The effect of using a mineral premix in the culture medium on growth, survival and intestinal tissue indices in neonate medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

2 Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran.

10.22059/jfisheries.2026.415248.1486

Abstract

Since ancient times, medicinal leech has been used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of diseases such as varicose veins and acne in different parts of the world. In this study, a mineral premix containing copper sulfate, iron sulfate, zinc oxide, manganese oxide, calcium iodate, cobalt and zinc was added to three experimental treatments including water (treatment 1), soil (treatment 2), and water and soil of the growing environment (treatment 3) and a control treatment (water and soil, without the use of mineral premix) in cultivating medicinal leeches was carried out in a completely randomized design (each treatment in 3 replications) for 60 days. In each of the rearing tanks, which contained 1.1 liter of chlorine-free water, 10 neonate medicinal leech weighing 0.43±0.02 grams (mean±standard deviation) were randomly distributed. The results at the end of the experimental period showed that the use of mineral premix in water and soil (treatment 3) caused an excessive reduction in growth indices (the highest average weight gain was 37.26±1.05% among the three treatments) and survival (average survival indices were 0% and 16.66±5.77% in treatments 1 and 3, respectively) in the three experimental treatments. In contrast, the control treatment had the highest average weight gain (275.63±4.3%) and the highest average survival index (100%) (P<0.05). The use of mineral premix in all experimental treatments affected intestinal tissue and caused its destruction compared to the control treatment. The results showed that adding mineral premix to the natural culturing environment of leeches by increasing the amount of minerals in the environment disrupts their balance and consequently reduces the efficiency of biological indices in these organisms.

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References

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