Several species of leeches have been used in
medicine, the most common being Hirudo medicinalis,
which is still collected from rivers and ponds in eastern
Europe but is chiefly being bred in controlled
environments. Other species that have been used are:
H. troctina in North Africa, H. nipponia in Japan,
H. quinquestriata in Australia, Poecilobdella granuloss,
Hirudinaria javanica and Hirudinaria manillensis
in south-east Asia, Haementeria ojficinalis in Mexico
and Macrobdella decora in the USA. There are about
650 leech species, but only a few suck blood by
piercing mammalian skin. Limnatis nilotica, the most
widespread leech species in Egypt, Israel and
Lebanon,‘O,” rarely bites human skin and feeds on the
softer mucous membranes of the mouth, pharynx and
larynx. This may be the reason why the Hebrews did
not use leeches for medical purposes, although they
practiced venesection. The Talmud (compiled between
the 3rd and 6th centuries AD) warns against the
danger of leeches when drinking water from rivers or
lakes.” Limnatis nilotica was first described by
Savigny, who accompanied Napoleon’s army to
Egypt. Both soldiers and horses were tormented by
these leeches, as were British troops in Egypt during
World War I2