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Dateline: At the leech farm with Larry Leech
Wendell: Believe it or not, there are farms where people raise leeches! And we've come
to one to interview Larry Leech. Larry's not just any leech, he's a medicinal leech. In some
hospitals around the world, Larry and some of his nearest and dearest ready themselves to do
important work -- sucking the blood of humans.
We Suck Blood
Wendell: So, Larry, do you really suck blood?
Larry: Of course. There are over 600 different kinds of leeches. Most of us are
blood-sucking parasites. That means that we live in or on other living things.
This leech farm raises over 100,000 of my kind of leech for the express purpose of helping
doctors around the world! When I leave here, I'll be sent to a hospital to do "leech therapy."
Wendell: What's that?
Larry: I have this chemical that prevents blood from clotting. That enables me to suck
blood without worrying that the holes of my victim..er I mean my food source doesn't clot up.
Wendell: But what does this chemical have to do with "leech therapy?"
Larry:Well sometimes blood clots occur in humans when they are not supposed to. That
can be dangerous, so that's when a doctor calls me. I take my three jaws or teeth and bite into the
patient where the doctor wants the blood to flow again. There's an anesthetic in my saliva so the
bite doesn't hurt. I've even helped doctors graft tissue (skin) and re-attach missing fingers and
toes. You see, the only way that the body attachment will survive is if blood flows to it. So I chomp.
How We Transform
I grow from a skinny little thing to a big round one filled with blood. In 20 minutes I can
absorb five times my weight in blood. When my suckers on each end can no longer hold on, I pop off,
leaving behind my telltale triangular bite. Unlike other parasites, I only hang on for a short
while and then let go and move on. I don't eat often. As long as 1 1/2 years later, I can still
have blood cells in my gut.
Wendell: How much do doctors pay for you guys?
Larry: I'm a real bargain. I cost only $7.50 for all that work! For certain medical
needs I can do a great job. This "farm' has orders for more than 100,000 of us a year.
Wendell: So how are you and I related?
Larry: Surprisingly closely. We're both segmented worms. But as an earthworm, you add
on segments as you get older until you have over a hundred. When I hatched, I had 32. I'll always
have 32!
Wendell: Gee thanks, Larry.... This has been Wendell Worm reporting.
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Blood-sucking leech
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