Investigation of the immun system cells of Hirudo medicinalis Linnaeus, 1758 (Hirudinidae,Clitellata) with light and fluorescence microscopy

The study was conducted to detect immune system cells of medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, with both light and flourescence microscopy. For this purpose, giemsa dyed preparates were used to calculate measure and hemocytes types in blood of Hirudo medicinalis. Hemocytes types were morphologically examined under a light microscope and the size of the cells was measured. There are four different hemocytes types such as prohemocytes, hyaline hemocytes, granular hemocytes and eleocytes were determined in the blood of medicinal leech. The scope of antibacterial and antiparasitic defense mechanism of other species which are thought to originate from prohemocytes have been an important role on phagocytic activity, melanisation/ formation of capsul and clots, and recovery of wounds.