Local (Malaysian) leech as alternative healing treatment and an Islamic perspective

The therapy is known from the time of extreme antiquity, dating back more than 2,500 years ago and still being practiced nowadays. This fact testifies to its efficiency in various health problems. In some cases, traditional medical practitioners use leeches for therapeutic healing treatment which is known as ‘cupping’. Such remedial method is quickly gaining acceptance amongst the local folks which is now becoming a thriving business. Some have made this treatment as their main business even though the therapy is quite recent for people in this country. This article discusses the process of cupping by using leech in the Islamic perspective and also the uniqueness of the hirudin protein in leeches respectively

Growth and development of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae grown on carbohydrate, protein, and fruit-based waste substrates

There has been a surge in interest in using food waste (FW) as an insect-rearing substrate in recent years. We examine the effect of protein-based food waste (leftover boneless chicken, LBC), carbohydrate-based food waste (overnight rice, OR), and fruit-based food waste (rotten banana, RB) on the following parameters: substrate reduction (SR), waste reduction index (WRI), bioconversion rate (BCR) and relative growth rate (RGR). BSFL reared on OR feed substrate had the highest biomass (0.23±0.01) g at d9 followed by RB (0.22±0.00) g and LBC (0.16±0.00) g. Larvae from OR-fed BSFL were the longest, averaging 20.53±0.46 mm in length on d12. The SR calculated for all feed substrates were as followed: RB (95.35 ± 0.33)% > OR (85.29 ± 0.80)% > LBC (83.17 ± 0.27)%. The WRI for control (C) and BSFL-fed on all feeds were in the following manner: (RBC:8.90±0.00 g days-1, RBBSFL:9.53±0.00 g days-1) > (ORC:7.35±0.00 g days-1, ORBSFL:8.53±0.09 g days-1) > (LBCC:6.90±0.00 g days-1, LBCBSFL: 8.32±0.03 g days-1). OR-fed BSFL showed the highest BCR (76.0±1.0) % and RGR (0.32±0.01) days-1. The FW’s self-composting (as in control) influenced the BSFL’s SR and WRI in all diets. Overall, the BSFL’s growth and development are affected by the nature, quality, and type of diet of the feed substrates

Comparative analysis of biometrical and reproductive indices, proximate composition, and hemato-biochemical variables of cuchia eel Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton, 1822) from six different localities of Bangladesh

Cuchia eel (Monopterus cuchia) is among the most sought-after freshwater fish, owing to its exceptional nutritional profile and high consumer demand. The current research aimed to establish baseline data by comparing the proximate composition, hematological, and plasma biochemical indices of Cuchia eel populations across six different geographical locations in Bangladesh: Bogra, Haluaghat, Jamalpur, Moktagacha, Sylhet, and Tangail. By examining these parameters, we aim to gain valuable insights into the nutritional benefits, physiological responses, and potential adaptations of this species to varying environments. The statistical analysis revealed no significant (P > 0.05) variances in the whole-body proximate composition of the fish captured from distinct areas. However, it was observed that different geographical regions had remarkable impacts on the variations of the majority of the hematological parameters, except for some cases. Additionally, there was a notable (P < 0.05) increase or decrease in most of the serum biochemical contents in certain localities as compared to others in this study. Light microscopic examination of Cuchia eel blood smears exhibited lower numbers but larger sizes of RBCs. The findings of this study lead to the conclusion that different localities had significant impacts on the hematology and blood biochemical indices of Cuchia eel, even though the whole-body proximate composition showed no significant variations. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the physiological aspects of Cuchia eel