THE DISTRIBUTION, ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AND STATUS OF Medical Leech (Hirudo orientalis) IN THE AZERBAIJAN

Although medicinal leeches are used for many years in Azerbaijan for therapeutic purposes, relatively little is still known about their distribution, economic Importance, and general status.The medicinal leech species of Azerbaijan was named Hirudo medicinalis or H. medicinalisorientalis and is still exported under the same names in CITES records.However, within the scope of the study, this medicinal leech species was found to be 100% similar to H. orientalis according to the COI mtDNA gene region.In this study, it was determined that a person could collect an average of 24.19±11.14medicinal leeches per unit of time and there was 0.60±0.28leech/m 2 medicinal leech per unit area in the wetlands of Lankaran-Astara region of Azerbaijan.The trade and culture of medicinal leeches in Azerbaijan is a sector that has started in recent years.The country's leech exports in 2021 exceeded the exports of all countries and have increased to around 1498500 units (~1500kg).