The Economic Importance and Status of Medicinal Leeches in Turkey

Medicinal leeclas are used in the treatment of some diseases since ancient times for medicinal
purposes. The best-known and commonly used medicinal leech species are found in Hirudo genus. In
this study, the potential of medical leeches in the wetlands of Turkey, the situation and the economic
importance were examined. Until the last few years, it was believed that all of the medicinal leeches
collected and exported from Turkey were Hirudo medicinalis. But, medicinal leech of Kızılırmak delta
that are vast majority of the leech exported from Turkey was seen to be Hirudo verbana. In a recent
molecular study, a new species of medical leech, Hirudo sulukii was identified in the South East
Anatolian Region of Turkey. Almost all of the marsh of seven geographical regions of Turkey can be
found medical leeches. Medicinal leeches were applied export quotas 2000 kg in 2015 depending on
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) by the
Turkey Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. However, only 166 kg (8.3%) of this leech quota
could be exported.