Medicinal Leech Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: A Retrospective Study.

The objective of this study was to report the clinical indications, outcomes, and complications associated with medicinal leech therapy (MLT) in dogs and cats. Medical records (2012-2016) of client-owned dogs (n = 9) and cats (n = 3) treated with MLT at one institution were retrospectively reviewed. Retrieved data included the signalment, indications, physical examination findings, laboratory results, methods of leeching, outcomes, and complications associated with MLT. Following MLT sessions, nine patients (75%) visibly showed clear improvement of the affected tissue. One patient (8%) was euthanized before complete healing owing to pulmonary parenchymal disease. Improvement or appearance of tissue following MLT was not recorded in two patients (17%). Results suggest that MLT may be a safe and effective treatment modality for venous congestion and necrosis in compromised skin flaps and wounds with success in resolving 75% of the lesions in this study. This study is suggestive of the value of MLT when more conventional treatment methods fail in dogs and cats. A data collection form was created for veterinarians to use with the goal of obtaining standardized, objective MLT data for future studies.

Hirudotherapy (medicinal leeches) for treatment of upper airway obstruction in a dog.

OBJECTIVE: To describe upper airway obstruction (UAO) in a dog treated with medicinal leeches (hirudotherapy) as an ancillary therapy to hasten recovery. CASE SUMMARY: A 10-month-old neutered female Mastiff presented for acute respiratory distress. On admission, the dog was tachycardic, cyanotic, and orthopneic; stridor was audible. A 10-cm soft tissue swelling in the right ventral cervical region and bruising around the rostral mandible were noted. At the time of endotracheal intubation, the trachea was deviated to the right as a consequence of severe soft tissue swelling that was contiguous with the sublingual hematoma and cervical region, causing loss of visualization of the arytenoids. A computed tomography with contrast scan of the head, neck, and thorax was performed, showing severe soft tissue swelling of the tongue, obliteration of the common pharyngeal/laryngeal regions from suspected hemorrhage, and rightward displacement of pharynx, larynx, and proximal trachea. Marked diffuse bronchial/bronchiolar thickening associated with bronchiolectasis and diffuse opacification of the pulmonary parenchyma with regions of consolidation were noted. The dog was minimally hypercoagulable on thromboelastography. The imaging results together with results of bronchoalveolar lavage cytology supported a comorbidity of eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy. Intubation was maintained with infusions of propofol and fentanyl, with minimal changes in oropharyngeal swelling within the first 18 hours of treatment. Medicinal leeches were then applied to the sublingual and cervical regions. There was continued slow bleeding from the sites of leech detachment, and the dog was able to be extubated at 44 hours, followed by hospital discharge. NEW/UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: Leeches are utilized in human medicine for treatment of UAO. Although UAO from hemorrhage has been described in dogs, this is the first report of medicinal leeches (Hirudo verbana) as complementary treatment for sublingual hematoma that contributed to UAO.

Hirudotherapy in veterinary medicine.

The saliva of medicinal leeches, e.g., Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo verbana commonly used in hirudotherapy, contains more than 100 bioactive substances with various therapeutic effects, including anticoagulant, vasodilator, thrombolytic, anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic properties. Recently, leeches have been used very successfully in veterinary medicine to treat many diseases of animals, especially dogs, cats and horses. The most common indications for the use of leeches are hip and elbow dysplasia, acute and chronic arthritis, diseases associated with inflammation of tendons, ligaments, and fascia, diseases of the vertebrae and the treatment of scars. Leech therapy is a painless procedure which takes an average of 30 to 120 minutes, the time being dependent on the size of the animal. All leeches used in medical procedures should originate only from certified biofarms. The maintenance of sterile conditions for the culture, transport and storage of medical leeches is very important to protect animals from microbial infections. Hirudotherapy is successfully used in veterinary medicine, especially when traditional treatment is not effective, the effects of treatment are too slow, or after surgery, when the tissues may be threatened by venous congestion.

Leeching as initial treatment in a cat with polycythaemia vera.

Polycythaemia vera was diagnosed in a three-year-old domestic shorthaired cat referred because of seizures and a high packed cell volume (PCV). Laboratory examination revealed severe erythrocytosis (PCV 79 per cent). Diagnosis was reached by excluding causes for relative and secondary absolute polycythaemia. As phlebotomy proved impossible for initial treatment due to hyperviscosity, four leeches were used to suck blood and the PCV was consequently reduced to 64 per cent. A further 24 hours later, when bleeding at the sites of sucking had stopped, the PCV was 56 per cent. Long-term management of the condition was achieved with hydroxyurea (100 mg/cat once daily) and intermittent phlebotomy. Initial treatment using leeches in cases of polycythaemia vera is a simple, non-invasive, well tolerated and effective method where phlebotomy is not possible.