Review on optimum propagation and rearing conditions of medicinal leeches (Hirudo spp.)

Medicinal leeches, various species of Hirudo, encountered a growing demand due to their usages in medicinal and pharmaceutical fields as well as scientific researches. Water physiochemical properties and feeding regime are the decisive factors in leech culture. Optimum conditions for propagation and rearing leeches include optimum water temperature, feeding and post care feeding. Proper water temperature in leech farms is reported between 20 to 28˚c . Fresh blood of cattle, sheep, goat and camel, prewarmed up to 37˚c , is used to feed leeches. Because of cannibalism, poorly feed individuals should be kept separate from satiated ones. In farms, Leeches attain reproductive maturity after 9.5 months and each individual produces 1 to 7 cocoons with 3 to 30 larva in it.