Elemental analysis of the medicinal leech

We provide here the first report of the multielement analysis of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis. Preparation of biological samples for analysis is described and the results of estimation of more than 60 elements by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy are presented. The s, p, d, and f elements detected are classified in terms of macro, trace, and ultratrace content levels. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.