ISSN: 0000-0000
SATHISH HS1 , RASHMI TM2 , MITHUN B3 , NARMADA MG4
11Professor, Department of Shalya Tantra, TMAE’s Society Ayurvedic Medical College, Shimoga, Karnataka
2Assistant Professor, Department of Kayachikitsa, TMAE’s Society Ayurvedic Medical College, Shimoga, Karnataka
3Professor, Department of Shalakya Tantra, ALN Rao Memorial Ayurvedic Medical College, Koppa, Karnataka.
4Professor, Department of Shalya Tantra, Govt. Ayurvedic Medical College, Bangalore
Date of Acceptance: 2020-09-25
Date of Publication:2020-10-01
Correspondence Address:
Keywords: Leech, Alagarda, Branchellion torpedinis, Ozobranchus
Source of Support: NIL
Conflict of Interest: NIL
Several illnesses are cited in Ancient Ayurvedic medical treatises. Ayurvedic surgical science considers leeches are of basically two varieties as poisonous and non-poisonous, both consisting six species each. Identification of such leech types has been ignored till date. Alagarda is one of the poisonous type detailed in texts. This article scrutinizes and reviews all the species of leech which matches the descriptions of Alagarda type of leech. Key identification feature of Alagarda type of leech is the presence of Chaetae and its toxic effects on the prey animal. Branchellion torpedinis, Ozobranchus Shipley, Acanthobdella peledina, Ozobranchus margoi are the species of leeches which possess chaetae and after verifying the morphological features of individual species, Branchellion torpedinis seems to match the descriptions of Alagarda leech.