Progress in the study of ecology, zoogeography, group, control repellent and medical usage of Hirudinea in China

Abstract

Hirudinea in China were reviewed. The ecological distribution of Hirudinea, the population dynamics of H. hainana, the adaptation of H. hainana to temperature, soil humidity and pH, the response of H. hainana to temperature, relative humidity and light, and the effects of human activities on H. hainana populations were discussed. The land-leeches' behavior ecology, including (1) the locomotion of H. hainana such as shortening, oscillating, rotating, sucking cleaning, rubbing and foraging behaviors; (2) the factors influencing these behaviors; (3) the ecological significance, was also discussed. The ecology of freshwater leeches including (1) behavior in paddy fields of Ninghsien, Zhejiang Province, China; (2) relationship between population dynamics of Whitmania laevis and chemical factors in paddy fields of Guangzhou, China; (3) chemical environment of blood-sucking Hirudinaria manillensis in paddy fields of Guangzhou was described. The study also discussed the foraging, growth dynamics, life recycle and biology of reproduction of blood-sucking land-leech H. hainana and freshwater leech Hirudinaria manillensis, the taxonomy and the zoogeography. In addition, the morphology including histology and anatomy of the organic system of H. hainana was described. The Hirudinea can be classified into 2 subclasses (Branchiobdellidea and Euhirudinea), 3 orders (Branchiobdellida, Rhynchobdellida and Arhynchobdellida), 9 families, 33 genera and 111 species. The response of leeches to pesticides, including toxicity (LD50, LD95) of different pesticides to H. hainana, was presented. Medical usage of the leech Hirudin from salivary glands as anticoagulant material was discussed. Hirudin (from Hirudo medicinalis), Haemadin (from land-leech), and hementi (from Hementeria ghilianii) were identified and isolated.