a human being. In fact, leech bites can be quite the opposite of harmful.
Physicians have used leeches to treat human ailments as far back as the days of ancient India and Greece. Back then, physicians thought leeches could remove "bad blood" from a sick patient.
Bloodletting as a popular medical procedure went away hundreds of years ago. However leeches have managed to find a new place of honor in modern medicine. Modern scientists have learned that leeches secrete a substance while sucking blood that acts as an anti-coagulant. This substance helps to increase blood flow and keep blood from clotting. Advanced procedures, such as skin grafting, plastic surgery, and reattachment of body parts, have benefitted from the use of leeches to prevent clotting and keep blood flowing to sensitive areas after surgery.
Without the use of leeches, many of these surgeries would fail due to blood clots and restricted blood flow after surgery. Are you ready to learn more about leeches? Grab a friend or family member and check out the following activities:. It is kind of gross, yeah. But interesting to learn about! Awesome, Yo! We encourage you to check out those links and find out a little more about these interesting creatures.
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Success remains high into June and gradually declines as water temperatures increase and fish move offshore to stay cool. Fish that escaped the spring harvest return to the nearshore areas in the fall as waters cool off.
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