For the first time the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis has been bred in captivity at London zoo, part of a longer-term project to help this fascinating if unloved creature. Once widespread in ...

Moreover, the processing and pharmacological effects of leeches, particularly the traditional Chinese medicine product Hirudo, have been reviewed. This research highlights the various chemical ...

Warning: Distressing content. A boy who was admitted to hospital with a cough, and blood in his saliva, turned out to have a ...

The clinical utility of subcutaneous hirudins is discussed. The term "hirudins" refers to a class of antithrombotic agents structurally derived from the medicinal leech salivary protein hirudin.

Leeches are parasitic worms typically found in fresh water, and the most well-known species – Hirudo medicinalis – feeds on blood, secreting a chemical post-bite to prevent the wound from healing.