A Hybrid System for Medicinal Leech Cultivation: An Alternative Model to Enhance Reproductive Efficiency

Background: The sustainable cultivation of medicinal leeches holds critical importance both for conserving natural populations and for ensuring a reliable and safe supply for medical applications. However, conventional rearing systems currently in use face several limitations, including high individual density, environmental stress, lack of traceability and low reproductive output. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of a newly developed hybrid model designed to address the disadvantages associated with the traditional pond-based system. Methods: The hybrid model provides a modular structure that enables individual monitoring while ensuring controlled temperature, humidity and substrate management. In this study, the effects of different protocols incorporating either fresh or reused peat substrates on cocoon number, offspring count and cocoon morphometry were compared. Intergroup differences were statistically analyzed, with a significance threshold set at p less than 0.05. Result: The results demonstrated that the hybrid model using fresh peat, particularly under Protocol A, yielded significantly higher cocoon and offspring production compared to all other groups (p less than 0.01). In the hybrid model, the mean cocoon count per broodstock was 2.28 and the mean number of juveniles was 23.28; whereas in the traditional pond model, these values were 1.02 and 11.56, respectively. No significant differences in cocoon morphometry were observed between the groups (p greater than 0.05). Overall, the findings reveal that the hybrid model outperforms the conventional pond system in terms of both production efficiency and sustainability, emphasizing the critical role of substrate freshness and environmental stability in successful leech cultivation.