Leech Saliva and its Potential Use in Animal Health and Production: A Review

Abstract

Leech has been used as a medical device in health therapy all over the world. Leech saliva contains many active compounds which have antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticoagulant properties and bring health benefits. On the other hand, mastitis in dairy animals is an important disease-causing great economic loss. Control of this disease can be done through good animal husbandry practice and a nutritional approach. Mineral and vitamin supplementations are commonly done to maintain the immune system. Antioxidant supplementation plays an important role in eliminating free radicals significantly found in animals with mastitis. Antibiotic administration is done to eliminate bacteria causing mastitis. In addition, the use of anticoagulants might be useful as dairy animals suffering from mastitis may experience a kind of abnormal blood coagulation. In this context, having antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticoagulant properties, leech saliva is a potential material for subclinical mastitis control in dairy animals.