Interesting Note

1. Leeches aren’t entirely pesky and repulsive. Orang Asli natives swear by leeches as effective baits for fishing in jungle streams. Fast river whoopers like tengas, kelah and sebarau love leeches.

2. The Malaysian native leech Hirudinea medicinalis is the only kind approved by U.S Food and Drug Agency (FDA) as medical device for blood-letting and biotherapy.

3. One microgram of pure Hirudin, a chemical only found in leech saliva, inhibits about 10 U of human thrombin. It is the most potent anticoagulant in nature and is currently experimented for blood thinning application for artery blockage patients.