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

Kvapil, Pavel (avtor), Tomášek, Oldřich (avtor), Bártová, Eva (avtor), Harej, Mojca (avtor), Kastelic, Marjan (avtor), Primožič, Tit (avtor), Kašpárková, Nikola (avtor), Račnik, Joško (avtor)

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 20ml of blood in 20 to 55min. 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 crossspecies 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 stressreducing 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.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: hematology, biochemistry, non-invasive blood sampling, medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: VF - Veterinarska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2022
• Št. strani: 11 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 9, art. 831836
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-134850
• UDK: 636.09:616-07
• ISSN pri članku: 2297-1769
• DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.831836
• COBISS.SI-ID: 96337667
• Datum objave v RUL: 04.02.2022

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Frontiers in veterinary science
• Skrajšan naslov: Front. vet. sci.
• Založnik: Frontiers Media
• ISSN: 2297-1769
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3969402

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.
• Začetek licenciranja: 04.02.2022

Projekti

• Financer: Drugi - Drug financer ali več financerjev
• Program financ.: University of Veterinary Science Brno
• Številka projekta: FVHE/Literák/ITA2020

• Financer: Drugi - Drug financer ali več financerjev
• Program financ.: Czech Science Foundation
• Številka projekta: GA21-22160S to OT