Pathological Changes in Erythrocytes of Lower Vertebrates (Salamander and Lizard) Infected with Blood Protozoa (Haemogregarines)

Abstract

The study include the examination of blood films of 17 samples of salamanders Neurergus crocatus crocatus and 35 samples of lizards Mabuya vittata were examined. The percentage of infection with the intra-erythrocytic blood protozoa (Haemogregarines) was 11.7% and 8.6% in the tow samples respectively. The infection appears in 5% of salamander erythrocytes and in 8% of lizard erythrocytes.The results showed that the most important pathological effect was the decrease of RBC count in the two samples. Other pathological effects was hypertrophy of some erythrocytes both infected and non infected ones, with 5% and 7% of them in salamander and lizard respectively. About the faintly stained erythrocytes, they appear in 4% and 5% in the salamander and lizard respectively. Few of RBC's showed vacualation with rose-shaped appearance in both samples with 1.0% and 1.5% respectively. Few erythrocytes show some abnormalities in their shape, whereas some of them appear with club-shape, and some of them have small lateral projections (1-2) with different lengths which are more clearly shown in lizard.