Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Iranian Plateau Herpetology Research Group (IPHRG), Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran;
2
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
3
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran
4
Department of Laboratory and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran
10.22067/ijab.2026.98353.1127
Abstract
ackground: Hematological analysis is one of the best practices for assessing health status in diverse species, maintaining ecosystems, and implementing effective measures to protect wildlife, particularly for animals at risk of extinction. This includes the genus Pseudocerastes, or false-horned viper, which comprises three species: Pseudocerastes fieldi (P. fieldi, Field’s horned viper), Pseudocerastes persicus (P. persicus, Persian horned viper), and Pseudocerastes urarachnoides (P. urarachnoides, spider-tailed horned viper).
Aim: Despite numerous investigations into the morphological characteristics and other biological aspects of Pseudocerastes, no research has been conducted on the analysis of hematological parameters within this genus. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap, which has implications for the conservation of these species. Materials and Methods: Male and female samples of P. urarachnoides (28 samples) and P. persicus (10 samples) were collected from western Iran (Ilam and Kermanshah) and studied morphologically from November to March 2021. Following established research protocols for blood sampling, the hematological parameters of both species were analyzed, and blood cells (BCs) were counted using a Neubauer hemocytometer slide.
Results: The examination of hematological parameters revealed some similarities between the species P. urarachnoides and P. persicus from the same geographical area, although there were also notable differences. The morphological structure of red blood cells (RBCs or erythrocytes) in both species was oval-shaped. In P. persicus, the nucleus was elongated, while most nuclei in P. urarachnoides were egg-shaped with asymmetrical edges and jagged forms. Additionally, various types of white blood cells (WBCs or leukocytes), including monocytes, lymphocytes, basophils, and heterophils, were identified. Thrombocytes, which are equivalent to mammalian platelets, were also examined.
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