Sucking of human blood by Placobdella costata (O. F. Müller, 1846) (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae): Case study with notes on body form

Joanna M. Cichocka; Aleksander Bielecki; Izabela Jabłońska‐Barna; Łukasz Krajewski; Katarzyna Topolska; Joanna Hildebrand; Małgorzata Dmitryjuk; Anna Biedunkiewicz; Andrei Abramchuk

doi:10.1002/ece3.8261

Ecology and Evolution (Dec 2021)

Sucking of human blood by Placobdella costata (O. F. Müller, 1846) (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae): Case study with notes on body form

Joanna M. Cichocka,
Aleksander Bielecki,
Izabela Jabłońska‐Barna,
Łukasz Krajewski,
Katarzyna Topolska,
Joanna Hildebrand,
Małgorzata Dmitryjuk,
Anna Biedunkiewicz,
Andrei Abramchuk

Affiliations

Joanna M. Cichocka: Department of Zoology Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn Olsztyn Poland
Aleksander Bielecki: Department of Zoology Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn Olsztyn Poland
Izabela Jabłońska‐Barna: Department of Tourism, Recreation and Ecology Faculty of Geoengineering University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn Olsztyn Poland
Łukasz Krajewski: Institute of Technology and Life Sciences—National Research Institute Raszyn Poland
Katarzyna Topolska: Wyspiańskiego 30/40 Jelenia Góra Poland
Joanna Hildebrand: Department of Parasitology Institute of Genetics and Microbiology University of Wrocław Wrocław Poland
Małgorzata Dmitryjuk: Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology University of Warmia and Mazury Olsztyn Poland
Anna Biedunkiewicz: Department of Microbiology and Mycology Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn Olsztyn Poland
Andrei Abramchuk: Brest Regional Branch of APB—Birdlife Belarus Brest Belarus

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8261
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 24
pp. 17593 – 17603

Abstract

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Abstract Four events of Placobdella costata sucking human blood are described. Human blood was sucked by both adult and juvenile specimens of P. costata. The feeding strategies of juveniles under parental care are presented. New data on juvenile specimens' body form are presented. Information on the potential role of mammals in dispersion and habitat preferences of leeches P. costata is considered.

Published in Ecology and Evolution

ISSN: 2045-7758 (Online)
Publisher: Wiley
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Ecology
Website: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20457758

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