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{{short description|Ecological niche involving feeding on blood}}

[[Image:Anopheles_stephensi.jpeg|thumb|250px|right|An ''Anopheles stephensi'' mosquito obtaining a blood meal from a human host through its pointed proboscis. Note the droplet of blood being expelled from the abdomen after having engorged itself on its host’s blood. This mosquito is a known malarial vector with a distribution that ranges from Egypt all the way to China.]]

{{about|the consumption of blood by animals|the consumption of blood by humans|Blood as food}}

{{dablink|"Bloodsucker" redirects here. For other uses, see [[Bloodsucker (disambiguation)]]}}

{{redirect|Bloodsucker}}

<b>Hematophagy</b> (sometimes spelled '''haematophagy''') is the habit of certain [[animal]]s of [[feeding]] on [[blood]] (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] words, ''haima'', blood, and ''phagein'', eat). Since blood is a fluid tissue rich in nutritious [[protein]]s and [[lipid]]s and can be taken without enormous effort, hematophagy has evolved as a preferred form of feeding in many small animals, such as [[worm]]s and [[arthropod]]s. Some intestinal [[parasitic worm|nematodes]], such as the [[Ascaris]], feed on blood extracted from the capillaries of the gut and about 75% of all species of [[leech]]es (e.g. ''Hirudo medicinalis''), a free-living worm, are hematophagous. Some [[fish]]es, such as [[lamprey]]s, and [[mammal]]s, especially the [[vampire bat]]s, also practice hematophagy.

{{redirect|Sanguivore|the album|Sanguivore (album){{!}}''Sanguivore'' (album)}}

[[ImageFile:Anopheles_stephensiAnopheles stephensi.jpeg|thumb|250px|right|An ''[[Anopheles stephensi]]'' mosquito obtaining a blood meal from a human host through its pointed proboscis. Note the droplet of blood being expelled from the abdomen after having engorged itself on its host’s bloodabdomen. This mosquito is a known malarial vector with a distribution that ranges from Egypt all the way to China.]]

==Mechanism and evolution of hematophagy==

[[File:Cimex lectularius.jpg|thumb|A [[bedbug]]]]

[[File:Blood feeding butterflies 5362.JPG|thumb|Two butterflies of the genus ''[[Erebia]]'' sucking fresh blood from a sock]]

<b>'''Hematophagy</b>''' (sometimes spelled '''haematophagy''' or '''hematophagia''') is the habitpractice ofby certain [[animal]]s of [[feeding]] on [[blood]] (from the [[GreekAncient languageGreek|Greek]] words, αἷμα ''{{lang|grc-Latn|haima}}'', "blood," and φαγεῖν ''{{lang|grc-Latn|phagein}}'', "to eat"). Since blood is a fluid tissue rich in nutritious [[protein]]s and [[lipid]]s andthat can be taken without enormousgreat effort, hematophagy has evolved asis a preferred form of feeding infor many small animals, such as [[worm]]s and [[arthropod]]s. Some intestinal [[parasitic worm|nematodes]], such as the [[AscarisAncylostomatidae|Ancylostomatids]], feed on blood extracted from the [[Capillary|capillaries]] of the gut, and about 75% percent of all species of [[leech]]es (e.g., ''[[Hirudo medicinalis]]''), aare freehematophagous. The spider ''[[Evarcha culicivora]]'' feeds indirectly on vertebrate blood by specializing on blood-livingfilled worm,female aremosquitoes hematophagousas their preferred prey.<ref>{{cite journal | pmid=22032682 | year=2012 | last1=Jackson | first1=R. R. | last2=Nelson | first2=X. J. | title=Evarcha culicivora chooses blood-fed Anopheles mosquitoes but other East African jumping spiders do not | journal=Medical and Veterinary Entomology | volume=26 | issue=2 | pages=233–235 | doi=10.1111/j.1365-2915.2011.00986.x | hdl=10092/9753 | s2cid=25520447 | hdl-access=free }}</ref> Some [[fish]]es, such as [[lamprey]]s, and [[Candiru (fish)|candiru]]s; [[mammal]]s, especially the [[vampire bat]]s; and birds, including the [[vampire finch]], [[Hood mockingbird]], [[Tristan thrush]], and [[oxpeckers]], also practice hematophagy.

These hematophagous animals have evolved different specialized [[mouth]] parts and chemical agents for penetrating vascular structures in the [[skin]] of [[host (biology)|hosts]], mostly of mammals, [[bird]]s and [[fish]]es. This type of feeding is known as phlebotomy (from the Greek words, ''phleps'', vein, and ''tomos'', cutting).

==Mechanism and evolution of hematophagy==

Once phlebotomy is performed (in most insects by a specialized fine hollow "needle" called [[proboscis]] which perforates skin and [[capillary|capillaries]]; in bats by sharp incisor [[tooth|teeth]] that act as a razor to cut the skin), blood is acquired either by sucking action directly from the vases, or from a pool of escaped blood, or by lapping (again, in bats). In order to overcome natural [[hemostasis]] (blood coagulation), [[vasoconstriction]], [[inflammation]] and [[Pain and nociception|pain]] sensation in the host, biochemical solutions in the [[saliva]] for instance, for pre-injection, [[anesthesia]] and capillary dilation have evolved in different hematophagous species. In fact, new [[anticoagulant]] medicines have been developed on the basis of substances found in the saliva of several hematophagous species, such as leeches ([[hirudin]]).

These hematophagousHematophagous animals have evolved different specialized [[mouth]] parts and chemical agents for penetrating vascular structures in the [[skin]] of [[host (biology)|hosts]], mostly of mammals, [[bird]]sbirds, and [[fish]]es. This type of feeding is known as [[phlebotomy]] (from the Greek words, ''phleps'', "vein," and ''tomos'', "cutting").

Hematophagy can be classified into '''obligatory''' and '''optional''' practice. Obligatory hematophagous animals do not have any other type of food besides blood; one such species is ''Rhodnius prolixus'' (an [[assassin bug]] from South America). Contrast that with optional hematophages, like the many [[mosquito]]es species, such as ''[[Aedes aegypti]]'', which may also feed on [[pollen]], [[fruit]] juice and other biological fluids besides blood. Sometimes, only the female of the species is a hematophage (this is essential for [[ovum|egg]] production and reproduction).

Once phlebotomy is performed (in most insects by a specialized fine hollow "needle", calledthe [[proboscis]], which perforates skin and [[capillary|capillaries]]; in bats by sharp incisor [[toothincisor|incisor teeth]] that act as a razor to cut the skin), blood is acquired either by sucking action directly from the vases,veins or capillaries, from a pool of escaped blood, or by lapping (again, in bats). In order toTo overcome natural [[hemostasis]] (blood coagulation), [[vasoconstriction]], [[inflammation]], and [[Pain and nociception|pain]] sensation in the host, biochemicalhematophagous solutionsanimals in thehave [[salivaevolution|evolved]] chemical solutions, in their saliva for instance, forthat they pre-injection,inject—and [[anesthesia]] and capillary dilation have evolved in differentsome hematophagous species. InScientists fact,have newdeveloped [[anticoagulant]] medicines havefrom been developed on the basis ofstudying substances found in the saliva of several hematophagous species, such as leeches ([[hirudin]]).

Hematophagy has apparently evolved independently in many disparate arthropod, [[annelid]], [[nematode]] and mammalian taxa. For example [[Diptera]] (insects with two [[wing]]s, such as [[fly|flies]]) have eleven families with hematophagous habits (more than half of the 19 hematophagous arthropod taxa). Circa 14,000 species of arthropods are hematophagous, even including some genera that were not previously thought to be, such as [[moth]]s of the genus ''[[Calyptra (genus)|Calyptra]]''. Several complementary [[biological adaptation]]s for locating the hosts (usually in the dark, as most hematophagous species are [[nocturnal]] and silent, in order to avoid detection and destruction by the host) have also evolved, such as special physical or chemical detectors (for [[sweat]] components, [[carbon dioxide|CO₂]], [[heat]], [[light]], movement, etc.).

Hematophagy is classified as either ''obligatory'' or ''facultative''. Obligatory hematophagous animals cannot survive on any other food. Examples include ''[[Rhodnius prolixus]]'', a South American [[assassin bug]], and ''[[Cimex lectularius]]'', the human bed bug. Facultative hematophages, meanwhile, acquire at least some portion of their nutrition from non-blood sources in at least one of the sexually mature forms. Examples of this include many mosquito species, such as ''[[Aedes aegypti]]'', whose both males and females feed on pollen and fruit juice for survival, but the females require a blood meal to produce their eggs. Fly species such as ''[[Leptoconops torrens]]'' can also be facultative hematophages. In [[anautogenous]] species, the female can survive without blood but must consume blood in order to produce eggs (obligatory hematophages are by definition also anautogenous).

As a feeding practice, hematophagy has evolved independently in a number of arthropod, [[annelid]], [[nematode]] and mammalian taxa. For example, [[Diptera]] (insects with two wings, such as [[fly|flies]]) have eleven families with hematophagous habits (more than half of the 19 hematophagous arthropod taxa). About 14,000 species of arthropods are hematophagous, even including some genera that were not previously thought to be, such as moths of the genus ''[[Calyptra (moth)|Calyptra]]''. Hematophagy in insects, including mosquitoes, is thought to have arisen from phytophagous or entomophagous origins.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The biology of blood-sucking in insects| vauthors = Lehane MJ |date=2005|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0511115539|edition=2nd|___location=Cambridge|oclc=61354292}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal| vauthors = Mattingly PF |date=1965| veditors = Taylor AE |title=The evolution of parasite-arthropod vector systems|url=https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19650802855|journal=Evolution of Parasites. Symposium of the British Society for Parasitology (3rd), London, November 6, 1964|publisher=Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications.|pages=29–45}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Peach DA, Gries R, Zhai H, Young N, Gries G | title = Multimodal floral cues guide mosquitoes to tansy inflorescences | journal = Scientific Reports | volume = 9 | issue = 1 | article-number = 3908 | date = March 2019 | pmid = 30846726 | pmc = 6405845 | doi = 10.1038/s41598-019-39748-4 | bibcode = 2019NatSR...9.3908P }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Peach|first1=Daniel A. H.|last2=Gries|first2=Gerhard | name-list-style = vanc |date=2019|title=Mosquito phytophagy – sources exploited, ecological function, and evolutionary transition to haematophagy |journal=Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata |volume=168|issue=2|pages=120–136|doi=10.1111/eea.12852|issn=1570-7458 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Several complementary [[biological adaptation]]s for locating the hosts (usually in the dark, as most hematophagous species are nocturnal and silent to avoid detection) have also evolved, such as special physical or chemical detectors for [[Perspiration#Composition|sweat component]]s, [[carbon dioxide|CO₂]], heat, light, movement, etc.

In addition to these biological adaptations that have evolved to help blood-feeding arthropods locate hosts, there is evidence that RNA from host species may also be taken up and have regulatory consequences in blood feeding insects. A study on the yellow fever mosquito ''Aedes aegypti'' has shown that human blood microRNA has-miR-21 are taken up during blood feeding and transported into the fat body tissues. Once in the fat body they target and regulate mosquito genes such as [[vitellogenin]], which is a yolk protein used for egg production.<ref name="pmid34244602">{{cite journal| display-authors=6| title=Human blood microRNA hsa-miR-21-5p induces vitellogenin in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. | journal=Commun Biol | year= 2021 | volume= 4 | issue= 1 | pages= 856 | pmid=34244602 | doi=10.1038/s42003-021-02385-7 | pmc=8270986 | last1=Perdomo | first1=Hugo D. | last2=Hussain | first2=Mazhar | last3=Parry | first3=Rhys | last4=Etebari | first4=Kayvan | last5=Hedges | first5=Lauren M. | last6=Zhang | first6=Guangmei | last7=Schulz | first7=Benjamin L. | last8=Asgari | first8=Sassan }}</ref>

==Medical importance==

The phlebotomic action opens a channel for contamination of the host species with [[bacteria]], [[viruses]] and blood-borne [[parasite]]s contained in the hematophagous organism. Thus, many animal and human [[infectious disease]]s are transmitted by hematophagous species, such as the [[bubonic plague]], [[Chagas disease]], [[dengue fever]], [[eastern equine encephalitis virus|eastern equine encephalitis]], [[filariasis]], [[leishmaniasis]], [[Lyme disease]], [[malaria]], [[rabies]], [[African trypanosomiasis|sleeping sickness]], [[St. Louis encephalitis]], [[tularemia]], [[typhus]], [[Rocky Mountain spotted fever]], [[West Nile fever]], [[Zika fever]], and many others.

[[Image:Bloedzuigers_tegen_ekzema_en_variz._voor_romantizm.JPG|thumb|Medicinal leeches on the animal market in [[Istanbul]]]]

The phlebotomic action opens a channel for contamination of the host species with [[bacteria]], [[viruses]] and blood-borne [[parasite]]s contained in the hematophagous organism. Thus, many animal and human [[infectious disease]]s are transmitted by hematophagous species, such as the [[bubonic plague]], [[Chagas disease]], [[dengue fever]], [[filariasis]], [[leishmaniasis]], [[Lyme disease]], [[malaria]], [[rabies]], [[sleeping sickness]], [[St. Louis encephalitis]], [[tularemia]], [[typhus]], [[Rocky Mountain spotted fever]], [[West Nile fever]] and many others.

AmongInsects theand hematophagous insects[[arachnids]] of medical importance arefor being hematophagous, at least in some species, include the [[sandfly]], [[Black fly|blackfly]], [[tsetse fly]], [[Cimex|bedbug]], [[assassin bug]], [[mosquito]], [[tick]], [[louse]], [[mite]], [[midge (insect)|midge]], [[chigger]]<!-- Though the [[Harvest mite]] is not an insect and it's article says it is not hematophagus, they can cause disease problems. Maybe the [[Chigoe flea]] was meant, which is an insect and could be hematophagus?-->, and [[flea]].

Many blood-feeding insects and arachnids, including mosquitoes <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Haines |first1=Lee R. |last2=Trett |first2=Anna |last3=Rose |first3=Clair |last4=García |first4=Natalia |last5=Sterkel |first5=Marcos |last6=McGuinness |first6=Dagmara |last7=Regnault |first7=Clément |last8=Barrett |first8=Michael P. |last9=Leroy |first9=Didier |last10=Burrows |first10=Jeremy N. |last11=Biagini |first11=Giancarlo |last12=Ranganath |first12=Lakshminarayan R. |last13=Aljayyoussi |first13=Ghaith |last14=Acosta-Serrano |first14=Álvaro |date=2025-03-26 |title=Anopheles mosquito survival and pharmacokinetic modeling show the mosquitocidal activity of nitisinone |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.adr4827 |journal=Science Translational Medicine |volume=17 |issue=791 |pages=eadr4827 |doi=10.1126/scitranslmed.adr4827|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stavrou-Dowd |first1=Zachary Thomas |last2=Parsons |first2=George |last3=Rose |first3=Clair |last4=Brown |first4=Faye |last5=Lees |first5=Rosemary Susan |last6=Acosta-Serrano |first6=Álvaro |last7=Haines |first7=Lee Rafuse |date=2025-07-31 |title=The β-triketone, nitisinone, kills insecticide-resistant mosquitoes through cuticular uptake |journal=Parasites & Vectors |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=316 |doi=10.1186/s13071-025-06939-0 |doi-access=free |issn=1756-3305 |pmc=12315382 |pmid=40745331}}</ref>, tsetse flies <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sterkel |first1=Marcos |last2=Haines |first2=Lee R. |last3=Casas-Sánchez |first3=Aitor |last4=Adung’a |first4=Vincent Owino |last5=Vionette-Amaral |first5=Raquel J. |last6=Quek |first6=Shannon |last7=Rose |first7=Clair |last8=Santos |first8=Mariana Silva dos |last9=Escude |first9=Natalia García |last10=Ismail |first10=Hanafy M. |last11=Paine |first11=Mark I. |last12=Barribeau |first12=Seth M. |last13=Wagstaff |first13=Simon |last14=MacRae |first14=James I. |last15=Masiga |first15=Daniel |date=2021-01-26 |title=Repurposing the orphan drug nitisinone to control the transmission of African trypanosomiasis |journal=PLOS Biology |language=en |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=e3000796 |doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000796 |doi-access=free |issn=1545-7885 |pmc=7837477 |pmid=33497373}}</ref>, kissing bugs <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sterkel |first1=Marcos |last2=Perdomo |first2=Hugo D. |last3=Guizzo |first3=Melina G. |last4=Barletta |first4=Ana Beatriz F. |last5=Nunes |first5=Rodrigo D. |last6=Dias |first6=Felipe A. |last7=Sorgine |first7=Marcos H. F. |last8=Oliveira |first8=Pedro L. |date=2016-08-22 |title=Tyrosine Detoxification Is an Essential Trait in the Life History of Blood-Feeding Arthropods |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982216306649 |journal=Current Biology |volume=26 |issue=16 |pages=2188–2193 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2016.06.025 |pmid=27476595 |bibcode=2016CBio...26.2188S |issn=0960-9822}}</ref>, bed bugs <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sterkel |first1=Marcos |last2=Tompkin |first2=Joshua |last3=Schal |first3=Coby |last4=Guerra |first4=Luiza R. M. |last5=Pessoa |first5=Grasielle C. D. |last6=Oliveira |first6=Pedro L. |last7=Benoit |first7=Joshua B. |date=2025 |title=Deployment and transcriptional evaluation of nitisinone, an FDA-approved drug, to control bed bugs |journal=Pest Management Science |language=en |volume=81 |issue=4 |pages=2155–2164 |doi=10.1002/ps.8614 |issn=1526-4998 |pmc=11908903 |pmid=39865399 |pmc-embargo-date=April 1, 2026 |bibcode=2025PMSci..81.2155S }}</ref>, and ticks <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=McComic |first1=Sarah E. |last2=Duke |first2=Stephen O. |last3=Burgess |first3=Edwin R. |last4=Swale |first4=Daniel R. |date=2023-08-01 |title=Defining the toxicological profile of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase-directed herbicides to Aedes aegypti and Amblyomma americanum |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048357523001979 |journal=Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology |volume=194 |article-number=105532 |doi=10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105532 |bibcode=2023PBioP.19405532M |issn=0048-3575|url-access=subscription }}</ref>, rely on [[4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase|4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)]] to degrade excess tyrosine after a bloodmeal. [[4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor|Inhibiting HPPD]] with compounds such as [[nitisinone]] causes lethal [[tyrosine]] accumulation, killing vectors after feeding and, in mosquitoes, even after brief contact with treated surfaces <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stavrou-Dowd |first1=Zachary Thomas |last2=Parsons |first2=George |last3=Rose |first3=Clair |last4=Brown |first4=Faye |last5=Lees |first5=Rosemary Susan |last6=Acosta-Serrano |first6=Álvaro |last7=Haines |first7=Lee Rafuse |date=2025-07-31 |title=The β-triketone, nitisinone, kills insecticide-resistant mosquitoes through cuticular uptake |journal=Parasites & Vectors |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=316 |doi=10.1186/s13071-025-06939-0 |doi-access=free |issn=1756-3305 |pmc=12315382 |pmid=40745331}}</ref>. This distinct metabolic vulnerability offers a potential route for broad-spectrum vector control beyond conventional neurotoxic insecticides.

Recently, hematophagous organisms have been used by physicians for beneficial purposes ([[hirudotherapy]]). Some doctors now use leeches to prevent the clotting of blood on some wounds following surgery or trauma. The anticoagulants in the laboratory-raised leeches' [[saliva]] keeps fresh blood flowing to the site of an injury, actually preventing infection and increasing chances of full recovery. In a recent study, a genetically engineered drug called [[desmoteplase]] based on the saliva of ''Desmodus rotundus'' (the vampire bat) was shown to improve [[stroke]] patients

Recently, hematophagousHematophagous organisms have been used by physicians for beneficial purposes ([[hirudotherapy]]). Some doctors now use leeches to prevent the clotting of blood on some wounds following surgery or trauma.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} The anticoagulants in the laboratory-raised leeches' [[saliva]] keeps fresh blood flowing to the site of an injury, actually preventing infection and increasing chances of full recovery. In a recent study, a genetically engineered drug called [[desmoteplase]] based on the saliva of ''[[Desmodus rotundus]]'' (thea vampire bat) was shown to improve recovery in [[stroke]] patients.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi=10.1161/01.STR.0000217403.66996.6d |pmid=16574922 |title=Dose Escalation of Desmoteplase for Acute Ischemic Stroke (DEDAS) |year=2006 |last1=Furlan |first1=Anthony J. |last2=Eyding |first2=Dirk |last3=Albers |first3=Gregory W. |last4=Al-Rawi |first4=Yasir |last5=Lees |first5=Kennedy R. |last6=Rowley |first6=Howard A. |last7=Sachara |first7=Christian |last8=Soehngen |first8=Mariola |last9=Warach |first9=Steven |last10=Hacke |first10=Werner |author11=DEDAS Investigators |journal=Stroke |volume=37 |issue=5 |pages=1227–1231 |s2cid=2547258 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Human hematophagy==

{{unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}

Drinking blood and manufacturing foodstuffs and delicacies with animal blood is also a feeding behavior in many societies. African [[Masai]] mainstay food, for instance is cow blood mixed with [[milk]]. Some sources say that [[Mongols]] would drink blood from one of their horses if it became a necessity. [[Black Pudding]] is eaten in many places around the world. Some societies, such as the [[Moche]], had ritual hematophagy, as well as the [[Scythia|Scythians]], a nomadic people of [[Russia]], who had the habit of drinking the blood of the first enemy they would kill in [[war|battle]]. Some religious rituals underline the importance of metaphorical hematophagy, such as in the representation of blood of [[Jesus Christ]] by [[wine]] during [[Catholic]] [[mass]]. Psychiatric cases of hematophagy as a symptom also exist. Sucking one's own blood from a wound is also a behaviour commonly seen in humans, and in small enough quantities is not considered taboo. Finally, real or imagined, human [[vampirism]] has been a persistent object of literary and media attention. In certain parts of TamilNadu, a state in India, fried cow's blood is sold by street vendors as a delicacy. This practice is becoming rarer because of the negative connotation associated with eating/drinking blood.

{{main|Blood as food|Clinical vampirism}}

{{see also|Food and drink prohibitions#Blood}}

Many human societies also drink blood or use it to manufacture foodstuffs and delicacies. Cow blood mixed with [[milk]], for example, is a mainstay food of the African [[Maasai people|Maasai]]. Many places around the world eat [[blood sausage]]. Some societies, such as the [[Moche (culture)|Moche]], had ritual hematophagy, as well as the [[Scythia]]ns, a nomadic people of [[Eastern Europe]], who drank the blood of the first enemy they killed in [[war|battle]]. Psychiatric cases of patients performing hematophagy also exist. Sucking or licking one's own blood from a wound<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-29 |title=Why do people instinctively suck on a bleeding wound? |url=https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/why-do-people-instinctively-suck-bleeding-wound |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=www.thenakedscientists.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> to clean it is also a common human behavior, and in small enough quantities is not considered taboo. Finally, human [[vampire|vampirism]] has been a persistent object of literary and cultural attention.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-21 |title=How popular culture changed our view of the vampire |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/how-popular-culture-changed-our-view-of-the-vampire |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=History |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[HirudotherapyChupacabra]]

* [[Consumer-resource systems]]

* [[Natural reservoir]]

* [[Tick-borne disease]]

* [[Transmission (medicine)]]

* [[Vampire]]

* [[Zoonosis]]

* [[Vampirism]]

* [[Mosquitoes]]

* [[Reduviidae|Assassin bug]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

* Scharfetter C, Hagenbuchner K. Blutdurst als Symptom. Ein seltsamer Fall von Bluttrinken. ''Psychiatr Neurol'' (Basel). 1967;154(5):288-310.'

* Ciprandi, A; Horn, F; Termignoni, C. Saliva of hematophagous animals: source of new anticoagulants. ''Rev. Bras. Hematol. Hemoter.'', 2003, vol.25, no.4, p.250-262 [http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1516-84842003000400012&script=sci_pdf&tlng=pt PDF full text]

== Further reading ==

* Markwardt F. Hirudin as alternative anticoagulant -- a historical review. ''Semin Thromb Hemost.'' 2002 Oct;28(5):405-14. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12420235&query_hl=2 Medline abstract]

{{refbegin}}

* Ribeiro JM. Blood-feeding arthropods: live syringes or invertebrate pharmacologists? ''Infect Agents Dis.'' 1995 Sep;4(3):143-52. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8548192&query_hl=6 Medline abstract]

* {{cite journal |vauthors=Scharfetter C, Hagenbuchner K. |title=Blutdurst als Symptom. Ein seltsamer Fall von Bluttrinken. ''|journal=Psychiatr Neurol'' (Basel). 1967;|volume=154( |issue=5):288-310 |pages=288–310 |year=1967 |___location=Basel |doi=10.'1159/000126021 }}

* {{cite journal |vauthors=Ciprandi, A;, Horn, F;, Termignoni, C. |title=Saliva of hematophagous animals: source of new anticoagulants. ''|journal=Rev. Bras. Hematol. Hemoter.'', 2003, vol.|volume=25, no.|issue=4, p.250-262|pages=250–262 [|year=2003 |url=http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1516-84842003000400012&script=sci_pdf&tlng=pt |format=PDF full text]}}

* {{cite journal | vauthors = Markwardt F | title = Hirudin as alternative anticoagulant--a historical review | journal = Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis | volume = 28 | issue = 5 | pages = 405–14 | date = October 2002 | pmid = 12420235 | doi = 10.1055/s-2002-35292 | s2cid = 23103375 }}

* {{cite journal | vauthors = Ribeiro JM | title = Blood-feeding arthropods: live syringes or invertebrate pharmacologists? | journal = Infectious Agents and Disease | volume = 4 | issue = 3 | pages = 143–52 | date = September 1995 | pmid = 8548192 }}

{{refend}}

{{wiktionary|bloodsucker}}

==External links==

* Galun, R. [http://www.bgu.ac.il/desert_ecology/ecology/Ziv%202003.htm#Galun Evolution of Hematophagy]

* Beaty, LC. [http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entomology/courses/en507/papers_1997/beaty.html Host-Seeking Behavior in Hematophagous Mosquitoes]

* [http://www.biopharm-leeches.com/ Biopharm]. Company specialised in providing medicinal leeches.

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