20.500.12556/RUL-134850 Validation of medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) as a non-invasive blood sampling tool for hematology and biochemistry profiling in mammals 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. hematology biochemistry non-invasive blood sampling medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis true false true Angleški jezik Ni določen Članek v reviji 2022-02-04 11:47:41 2022-02-04 11:47:42 2022-09-14 04:10:19 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2022 0 0 11 str. art. 831836 Vol. 9 2022 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 636.09:616-07 2297-1769 10.3389/fvets.2022.831836 96337667 RAZ_Kvapil_Pavel_2022.pdf RAZ_Kvapil_Pavel_2022.pdf 1 8DBF6D7416EF3D7FCEE0AA36739CB018 5376ceba4569207195aba862dcb473c3a8c06e1911a13d17b4fc6a3a3b7f0720 2d2585e1-85a9-11ec-abdb-00155dcfd717 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=153548 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.831836/full 1 a9b2adc2-85a7-11ec-abdb-00155dcfd717 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=153547 Veterinarska fakulteta 0 0 0